#fridayflash is an Internet meme designed to increase your visibility as a fiction writer. The idea is simple enough. Write a piece of flash fiction, defined as 1000 words or less, post it to your blog, and then on Friday tweet about it on Twitter (or some other social network) along with the link to your post and the hashtag, #fridayflash.
#fridayflash guidelines
- Write and polish a story of 1000 words or less (don’t sweat it if it’s slightly over)
- Post the story to your blog on or before Friday (any Friday)
- Announce your story on Twitter and/or Facebook on Friday (Friday begins at midnight out in the Pacific, and ends at midnight out in the Pacific, so you have a huge time-frame to work with)
- Use the #fridayflash hashtag on Twitter to make it easy to find
- No explicit erotica or gratuitous graphic violence
- You may post as many stories as you like, or link to previously posted pieces
- You don’t have to post every week, we’re a low stress community
Remember, #fridayflash is intended to showcase your work. Polish your piece before you post it. At a minimum, use spell check.
If you want your story to be included in my weekly listing visit the #fridayflash Collector and add the details for your story. It will then be included in The #fridayflash Report. If you are a first time participant, be sure to check off the Debut checkbox. We have developed into a very supportive community of writers. Many people make a special effort to visit debut stories.
General tips
When you add your story to the Collector use a link to the story itself, not to your blog’s front page. The lists are archived. Direct links to stories ensure people will find what they are looking for. Many people find it annoying to follow a link and end up on a post they were not expecting. I’ve always found it best not to annoy my readers.
You do not have to be on Twitter or Facebook to participate, but you do need a blog. Adding your story to the Collector will get you listed. Still, you may want to find a friend who will tweet your link for you.
Claim your work. You wrote it. Let the world know it’s yours. Give your story a title and a byline. Use your name (or a good pen name) on the byline. It also doesn’t hurt to add a general copyright notice, either on your blog as a whole, or on each story.
Be aware that if you post a story on your blog it may be considered “previously published” by some publishers and therefore of no interest to them. Yes, you may lose a sale if you publish your story to your blog. However, there are non-monetary benefits to participating in #fridayflash. Consider the experience you will gain by writing a weekly piece of fiction. With experience comes skill and confidence. You will also increase exposure of your blog and fiction, and become a member of a terrific community of writers.
Also keep in mind that just because it was posted on your blog does not mean it is unsaleable. There are many paying markets that accept previously published works. Just be up front with them when you make your pitch. I recommend Doutrope’s Digest to help locate those enlightened publishers.
Welcome to #fridayflash.
~jon
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