Saturday, June 2, 2012

50 Shades of Good Writing



Imagine my excitement when Jon Strother, THE Jon Strother, the King of Friday Flash Jon Strother, asked lil old me to be a regular correspondent with Friday Flash Dot Org!

In case you've never heard of Friday Flash, it's a phenomenon Jon founded to encourage and promote flash fiction writing. The deal is you write a story 1,000 words or less, you post it on your blog, you link it to the Friday Flash website and you promote it on Facebook and Twitter. Then you go around to all the other writers and read their flashes. The upshot of it is, you hone your own skills as a writer, you gain confidence and feedback from an incredibly supportive community and you make new friends. Some of my best blogging buddies come from Friday Flash. I can't recommend it enough.

When I was thick into Friday Flash I wrote a story every week for about a year. I almost never missed a deadline, coming up with stories the week I got married and all through my honeymoon. Writing flash became a need, an addiction and as time passed and my fingers flew across the keyboard I started to think that maybe, just maybe, I was a real writer after all.

I haven't written a Friday Flash for some time but that doesn't mean I'm not writing. I am, in fact, three-quarters done writing a novel, something I wouldn't have thought of doing in a million, zillion years if it wasn't for Jon Strother and Friday Flash.

This summer I'm all wound up about the publication of The Best of Friday Flash Volume 2, in which not one but TWO of my stories will be included. And it's not just an e-book, it's an ACTUAL, physical book! Everybody on my Christmas list will be getting at least one in their stockings! When launch day comes I'll be sure to let you know about it. (Just try and stop me!)

In the meantime, if you want to check out my first post over at Friday Flash Dot Org, I have a piece about 50 Shades of Grey as it applies to so-called "good writing." If you're in the mood for some self-important blathering, you'll find my pearls here. And if you're looking for some fabulous writing from some really swell people, click here.

23 comments:

  1. You are being honoured left right and centre lately. Good for you.

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    1. It's almost embarrassing, Delores!!!! But I'll take it! ;)

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  2. Congratulations! I'd somehow never heard of Friday Flash before, but after reading this, I decided to go ahead and get involved in posting my flash fiction there. Thanks!

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    1. Really LG? Well now you do and I'm so glad you're going to give it a whirl. It was life-changing for me, honestly it was. Have fun and good luck!!!!

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  3. That is awesome!!!! I couldn't write a piece of fiction if it sat down and dictated itself to me and I'm quite envious of those who can! Good for you!

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    1. Oh Pam, you're such a good writer, you TOTALLY could. I didn't think I could write fiction either, honest to god. You should try it... just for fun. Judging by your blog, you certainly have a natural flair for writing.

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  4. Hey, congrats, and good luck on the novel!

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  5. Have written a "book"? I am so impressed, way to go Cathy! Bills you say? I rather hate them myself ... lol

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  6. I love reading your blog. I left an award for you on my blog. Stop by and pick it up :)

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  7. How fun! Way to go! I hope it goes well for you. Thanks for coming to visit today.

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  8. Wow! Things are really moving for you right now, Cathy! And you deserve it!

    I really must get my act together and get back into ff - the A-Z challenge was hard work but fun and I think I can dream up a few more short pieces of fiction...!

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  9. Friday Flash is great and I still do the occasional post but I find no one from FF reads them if you're not a regular :( But great news for you and your promotion. You well deserve it. And all the best for that book, Cathy. I've been involved in a NaNo style book writing fest this weekend and I'm using the time to rewrite my first novel and decide whether it belongs in the trash.

    Denise

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  10. First, Congrats!

    Second, I read your thingy and commented and I totally agree with every little thing you said. Both here and there. Friday Flash is excellent practice, and such a good confidence builder. I miss the heck out of it. I think that's how we met, actually. Bonus!

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