Here are some of the things we look for as we read your submissions to our Flash Contests. If you have something that deviates from this, it might still knock our socks off, but these are some general guidelines. If we love or hate your main character, you’ll stand a better chance than if we feel neutral about her/him.
Does the author’s point come across clearly or are you a little confused?
Did the characters change? Should they have?
Did the action fit the story? Was there too much or too little action?
Were the description, sentence structure, pace, tone, and mood appropriate?
Is there additional information that would have made this clearer?
Did the voice keep you reading?
Did you stop paying attention at any point?
Was the writing insightful?
Do you want to read more work by this author?
Did you find something exceptional that is not mentioned above?
If you can’t be objective about your own writing, you’re not alone. Ask a trusted writing partner to read your work and see what she thinks.
Want to enter Writer Advice’s Flash Fiction Contest? Details, deadline, prizes, tiered fees, and publication information are at https://writeradvice.com/latest-contest-information/. We’d love to read your work.
The post below says that Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62 is my latest book. It’s time to update that. My newest book is called Disrupted. You can learn about it at https://www.amazon.com/Disrupted-B-Lynn-Goodwin/dp/1804393487, and you can read the opening below.
Chapter 1
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
San Ramos High, Northern California
The earth pounded like a jack hammer. I dropped my phone and
it bounced on the floor of the main hall at San Ramos High. As I
grabbed it, the floor slammed into my feet again. That jack
hammer was working overtime.
“Get in a doorway,” a booming voice called.
I knew that, so I was surprised when the current Student
Council President came running toward me. The girl he was with
said, “Chill. It’s nothing. A trembler—not an earthquake.” I must
have looked worse than I thought because she stared for a minute
before she asked, “You okay?”
I nodded.
“You’re Sandee Mason, right?” the Student Council
President asked.
“That’s me.”
“I remember the assembly where you spoke about your
brother last spring.”
I nodded. Here he was, in the job my brother, Bri, had two
years ago, and I couldn’t help wondering if Bri wanted to tell me
something or warn me about someone. He used to send me
encouraging messages after he died – at least I thought he did –
and I kind of hoped he was trying to get my attention now.
11“Don’t worry, small quakes just release the tension between
the plates. The big one’s further away than ever and it seems like
it’s over now.” He pushed the hall door open for his girlfriend.
“Thanks,” I called after him. My dad had told Bri and me
that factoid years ago.
I grabbed my books and stuffed them in my worn backpack,
then slammed the door, which made as much noise as the under-
earth pounding.
I was already five minutes late for rehearsal. Not good. Ms.
G expected her actors to be prompt, and that went double for the
stage manager—me.
The quake spooked me. So did the Student Council
President. From the back he looked a lot like Bri, but Bri went to
Afghanistan and the body parts they could find came back in a
box.
Questions? Want a signed copy? Please use the comment box to let me know what you think.
The earth pounded like a jack hammer. I dropped my phone and it bounced on the floor of the main hall at San Ramos High. As I grabbed it, the floor slammed into my feet again. That jack hammer was working overtime.
“Get in a doorway,” a booming voice called.
I knew that, so I was surprised when the current Student Council President came running toward me. The girl he was with said, “Chill. It’s nothing. A trembler—not an earthquake.” I must have looked worse than I thought because she stared for a minute before she asked, “You okay?”
I nodded.
“You’re Sandee Mason, right?” the Student Council President asked.
“That’s me.”
“I remember the assembly where you spoke about your brother last spring.”
I nodded. Here he was, in the job my brother, Bri, had two years ago, and I couldn’t help wondering if Bri wanted to tell me something or warn me about someone. He used to send me encouraging messages after he died – at least I thought he did – and I kind of hoped he was trying to get my attention now.
“Don’t worry, small quakes just release the tension between the plates. The big one’s further away than ever and it seems like it’s over now.” He pushed the hall door open for his girlfriend.
“Thanks,” I called after him. My dad had told Bri and me that factoid years ago.
I grabbed my books and stuffed them in my worn backpack, then slammed the door, which made as much noise as the under-earth pounding.
