Tag Archives: #FlashDogs

Double the celebration! Double the Flash!

Posted by ladyhazmat on

Good afternoon. Happy Father’s Day and Happy Solstice.

For those of you who don’t follow my other blog, The Angry Hourglass, I host a weekly flash fiction challenge that takes place over the weekend. It’s part of a vast and colorful (or colourful for my friends across the Atlantic) online flash fiction community that I’m happy to be a part of. As with many communities that share a passion, we’ve created a nickname and hash tag to identify ourselves and share our love on social media: #FlashDogs. Over the past few years, the Flash Dogs have come together and created an anthology series (all proceeds donated to charity) featuring the medium we all hold dear—flash fiction.

What does any of this have to do with Father’s Day or the Summer Solstice?

This year the two holidays coincide. They also happen to coincide with the release of the Flash Dogs’ second anthology, that is itself a two-volume piece. These themed volumes are aptly titled Solstice: Dark and Solstice: Light.

photo from The Flash Dogs website

photo from The Flash Dogs website

I have a story in Solstice: Dark, but even if I didn’t, I’d recommend picking up this set. The quality of writing that these writers produce on a weekly basis (and many of them several times per week, depending on just how many flash fiction challenges they tackle) is astounding. I wish I had the stamina to produce like these folks.

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Me and Dad and unofficial Flash Dog mascots, Cayenne and Poncho

So! Celebrate Father’s Day! Celebrate Solstice! Celebrate Flash Fiction and the mission of literacy! Swing by The Flash Dogs website and follow the links to your favorite flash format (print or ebook) and enjoy.

I have a few updates regarding upcoming publications that I will announce in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

Flash Dogs In Print

Posted by ladyhazmat on

Just got my hands on a print copy of the Flash Dogs Anthology, and it’s prettier than I could have imagined. If you still haven’t picked up this collection of flash fiction, head over to theflashdogs.com and follow the appropriate link.  Remember, all proceeds go to charity, so in addition to getting some great stories, you’re also contributing to a good cause. 🙂

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Short Story Mechanics with Richard Thomas: Day 1

Posted by ladyhazmat on

I’m taking a class over at LitReactor from dark fiction writer Richard Thomas. This isn’t my first online writing class, but I’m hoping that, in conjunction with all of the other tools I’ve acquired along the way, this class will be a major turning point with regards to my ability to translate ideas into coherent narratives. I told Richard that over the next week, I intend to absorb his powers, but he warned me that magic comes always comes with  a price…

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As long as that price doesn’t match what I paid for my MD, I think it’s worth the risk.

Our first assignment was to write a six-sentence story. Anyone who knows me knows that I’ve spent a lot of time over the past year working with flash fiction (Go #FlashDogs!), but that didn’t make the assignment any easier. Fortunately, I didn’t fall flat on my face as I’d feared I would. Richard had some lovely comments for me and suggestions to make my story stronger, as well as a few things to consider in general when writing short fiction.

All in all, I’d call today a success. Can’t wait to see what Richard has in store for me tomorrow.

Flash Dogs: An Anthology – Coming Soon

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Poster

 

I have a strange little story appearing in this collection, due out next weekend. I’m honored to be part of this charity anthology, appearing alongside a number of authors I’ve come to call friends. A significant amount of of work has gone into the production of Flash Dogs, all done for love of the flash fiction form.  All proceeds from the sale of this anthology benefit The International Board on Books for Young People. For more information about the anthology, its authors, or the Flash Dogs in general, visit www.theflashdogs.com.

Publication Update: Freeze Frame Fiction

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I’m pleased to announce that my story, “Of Baggage and Bovines,” has been accepted by Freeze Frame Fiction, and will appear in volume 2 of their online publication. You can still access volume one here.

Look for volume 2 online October 1 and in ebook in January.

If you feel so inclined, you can follow Freeze Frame Fiction on Twitter @freezeframefic, like them on Facebook, and support them at Patreon.

FlashDogs

Posted by ladyhazmat on

Things are heating up over on my weekly flash fiction challenge site, The Angry Hourglass. I’m seeing more and more participants every week, and the judging is becoming increasingly difficult. It’s very satisfying. Furthermore, some of my more ambitious regulars have formed an official pack, aptly named FlashDogs, and they are organizing their first anthology. I can’t take any credit for this endeavor, but I am excited to be associated by proxy. So, how does one become a FlashDog? It’s easy!

1. Follow @FlashDogs on Twitter

2. Write Flash Fiction (weekly competitions held at Flash! Friday, Finish That Thought, and The Angry Hourglass).

3. Tag your Flash using the #FlashDogs hashtag

That’s it! Now go get your flash on!