As the deadline for the WestWord Flash Fiction Prize approaches, this month’s paid subscribers craft post is all about strong openings in flash fiction stories.
Opening lines in flash that really do a lot of work, without seeming to, are a great way to make your stories stand out. They help you to instantly grab your reader and make them wonder about something. This first encounter a reader has with a story is pivotal.
When I read the submissions at WestWord, a lot of the time I can tell from the opening lines whether a story is likely to make it through to the next round of reading. How? Because it compels me to read on. This can be through a variety of ways.