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Short-Form Creative Writing
A Writer's Guide and Anthology
- Textbook
Short-Form Creative Writing
A Writer's Guide and Anthology
- Textbook
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Description
A complete introduction to the art and craft of extremely compressed works of imaginative literature, this book, now in its second edition, introduces both traditional and innovative approaches to the short form and demonstrates how it possesses structure, logic, and coherence while simultaneously resisting expectations.
With discussion questions, writing prompts, flash interviews, and illustrated key concepts, the book covers prose poetry, flash fiction, micro memoir, lyric essay, cross-genre/hybrid writing and much more. With new additions such as a chapter on inspiration and expansions that now cover such concepts as shape, humour, time, revision and publishing, H. K. Hummel and Stephanie Lenox have produced the ultimate companion to writing short fiction.
Featuring an extensive and wide-ranging anthology that offers inspiring examples of short-form writing in all of the styles covered by the book, it now includes micro dramas and flash comics alongside work from writers across the globe such as by Charles Baudelaire, Grant Faulkner, Jamaica Kinkaid Kay Ulanday Barrett, Kevin Brockmeier, D. E. Hardy, Jose Hernandez, Diaz, Mihee Kim, Suzan-Lori Parks, Alyssa Quinn, and Claudia Rankine.
Table of Contents
List of Tables
Preface for the Second Edition
Part I: an Introduction to Short-form Creative Writing
Chapter 1: Revolutionary Short Forms
Chapter 2: Inspiration and Innovation
Part II: the Craft of Short-form Creative Writing
Chapter 3: Making Sense
Chapter 4: Deep Conversations
Chapter 5: Moving Through Time and Space
Chapter 6: Microcosmic Design
Chapter 7: How to Leap: Aha Moments and Symbolic Logic
Chapter 8: Finding Your Funny
Chapter 9: Misfit Pleasures
Part III: Strategies for Short-form Creative Writing
Chapter 10: Beg, Borrow, and Steal
Chapter 11: Not So Fast! Strategic Revision
Chapter 12: What's Next?
Part IV: Short-form Anthology
Appendix A: Student Work
Appendix B: Genre Index
End Notes
Contributor Bios
Bibliography
Index
Product details

Published | 07 Feb 2026 |
---|---|
Format | Ebook (PDF) |
Edition | 2nd |
Extent | 320 |
ISBN | 9781350459311 |
Imprint | Bloomsbury Academic |
Illustrations | 15 bw illus |
Series | Bloomsbury Writer's Guides and Anthologies |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
About the contributors
Reviews
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PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION:
Although this book is a writing guide and anthology for the short form, Hummel and Lenox include sections on key concepts that are relevant to any class in writing fiction--for example, image, voice, style. The authors address thematic and stylistic concerns of brevity in recurring chapter features such as 'One-Sentence Workshop,' which allow students to try out aspects of short-form technique. The opening chapter includes an in-depth history of the short form, a rare offering in such 'flash' textbooks … The authors include work by writers as varied as Charles Baudelaire, Terry Tempest Williams, and Ocean Vuong, and the result is a thoughtfully produced volume offering variety in theme and approach, national origin, cultural background, and time period … Summing Up: Recommended. - CHOICE
[A] comprehensive book with helpful sections on narrative voice, time and space, sentence structure, logic, humor, revision, and other integral elements of craft specifically geared toward the short creative prose form. The guide is filled with writing exercises and prompts, and includes an anthology of over fifty exemplary short-form pieces. - Poets & Writers
A complete introduction to the art and craft of extremely compressed works of imaginative literature. Aspiring writers are introduced to both traditional and innovative approaches to the short form and demonstrate how it possesses structure, logic, and coherence while simultaneously resisting expectations … While especially and unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library Literary Studies and Writing/Publishing collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and aspiring writers. - Midwest Book Review -
What a treasure Short-Form Creative Writing is! It's not only packed with inspiring examples but with crystalline prose that unpacks the examples in a way that gives inspiration and direction. Flash interviews, writing prompts, group activities, one-sentence workshops -- H. K. Hummel and Stephanie Lenox have provided anything a practitioner of short-form writing could desire, and then some.
Beth Ann Fennelly, Distinguished Professor of English, University of Mississippi, USA