Write a short story or flash fiction.

“By writing flash fiction, I can take a break from the novels and get a first draft done in one sitting, so I’m not taking out too much of my novel-writing/planning time to work on the short stories. Not only is it fun writing such short fiction, it can also be a huge learning experience. When you only have a thousand words to work with, you have to make every word count. Like, every word. (That last sentence would be omitted from a flash fiction story.) Flash fiction is a great way to train yourself to follow two of the most important rules when it comes to writing. 1. Seek and destroy all unnecessary words (Adverbs, I’m looking at you!) 2. Start and end with an ultra-tight plot and eliminate anything that doesn’t directly affect the plot. These are things I should already know, but seeing these rules come to life in such an obvious way by writing flash fiction helps me remember to apply them in all my writing.”

“I wouldn't say a master, but I feel I'm quite good at it. I like writing short stories best anyway, so figuring out how to do it with even less words was a fun challenge. I've had some work in a couple of anthologies, which was exciting. Flash fiction has to be concise yet carry the story. So few words makes it hard for many, because they haven't learned to edit themselves down to the tiny pearl that is story. With novels, you can do subplots, have more characters, explore large ideas. With short stories, especially flash fiction, it has to be condensed, pared down, left only the skin. It's even more precise the fewer words you have to work with. You must chose each and every one with care, figure out what has to be in the story, and what must be left out while still conveying what the story is about.”