I was already five minutes late for rehearsal. Not good. Ms. G expected her actors to be prompt, and that went double for the stage manager—me.
The quake spooked me. So did the Student Council President. From the back he looked a lot like Bri, but Bri went to Afghanistan and the body parts they could find came back in a box.
NOTE: Want to know what happens next? Click on the link and it will take you to Amazon.
I never dreamed that I’d get married for the first time at age 62.
I think sometimes of the statement I found in the Vassar catalogue the summer before my freshman year: “If you are one of the 93% who eventually marry…” I loved the way “eventually marry” rolled off my tongue and gave me hope.
During my four years of high school, I’d had only two dates, and one of them was a blind date disaster. Boys wanted to date the pretty, confident girls. I was 5’3” and weighed 155 pounds by the time I graduated. I was told that if I wanted to date, I needed to lose weight. Diets made me crazy. I believed with all my heart that a thin body would give me success and happiness. I had no idea that intelligence, creativity, or confidence were attractive qualities.
I was incredibly nervous on both my dates. No way the churning in my stomach could be normal. I was too embarrassed to talk to anyone about dating, so I didn’t know, and I was terrified that I would say or do the wrong thing to loosen up and have fun on a date. I had no clue how to flirt without giving a guy the “wrong” idea.
My personal feelings didn’t guide me. They were buried deep inside, and the older I got the more embarrassing my inexperience became. I coped by hiding it.
I found the man who would become my husband on Craigslist. His ad read
MEN SEEKING WOMEN
Posted: 7-04-11 11:17PM PST
CLASSIC
“1944 classic roadster with many miles left!
“Motor humms, transmission smooth and and all the gears work!
“Only two previous owners, very great women.
“Two tone, white with a gray top.
“Seeking a new woman owner who knows how to drive a classic!
“Thanks
“PS, This car is at church every Sunday so if that is a problem with you this car is not for you.”
Before our first date, he asked if I would be willing to get married if I fell in love with him. He was looking for his third wife. Of course I said yes. After 62 years, I didn’t think it was possible for me to fall in love. I told myself I wasn’t tricking him; I was agreeing to his conditions.
Part of me was scared I could lose my life savings and my dignity if I got in too deeply, but I also believed it wasn’t too late to live happily ever after. After years of waiting for a male to make the first move, I thought I’d found the man I was seeking.
NOTE: To find out what happens next, click on the title, which is the link to the book on Amazon.
Do you have an idea for a story but don’t know how to start?
Do you have a draft but need an editor?
Are you stuck on your summary? Cover letter? Query?
Do you want to make your story, memoir, or fiction shine and sparkle?
During this 4-week session, I’ll take your writing to the next level. That means something different for everyone. I’ll ask questions about your overall project and the chapters, segments, or scenes you submit. You’ll start seeing new possibilities and approach your writing with renewed energy.
Trying to figure out what to write next? We can do some free writing to help you figure out what you want to write about.
Stuck in your writing or productivity?
Why?
Let’s find out and do something about it.
We will brainstorm, try new tactics and techniques, and move your writing forward. Whether you need help getting started, want to revitalize your writing, are seeking fresh inspiration, or are digging more deeply into familiar subjects, I’d like to be your sounding board and advisor.
Your writing will generate questions from me. As you answer my questions, you’ll start seeing new possibilities. Find out what’s working. Learn to spot the segments that need improvement.
Ready to find a publisher? Let’s work on your cover letter or query and polish those first chapters until they sparkle. Together we’ll make your work the best it can be.
Because this is Independent Study, we work at your pace. I can guide you to useful sources for submitting shorter pieces, help you research and approach agents, and help you learn about the options for self-publishing, depending on your needs.
Tuition
SCN members: $205. Non-SCN members: $255
Instructor Bio
B. Lynn Goodwin owns Writer Advice. She’s written Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62 (memoir), Talent (YA) and You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers (self help). Never Too Late and Talent are award winners. Her newest book, Disrupted, came out in January. Google Goodwin + Disrupted to find it. Shorter works have appeared in Hip Mama, The Sun, Good Housekeeping.com, Purple Clover.com, and Flashquake. She is a reviewer and teacher at Story Circle Network. Visit her website and her blog.
