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Flash fiction stories: 25 examples of lighting-fast stories.

Flash fiction is one of the most fascinating creative mediums in this day and age: incredibly difficult, but also incredibly rewarding. After all, flash fiction requires writers to effectively cramming a whole narrative into 1,500 words or less.

But when writers rise to this challenge, the results can be exquisite. This post is dedicated to those dazzling flash fiction examples. We'll cover works by the masters of the medium, from Franz Kafka to Joyce Carol Oates. Some stories are a few paragraphs long, some a few lines, and others only a few words — but all of them display storytelling ability that's out of this world. Without further ado, here are 25 flash fiction examples worth a (very quick) read!

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1. “ Angels and Blueberries ” by Tara Campbell

Word count: 744 words

First lines: “Why is the sky blue?” you ask. Well, it all depends on who’s answering.

Campbell’s sweet, wholesome story posits various explanations for the color of the sky, one of which (naturally) involves angels and blueberries. Besides making you crave a fruit smoothie, it’ll open your eyes to the delightful possibilities of imagination when we disregard science for a few minutes.

2. “ As the North Wind Howled ” by Yu Hua

Word count: 1,371 words

First line: Sunlight had sneaked in through the window and was creeping toward the chair where my pants dangled. I was lying bare-chested in bed, rubbing some gunk from the corner of my eye. It must have collected while I was sleeping, and to just let it stay there seemed inappropriate.

Translated from the original Chinese, this brilliantly bizarre story follows a man who awakens one morning to find a stranger pounding down his door. The stranger insists that he’s come to visit his sick friend — the only trouble is, our narrator has no idea who he’s talking about. The uncanniness escalates from there, culminating in a dark yet comic ending that deftly comments on the oppressive nature of social obligations.

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3. “ Baby Dolls ” by Becky Robison

Word count: 175 words

First line: My mother isn’t always Raggedy Ann, but she was when I was born.

This super-quick vignette from Becky Robison manages to be profoundly moving and disturbing at the same time. It details the circumstances of the narrator’s birth, during which her mother was dressed as Raggedy Ann … or had perhaps morphed into her, depending on how you interpret the poetic prose.

4. “ Curriculum ” by Sejal Shah

Word count: 490 words

First lines: The map was printed on a handkerchief. It is a map of a place that no longer exists.

One of the most praised pieces of flash fiction examples in recent memory, “Curriculum” is divided into three parts: Area Studies, Women’s Studies, and Visual Studies. As you might expect, however, the details of each are not purely academic, but provide a rich context for the narrator’s life — particularly her relationships to cultural identity, womanhood, and her mother.

5. “ Give It Up! ” by Franz Kafka

Word count: 128 words

First line: It was very early in the morning, the streets clean and deserted, I was walking to the station.

“The Metamorphosis,” “The Trial,” and “The Castle” are all very good stories, but “Give It Up!” is a perfect summation of the Kafkaesque: disconcerting and ultimately hopeless. Clocking in at just over 100 words, it’s also one of the most impressive feats of flash fiction by an author largely known for his full-length works.

6. “ Girl ” by Jamaica Kincaid

Word count: 681 words

First lines: Wash the white clothes on Monday and put them on the stone heap; wash the color clothes on Tuesday and put them on the clothesline.

From the author of A Small Place comes this insightful passage on what it means to be a girl, presented in an almost stream-of-consciousness series of instructions. From how to cook and clean to the most appropriate ways to present oneself to men, “Girl” potently demonstrates the many near-impossible standards that women are expected to fulfill without faltering. Don’t worry, though — there are a few surprisingly optimistic moments in the piece as well.

7. “ John Redding Goes to Sea ” by Zora Neale Hurston

Word count: 750 words

First lines: The villagers said that John Redding was a queer child. His mother thought he was too. She would shake her head sadly, and observe to John’s father: “Alf, it’s too bad our boy’s got a spell on ’im.”

“John Redding Goes to Sea” delivers on its title in a surprising yet sweet way: John is a 10-year-old boy, and the “sea” is the nearby river where he launches his twig ships. This 750-word story is a lovely rumination on dreams, obstacles, and how we change as we grow older. And in the vein of Their Eyes Were Watching God , it’s full of Hurston’s signature lyrical description and historically accurate dialect — both proof of her careful attention to detail .

8. “ Housewife ” by Amy Hempel

Word count: 43 words

First lines: She would always sleep with her husband and with another man in the course of the same day, and then the rest of the day, for whatever was left to her of that day, she would exploit by incanting, “French film, French film.”

