The flash fiction I put under weekly reading this week was the winner of the Bath Flash Fiction Awards in February 2018.
You can find it here if you missed it under the weekly reading tab: https://bathflashfictionaward.com/2018/02/jo-gatford-february-2018-first-prize/
I think that this piece is particularly interesting as it isn't a typical "story": it doesn't have a plot, it doesn't have a main character, but it still creates an amazing sense of place and evokes memories you might not have realised you even had.
What Jo Gatford does really well here is create gaps for you to fill in with your own experiences. She doesn't tell you what to think. She uses very little direct speech or emotion. This helps engage the audience as we wonder "What are the EMTs sighing about?", "Why are there car parts and blood spots?", and most importantly, "Who has forgotten their baby by the side of the road?"
But despite the blank space I have talked about, there is still plenty going on that we are told about. I particularly like the imagery of the horse who longs for freedom, 'dreaming of leaping three lanes to greener grass'. As a reader, we understand he is faced with the choice of crushing tedium or near-certain death, and we might wonder which is worse.
But she contrasts this image with one of children shouting that they see 'cows! Red car! Lions! Lions? No. Cows!' The embedded humour is what elevates this piece into an interesting, fast-paced piece of writing that you want to read over and over.
What to take away from this week's reading:
1. Use your notebook effectively - write down what you see by the edge of the road that might be interesting, that might be boring, that might make someone think
2. Think about what you write, but also think about what you leave out. This is definitely not an easy skill, but the more you read, the more you will realise that you don't need to tell your audience everything!
3. Think about your audience - if you write with just one emotional tone will they get bored? If your story is depressing, can you add glimmers of hope or humour that will keep your audience interested and mix up the pace. Even people in the depths of depression have happy memories, and the people who seem to be at their happiest still let other thoughts slip in.
Related exercises:
Take your notebook out somewhere into nature and write down everything you see. This could be a long car journey like Jo Gatford's, it could be a walk in the park or a holiday. The important thing is to write down everything. Even things that seem insignificant may spark inferences and memories from your audience.
But also, just because you've written something down doesn't mean you have to use it! Some things might not be worth while, and that's ok! You've gained writing skills just by noting it down and considering it's value.
So go out and keep filling up your notebook!
Happy writing!
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