Flash Memoir tells a true story, one that you’ve been a part of as a participant or spectator. It runs 750 words or less. You can submit prose or prose poetry. You can also submit a personal essay or the core of a personal essay.
Sometimes the ending makes readers say “Wow,” for one reason or another. It leaves an impact and makes readers think. If the narrator changes her life, some readers will realize they can change theirs too.
I realize you already know this, but a memoir of any length is a true story as you remember it.
How can you tell your story in 750 words or less? It’s not your whole story; it’s a crucial moment in your life.
Focus on the moment or realization that changed the narrator.
Start far into the story.
Be clear.
Be insightful.
Cut everything that isn’t essential.
Let your verbs and nouns describe.
Let tone, attitude, and behavior as well as dialogue get your ideas across unless you want the piece to be dialogue only.
Can’t fit it into 750 words? Plenty of other places are looking for longer pieces, but you might ask a trusted reader if s/he sees anything that’s not essential to the story
Write about what interests you or the moment you can’t let go of. Or dig out old memoir moments that haven’t placed elsewhere, decide whether or not to revise, and submit those.
You can find some samples of Flash Memoirs in Prior Winners
How do you enter? Starting December 18th, you can use the Submittable link at the bottom of the page. The contest will close on March 2 at midnight ET.
PRIZES? PUBLICATION? ABSOLUTELY! for the best 3 to 8 pieces. All can call themselves winners in Writer Advice’s 2025 Flash Memoir Contest. We no longer rank as first, second, and third place.
JUDGES: Since everyone who’s published is now considered a winner, as opposed to first, second, and third place winners, we use judges from previous contests only when needed. B. Lynn Goodwin consults with former Writer Advice winners as needed.
Questions? Use the Contact Box on the home page.
Submittable will ask for a $5 submission fee which goes towards prizes and an additional $10 if you’d like feedback on what’s working and what might trip readers up. Despite the price of gas, groceries, and everything else, I’m keeping my rates the same, which is my gift to those who enter.
If you prefer to send it directly to me, use the contact box on the home page. I’ll ask you to pay the fee through PayPal and as soon as I receive the payment, I’ll read your work.
Questions? Please ask but read the suggestions first.
SUGGESTIONS:
Stick to 2-3 characters unless you can make your point using only one character.
Start late in the story.
Make every detail–every word–count.
Let the protagonist change.
Give readers a reason to care.
Make descriptions sparkle with verbs and/or nouns.
Know how you want readers to react.
Test your writing by having a trusted friend read it to you. Listen for places she or he trips up and fix them.
Please use a readable font. If we can’t read it, we’ll have to change it. Try Arial or Verdana 14 or 16 if you want the first reader not to struggle.
Done it all? Please stop judging yourself and submit.
Finalists will be notified in mid-December.
If we publish your work, you can call yourself a winner – as opposed to the winner—and you will be financially compensated. The amount varies depending on the number of winners.
FOR BEST RESULTS:
Include your name, contact information, and title on the Submittable form, but include only your title in the actual submission so it remains anonymous. Please leave the header and footer blank.
Since we judge these anonymously, you don’t need a cover letter that includes more than your contact information. If you are a finalist, we’ll ask for a bio.
Pleasedouble-space your submission. We recommend that you use a 14-point font that is easy to read. Cambria, Ariel, and Verdana are all good. If you forget, we may fix it for you.
You own the copyright. If we publish your work, the rights still belong to you, though we ask you not to resubmit to anyone other a publisher or agent until 90 days after it appears on Writer Advice. Please give us credit if it is published elsewhere.
Simultaneous submissions accepted.
If your work is accepted elsewhere, please notify us immediately.
We prefer unpublished work, though we do accept stand-alone excerpts from work seeking a publisher or agent.
Please hit the contact button and ask questions if anything is unclear or missing. Thank you!