A quintessential work of microfiction, this single sentence encapsulates the experience of a bored but clearly aspirational housewife. We’ve copied it here in its entirety for you to enjoy:

9. “ Likable ” by Deb Olin Unferth

Word count: 335 words

First lines: She could see she was becoming a thoroughly unlikable person. Each time she opened her mouth she said something ugly, and whoever was nearby liked her a little less.

Another superb meditation on womanhood, Unferth’s story dissects what comes after the stage of Kincaid’s “Girl”: that is, the process of growing older and becoming less “valuable” in the eyes of society. This heart-wrenching piece will resonate with any woman over the age of 40, and force the rest of us to confront what exactly makes the narrator feel so unlikable.

10. “ My Dead ” by Peter Orner

Word count: 1,283 words

First lines: Her name was Beth. We didn’t know each other. We took her car and headed to Missouri from Chicago. I remember that by the time we’d gone a few miles south on the Stevenson we’d already run out of things to say.

This piece tells the tale of two relative strangers attending a séance. But rather than using horror to compel readers, Orner turns instead to good old-fashioned wit: “What’s the hurry?” one of the characters says at one point. “Everybody’s already dead.” However, the ending will get your heart racing with its sudden hairpin turn into drama… and not in the spooky manner you might think.

11. “ Possession(s) ” by John Smolens

Word count: 875 words

First lines: When your wife dies, you find music tastes different and food sounds the same.

Though we’d normally steer clear of anything to do with a writer and his dead wife , “Possession(s)” proves that it can be done without a hint of misogyny — and indeed, with remarkable nuance. The narrator of this story describes the excruciating process of adjusting to a new life when one’s spouse passes away — namely, figuring out what to do with her things. Infused with incredible emotion and rendered in beautiful prose, “Possession(s)” is an affecting account of mourning that you won’t soon forget.

12. “ Ramona ” by Sarah Gerkensmeyer

Word count: 1,132 words

First lines: Ramona used to say, “When it’s on the outside I feel self-conscious.”

“Ramona” is another great flash fiction example: a compelling combination of Miranda July-esque, intimately observational prose and unexpected elements of the surreal. The narrator is best friends with (and has romantic feelings for) the eponymous Ramona, who wears her heart outside her body… literally. Pain, love, and an incisive sense of nostalgia all intertwine in this roughly thousand-word short story.

13. “ Riddle ” by Ogbewe Amadin

Word count: 1,159 words

First lines: I think Aunty Adesuwa is a witch. Mama says so sometimes.

If you’ve ever pondered the true nature of good, evil, and the shades in between, you’ll likely sympathize with young Idara. Her mother claims that Idara’s aunt is an evil witch — but from what she knows of Aunt Adesuwa, this can’t possibly be true. Or can it? Contemplative and haunting, this story (and especially its resolution) has the staying power of a much longer piece.

14. “ Sorry Dan ” by Erik Cofer

Word count: 734 words

First lines: I like you, Dan, I really do. You’ve been the face of this company for many years, overseeing a period of unprecedented net growth. And on a more personal level, you’ve become a dear friend. Heck, our wives attend spin class together twice a week! But unfortunately, friendship only means so much in today’s cutthroat business environment.

The full title is this one is actually “Sorry Dan, But It’s No Longer Necessary For a Human to Serve As CEO Of This Company”... which pretty much sums it up. Published in McSweeney’s in 2014, Cofer’s satirical letter to a boss made obsolete by his robotic counterpart has only become more relevant over the past few years . Not to mention that its apologetic-but-firm tone flawlessly imitates actual downsizing notices.

15. “ Sticks ” by George Saunders

Word count: 392 words

First lines: Every year Thanksgiving night, we flocked out behind Dad as he dragged the Santa suit to the road and draped it over a kind of crucifix he'd built out of metal pole in the yard.

“Sticks” is one of the best-known pieces of flash fiction this side of Hemingway’s alleged baby shoes — perhaps because it puts a serious spin on the infamous Seinfeld Festivus pole . The narrator’s father keeps a metal pole in their yard and decorates it not just for the winter holidays, but for every significant occasion: Groundhog Day, Veteran’s Day, the Super Bowl, etc. Yet his affection for the pole doesn’t seem to extend to his own children. Fans of David Sedaris’ dysfunctional family anecdotes: this is the story for you.

