Styles of Flash Fiction [John Englehardt]

All Levels. This class will examine different styles of flash fiction, such as extended metaphor, anecdote, aphorism, lyric, and found forms. To ground our understanding of these forms, we will look at examples from authors such as George Saunders, Margaret Atwood, Rebecca Brown, Donald Barthelme, Junot Diaz, and Roxane Gay; as well as fictions by lesser-known authors in contemporary literary magazines. Our goal will be to understand the iceberg effect of the short form and how different styles of flash fiction can create elements that are hinted at or implied (rather than written) on the page. In addition to generative writing exercises and style imitations, each student will turn in one flash piece for workshop.