Flash Essay: Feeling Neigborhood Pride

I have just walked inside after working all day in the 100 degree heat here in North Texas. Granted, I have not been out in the direct sun, but I have been working away in a house with no air conditioning. That house is across the street from our Texas home and is a restoration…

Flash Essay: Sammie, Our New Foster Dog

Our daughter Sarah called us a few days ago and told us that her landlord had informed her in no uncertain terms that no dogs were allowed in her new apartment. This was right after she rescued a little Scottie, who had clearly been severely neglected. Ray got off the phone that night and said,…

Flash Essay: Trash or Treasure

I am tired tonight. For good reason. I have, as my husband just said, “Been moving junk around from a life I haven’t participated in for twenty years,” aka “Moving my husband’s stuff around, yet again.” The first time that I realized my husband had an inordinate relationship with “stuff” was several months after we…

Flash Essay: Sharp Edges

We woke up early this morning – 6:30 or 7 – only to discover that our dog had chewed up my husband’s glasses. We found the lenses in many pieces, the earpieces twisted and chewed and we never located the nosepiece. Ray loves this dog more than most humans he knows, so after the shock…

Flash Essay: A New Eating Plan – Back to Basics

My husband Ray has started a new eating program: no eating between meals. He has been at it for two months and I can definitely see that he is thinner as a result. So, of course, I have jumped onboard to see if this will help me trim down my larger-than-I-would-like waistline. I started last…

Flash Essay: One of Those Moments

We loaded up daughter Sarah’s belongings today for her trek back to California. She is driving our long van with a U-haul trailer packed to the brim with her apartment contents. Heading back after three years in medical school in Texas to do her “audition” rotations in CA in hopes of landing a residency in…

Today One Boy’s Life Was Changed. Thank You, President Obama

I was eating lunch at a Chili’s in McKinney, Texas today when over my husband’s shoulder I saw President Obama’s face appear on the television screen mounted on the wall. The caption read: Obama moves on Dream Act. I tried to read the rest but the waitress came with our check and when I looked…

Prompt: No Internet

For some reason, my computer won’t go online.  I’m not sure why, but after a day of helping Rachael take photos all over town for an English project, and then assisting with the writing of two stories, I don’t even care.  Tomorrow I will muster up concern, but tonight has bed calling my name.  All…

Critical Components of Flash Fiction and Flash Nonfiction

Flash fiction and flash nonfiction differ clearly in content, but many of the needs are the same given the conciseness of the form. In an excerpt from The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Flash Fiction, Nathan Leslie in his article, “The “V” Word,” states, “By focusing on language, scene, voice, and character, my students…