16. “ Taylor Swift ” by Hugh Behm-Steinberg

Word count: 500 words

First lines: You’re in love; it’s great, you swipe on your phone and order: the next day a Taylor Swift clone shows up at your house.

The premise of this wonderfully weird story is that anyone can order a perfectly replicated clone of Taylor Swift straight to their front doorstep — or multiple clones, if you want to build yourself a herd. Another one of those much-praised bit of flash fiction examples from the past few years, “Taylor Swift” is like a Black Mirror episode meets celebrity fanfiction meets… well, you just have to see for yourself.

17. “ Three Is A Rational Number ” by Michele Finn Johnson

Word count: 1,055 words

First lines: Lola’s lost her rational numbers worksheet. She’s got the whole school bus looking for it — when Lola says to do something, it’s like she’s an orchestra conductor and we all just fall in line.

This is a funny, poignant glimpse into the minute melodrama of seventh grade: the narrator’s twin sister, Lola, starts dating the “goon” of Darby Junior High, Billy Maguire. Needless to say, her brother isn’t exactly thrilled, and even less so when Lola starts cheating off Billy’s algebra papers. Vivid details and an authentically juvenile voice will transport you right back to your own seventh-grade bus scandals — especially if they involved copying homework.

18. “ The Huntress ” by Sofia Samatar

Word count: 374 words

First line: For fear of the huntress, the city closed like an eye.

A gorgeous piece of almost folkloric flash fiction, “The Huntress” describes its titular predator in ambiguous terms (“a stench of fur,” “she left a streak”) that somehow makes its terror even more palpable. Though critics are divided on whether the Huntress is meant to be a metaphor , the evocative strength of Samatar’s writing leaves an incredible impression.

19. “ The Wife on Ambien ” by Ed Park

Word count: 1,039 words

First lines: The wife on Ambien knows the score. I mean this literally. Rangers, 4–3 in overtime. Devils fall to the Flames, 3–1. Knicks lose again at home. In the morning, I open the paper and none of this checks out.

What does the wife on Ambien do? Quite a lot, according to Ed Park — even if she doesn’t remember it. This hypnotizingly anaphoric account of her musings, activities, and general welfare is equal parts sad and hilarious, complete with an ending that will have you questioning the narrator’s stability as well.

20. “ The Visitor ” by Lydia Davis

Word count: 342 words

First lines: Sometime in the early summer, a stranger will come and take up residence in our house.

Widely renowned as the queen of flash fiction, Lydia Davis has produced countless micro-stories over multiple anthologies, but perhaps none as excellent as “The Visitor.” Beginning with an anecdote about the narrator’s sister and a strange houseguest she once entertained, this barely 300-word story soon moves into unexpectedly sweet territory, and its usage of the past to anticipate the future is nothing short of subtle genius.

21. “ This Is How You Fail to Ghost Him ” by Victoria McCurdy

Word count: 959 words

First lines: Swipe right. Swipe right. Tinder. Bumble. Be unable to remember which, but this younger, generically handsome boy whose face reminds you of a Playmobil figure has driven from the suburbs tonight to meet you.

More of a thinkpiece than flash fiction per se, “This Is How You Fail to Ghost Him” nonetheless deserves a place on this list for its acerbic wit and all-too-cutting observations of modern dating life. If you read “ Cat Person ” and loved it, you’re sure to enjoy McCurdy’s writing here too.

22. “ Unnecessary Things ” by Tatyana Tolstaya

Word count: 677 words

First lines: This Teddy bear once had amber eyes made from special glass — each one had a pupil and an iris. The bear itself was gray and stiff, with wiry fur. I adored him.

Though translated from the original Russian, this piece retains a stunning sense of clarity in its rumination on “unnecessary things”: items that do not, or no longer, serve a commercial or useful purpose. Our narrator happens upon a teddy bear that fits this description, but her feelings for it still overwhelm her — and might just cause the reader to shed a tear, too.

23. “ War of the Clowns ” by Mia Couto

Word count: 571 words

First lines: One time two clowns set themselves to arguing. The people would stop, amused, to watch them.

This 571-word story gives new meaning to the phrase “clowning around,” as two battling jesters resort to more and more aggressive tactics. And while they entertain their spectators at first, their violent delights most definitely have violent ends.

