My Latest Story
There’s something uniquely challenging, maddening and incredibly rewarding about telling a complete, impactful story within the confines of just a few hundred words. This year's contest has the following constraints:
- A strict word limit
- A theme
- A key phrase that has to be included in the text of the story
All the contest rules are available in the Failing Writers Podcast episode released on the 29th September, 2025.
Over the years, the process of flash has taught me a tremendous amount about brevity, precision, and making every single word count. This is my journey of crafting Smile for the Governor from a spark of an idea to its current form.
The Allure of Flash Fiction
For me, flash fiction is defined as a complete story told in a limited number of words – typically ranging from just a few hundred down to a mere handful!
It's a deceptively simple idea. At first glance, it seems easy: just write a really, really short story. However, the true craft comes from its demands for absolute efficiency. Every sentence, every word, has to have purpose.
They must advance the plot, reveal character, or build atmosphere.
It's a fantastic exercise in storytelling. In getting to the core. The limits force you to focus on impact and precision. In this world of endless content, a powerful flash piece offers a quick, and satisfying, punch for both writer and reader.
The "Big Idea" in Miniature
Every story, no matter its length, needs a compelling core idea. For Smile for the Governor, my big idea revolved around concepts I've been playing around with already. Time, but with a dark twist.
For this piece, I started with a character who feels life is 'dull' and she craves 'more.' This sets the stage for the antagonist to offer a tempting solution – a futuristic drug I named "ChronoSlow". This concept of manipulating time perception was the engine of the story, creating both a lure and the ultimate, chilling punchline.
The key for flash fiction is to have a core concept so strong that it can be understood and executed without extensive backstory or exposition. It’s about impact over intricate detail.
The Art of the Trim: Conquering the Word Count
That brings us to the word count. For the contest I'm entering, this is an almost ruthless mistress: 300 words.
To stop my word count soaring beyond the limit, as often happens, I edited on the fly.
For flash fiction, editing is where the real work begins.
I found myself scrutinising every paragraph, every sentence, asking: "Does this word absolutely need to be here?" "Can I say this more concisely?" It's often a brutal process of cutting beloved phrases or tightening clumsy constructions. For instance, I actively hunted out redundant phrases and simplified dialogue tags. Each word that survives the cut must earn its place. They must deliver that narrative punch in the smallest possible space.
World-Building with Scarcity
In a such a small word count, you don't have the space for pages of exposition or background history. It has to be implied, either in dialogue or brief, broad and often vague splashes.
For Smile for the Governor, I wanted a cold, advanced, near-future setting. I hope I've achieved this by selectively hints. Terms like 'electronic-enhanced voice', 'cybernetic eyes' and others are where I've tried to paint that picture without wasting words.
These specific nouns do the heavy lifting: they immediately signal the genre to the reader without me having to write a lengthy description of the cityscape or the government. I'm relying on the reader's imagination to fill in the gaps and create a richer world than the word count allows.
Character in a Blink
With limited space, you can't rely on character arcs; you have to rely on essence. This means showing who your characters are through their first few lines of dialogue and their immediate actions.
Every action and line of dialogue has to do dual duty. It must advance the plot and reveal a critical aspect of the character.
The Punchy Title: Your Story's First Impression
A title for flash fiction is not just a title, it’s part of the narrative hook. You can't go crazy, but the title is often seen as extra words that don't impact the word count. It’s also the first word your judges see. The title needs to set the mood and intrigue them instantly.
For Smile for the Governor, I started with simpler options like the name of the drug I invented. I then went very literal with the name of the antagonist and his profession. None worked.
Until I had that eureka moment.
Ultimately, I hit upon the idea that there is are multiple threads: there's a political crime and the victim's perceived bliss. The final choice, Smile for the Governor, does exactly that. It’s short, punchy, and utterly chilling because it forces the reader to acknowledge there's a dark purpose and a beautiful moment.
My advice? Spend as much time on your title as you do on your opening paragraph—it's important!
The Review Process: An Invaluable Step
Finally, never submit your first draft! Maybe not even your fifth.
Having an objective review process—whether from a writing group, a friend (or a stranger), or even an analytical tool—is vital, particularly with such tight word counts.
I've run mine through the usual—self review, the old reliable spell checker in your trusty word processor, and a run through the grammar checker at QuillBot (the free tier). My favourite trick is to hear the story. Once you're happy generally, listening to your story is invaluable.
Hearing an AI-based tool, such as the one built into Microsoft Word, read out the story helps to identify oddities and unfortunate pauses or breaks.
Conclusion: Takeaways for Aspiring Flash Fiction Writers
Flash fiction is hard, but fun. It helps you hone writing muscles by teaching discipline, prioritisation, and the power of implication.
I've always enjoyed this process and seen it as a way to help me sharpen my prose. If you're interested in this format I recommend finding a contest with a strict word limit and giving it a go! The famous Bath Flash Fiction Contest and this one from the Failing Writers Podcast are great outlets for this kind of writing.
What has been your experience with tight word counts? Drop a comment below and let me know your best tips for writing small!
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