Title: “Flash Fiction: Telling Big Stories in Small Spaces”
By Professor Dr. Arshad Afzal
Blog: farazparvez1.blogspot.com
Introduction
In a world of rapid scrolling and shrinking attention spans, flash fiction emerges as a literary gem—brief, powerful, and unforgettable. This compact form of storytelling challenges writers to convey plot, character, and emotional depth within a word limit typically ranging from 300 to 1000 words.
But brevity doesn’t mean simplicity. In fact, flash fiction often stings more than it soothes—delivering twists, revelations, or piercing moments of truth with surgical precision. Whether read in the span of a coffee break or devoured before bedtime, flash fiction leaves a lasting imprint on the soul.
What Is Flash Fiction?
Flash fiction is a type of short story that is extremely concise. It typically doesn’t exceed 1000 words. The goal is to tell a complete story with character, setting, conflict, and often a twist—within a razor-thin space. The best flash fiction feels like a snapshot of a larger world, implying what lies beyond its edges.
Now let’s dive into an original flash fiction story, written especially for today’s post:
Flash Fiction Example
Title: “The Ink on the Receipt”
He didn’t know why he kept it—the wrinkled receipt from a gas station two towns away.
It was dated July 9th, 2021. $24.37. Pump 3. Paid in cash.
He found it yesterday, stuffed between the pages of an old Murakami novel she once made him read. It still smelled faintly of her—citrusy shampoo and the sharpness of mint gum.
“You always pay in cash,” she used to say, “like someone on the run.”
Maybe he was.
He folded the receipt back in half, like she used to fold notes in college, and sat on the edge of the motel bed. The TV played static—just like his thoughts. Outside, neon flickered “No Vacancy,” though he hadn’t seen another guest in days.
She had disappeared that night, July 9th, after the fight about… God, he didn’t even remember. Something stupid. Always something stupid.
He left the motel room once to check if the gas station was still there. It was. The same teenage boy at the counter, now with a scruffy beard and tired eyes. “No,” he said when asked, “I don’t remember her.”
He didn’t expect he would.
Back in the room, he pressed the receipt against the mirror, anchoring it with a rusted thumbtack he found behind the TV. “Evidence,” he whispered. Not of guilt. Not of loss. Just that she was real. That they both were, once.
When morning broke, the room was empty. Just the receipt and the faint scent of mint gum remained.
Conclusion
Flash fiction is the art of restraint—where what’s unsaid often speaks louder than what is. It’s about choosing the moment that matters most and slicing straight into it. If you’re a writer or a reader who thrives on brevity without losing depth, flash fiction is your literary playground.
In the coming blogs, we will continue exploring other powerful forms of short stories—from fables and folktales to magical realism and experimental narratives. Each genre opens a new door into the house of storytelling.
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Blog: farazparvez1.blogspot.com
Email: arshadafzal2001@gmail.com
Twitter (X): @DrArshadAfzal1
Let stories keep flowing and minds keep glowing!