Names of all winners will be announced on WriterAdvice, www.writeradvice.com in early April or—worst case–later.
E-mail questions to editor B. Lynn Goodwin through the contact button on the home page. We value your work and look forward to reading it.
COMMENTS FROM PREVIOUS CONTESTANTS:
Although I’ve received many more kind words since I posted these, I haven’t updated. My interest is in your writing–not promotion, though I have books for sale. Curious? Please ask. I appreciate being able to choose where I put my time.
“Thank you for your great advice. I appreciate it and will use it to improve my writing.” –Shelley Malicote
“Your suggestions for improvement rock.” –Shelley Stutchman
“WriterAdvice.com is one of my all-time most reliable and accessible sites for writers. I use it—and recommend it to my clients.” ~Carolyn Howard-Johnson, multi award-winning author of the HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers (http://howtodoitfrugally.com), poetry and fiction
“I can’t tell you how many people I’ve told about the great feedback you give to folks no matter how many entries you get.” –Bill Buschel
“It’s such a refreshing experience to have some exchange — as most submissions disappear into the either like rogue satellites.” –Charles Watts
“Your insights are excellent” –Dan Dubelman
“You are the first professional to offer feedback and your encouraging words have given me additional motivation! It is reassuring to know that I was on the right track; you have a remarkable ability to give constructive feedback in a positive way (and you are absolutely correct). I look forward to submitting more stories and continuing to improve.” –Jamie Fouty
“I learned about this contest from the Submittable page. I then checked out your website and felt comfortable submitting my story as you seem like someone who genuinely wants to help and advise others.” –Roger Yetzer
“I’m always striving to improve my writing, and feedback from editors like you make it much easier to do so.” –Margarite R. Stever
“Many thanks for your response, from it, I can tell you’re very good at what you do.” –Kisa, Visually Versed
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to read and analyze my work . . . It’s not every day a contest gives you comprehensive feedback instead of a simple yes/no!” –Lena Crown
“Thanks for the wonderful feedback, never, never, got that before in thirty years.” –Jenny Hickinbotham
You can do something for me today. For every author you know. For even the authors you don’t. An act of literary citizenship that takes 7-10 minutes. Sure, you can spend time and/or money to be a literary citizen—hosting events, blogging, editing or reading for a journal—or contribute gently to your community by giving thoughtful feedback in your own writing group. But to actually help authors sell books, for free, right now:
Write a review.
Not “pitch a review to a literary publication,” although that’s great, too. Not “write a 900-word blog post balancing serious critique with just enough praise.” Not “read the book twice for fairness and highlight quotes and eventually put something up in a couple of months.” Just write and post a short review, right away.
Write a review of 3-10 sentences. Maybe quote one line you really liked.
I have written and published a number of nonfiction pieces. A personal essay about seeing my dead father shopping at Trader Joes. Another essay about my love life as a gay man in Los Angeles. An article about how my perpetual depression lessened during COVID. But, until recently, I had not tried my hand at an op-ed. Yes, similar to writing more personal nonfiction, but different.
The idea for the editorial was spawned by a headline in the Los Angeles Times, “Growing Fears of ‘Dead Pool’ on Colorado River as Drought Threatens Hoover Dam Water,” which reported that Lake Mead could be at “dead pool” levels by 2025. I’m a constant water worrier, having lived in California most of my life, and Lake Mead is an essential source of water for Southern California. Seeing the words “dead pool” frightened me. Did that mean one of our…
To write is one thing, to be read — deeply read, seen on the page for the writer we can be — is another.
Words on a page amount to something or nothing, until someone other than the writer reads them, and then those words amount to a whole new world. A world of response. A world in which the words give shape to life beyond the writer’s hopes and dreams and take hold as the reader’s.
The ultimate reader is one who, like you, reads the piece in published form. But before then, the wise and the brave writer asks for feedback on the early, pre-published drafts. If it takes courage to write, it surely takes courage to ask for feedback and then more courage to receive it: Courage and calm and confidence. Not always present in good measure, but even a scrap of each…
B. Lynn Goodwin 