24. “ Where Are You? ” by Joyce Carol Oates

Word count: 523 words

First lines: The husband had got into the habit of calling the wife from somewhere in the house — if she was upstairs, he was downstairs; if she was downstairs, he was upstairs — and when she answered, “Yes? What?,” he would continue to call her, as if he hadn’t heard and with an air of strained patience: “Hello? Hello? Where are you?”

Joyce Carol Oates’ simple yet elegant style lends itself extremely well to flash fiction examples, as this piece demonstrates. In just over 500 words, she paints a striking portrait of an elderly married couple and the discord between them, which stems from their inability to communicate.

25. “Widow’s First Year” by Joyce Carol Oates

Word count: 4 words

First lines: I kept myself alive.

Our final entry also comes from Oates, and probably holds the record for most succinct display of emotion in flash fiction history. Here it is, all four words of it — though of course, you also need the title to understand the full impact: I kept myself alive.

Want more quick reads? Check out these 11 interesting short stories that may change the way you think. Or try something a little different (but just as fast) by picking up some of the best graphic novels !

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Defenestrationism.net

Angels and blueberries.

by Tara Campbell

“Why is the sky blue?” you ask.

Well, it all depends on who’s answering. 

If you ask a grown-up, you’ll probably get an answer about light, and how it bounces off air particles, and how certain wavelengths (i.e. colors) get absorbed, and certain colors (i.e. wavelengths) get kicked back out, and those certain colors/wavelengths (i.e. blue) are the ones that you and I can see. 

If you ask a scientist, you’ll likely get an even more confusing but way more convincing version of that answer.

But if you ask a writer, you’ll get a different answer every time.

One answer, for example, lies with the special properties of blue fingerpaint.   Whenever children use blue paint, tiny particles of it dissolve from their hands into the air and color it blue.   Over time the pigment fades, but as long as there is fingerpainting, there will always be blue sky.

Another answer is related to the blue-eyed creatures at the North and South Poles.   They are always looking up into the sky, and the blue of their eyes reflects back for the whole world to see.   You’ve probably never heard of these polar creatures because they know how to hide from satellites and explorers.   The reflection of their eyes is all we’ll ever see of them.

But the answer I think is true right now concerns angels and blueberries. 

You see, blueberries are the angels’ favorite food.   There’s nothing they like more; and berries are healthy, so it’s a happy coincidence.   The only problem is, angels are sloppy eaters, and they eat pretty much all day. Of course they do other things like play the harp and sing and keep little babies from getting into the bleach under the sink. But they still have lots of time to munch on blueberries—they live forever, after all—so little bits of blueberry wind up all over the sky.

Even worse, some angels don’t like the blueberry skins, so they peel each berry before eating it and toss the skins to the side.   This doesn’t make them blatant litterers, mind you—they know they’ll get around to picking up the skins, just not at that very moment.

So as the day goes on, the angels eat more and more berries; and as the sun goes down, its light reflects through the berry pulp and juice, creating wonderful reds and oranges and yellows.   And still the angels eat, and the sky grows darker and darker with blue skins and bits of berry.   The angels keep on munching until, with the exception of little gaps for the moon and stars, no light can get to the Earth at all.   In fact, there’s not even enough room for the moon most of the time, which is why you only see the whole thing once a month.

In the middle of the night God finally has enough, and she tells the angels they have to start cleaning up their mess.   Of course they start right away, but it’s a big mess and it takes a while.   And as they clean, you can see a little bits of light start to penetrate the layer of blueberry waste.   Dawn begins as they wipe and scrub, and daylight breaks when they finally clear away enough blueberries for the sun to shine on the Earth again. 

The one problem is that blueberry skins stain, and the angels can’t scrub the traces away completely.   Some days they do better, and the sky is light blue.   But on very sunny days you can see the full extent of the staining and the sky is a rich, dark blue.   But God isn’t that concerned about the stains.   She actually thinks they’re pretty, and the renters down on the surface don’t mind, and she’s not planning on moving anytime soon, so it’s not like she has to worry about resale value.   What matters to her is that the angels did their best.

Now, you may wonder what would happen if the angels ever got tired of blueberries.   What would happen if they switched to raspberries?   Would the sky eventually wind up purple?   If they started eating bananas, would the yellow peels turn the blue sky green?   Or if they developed a fondness for lemons, would the juice bleach the color out forever?   And if that happened, would your grandchildren ever believe the sky had once been blue? 

Or would they just think you were a silly writer telling stories about angels and blueberries?

support the author: TaraCampbell.com more Complex Fairy Tales home

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