Writer Unboxed

Flash, a-ah, saviour of the universe
Flash, a-ah, you saved every one of us
Flash, a-ah, he’s a miracle
Flash, a-ah, king of the impossible 

Who doesn’t love Flash? Saving women, children and small dogs everywhere. And writers, of course, with his inspirational mini-blips that can help de-rut a rutted writer…

What’s that you say? Wrong flash? Well, the idea still stands: Flash writing is like feeding your depleted muse a power bar. The gist of this type of writing is to hand your mind a simple idea and then let it create an almost instant story based on that idea–without interruption, without editing. It’s a great exercise in unboxed thinking, a balm for a writer’s ego, and it doesn’t take much time at all. Bonus: you may land on a concept or find a character you just can’t resist growing into something bigger and better. I know some of my favorite short stories were born from flash writing. So, want to try a few? Pick one or two of mine, then let your muse take you wherever she wants for a few paragraphs or a few pages. She’ll revive, and you’ll agree: Flash is a miracle!

Ready to flash? Here’s how it works. Read through the list. Does your mind start crafting wild ideas for one prompt in particular? Choose it, and write…now! Flashing means doing it quick, and not giving yourself time to analyze. Just follow the muse.

Flash Prompts for WU:

THE CAT NEXT DOOR

FEVER

IT ALL BEGAN WITH A PINCH

MUFFINS FOR DINNER

BELOW THE BASEMENT

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: CONTENT PROVIDER

HOLDING BACK THE SECOND HAND

THE KING’S DRUID

ALTOID KISS

SHARK’S TOOTH

THE VOO DOO KIT

IT LANDED IN MY BACKYARD

THE REPLACEMENTS

Write on, all!

Therese Walsh co-founded Writer Unboxed in 2006. Her debut novel, The Last Will of Moira Leahy, sold to Random House in a two-book deal in 2008, was named one of January Magazine’s Best Books of 2009, and was a Target Breakout Book in 2010. She's never been published with a lit magazine, but LOST's Carlton Cuse liked her haiku best on Twitter, and that made her pretty happy.

Therese Walsh

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