An anthology of Flash mostly by Flash Festival Bristol 2023 attendees. Of the 80 pieces (many inspired by the workshops), about 18 are by men. Authors include some well known Flash/small-press names - Carrie Etter, Diane Simmons, Ingrid Jendrzejewski, Jude Higgins, K M Elkes, Meg Pokrass, Michael Loveday, Nancy Stohlman, Vanessa Gebbie, etc.
The pieces (max 300 words) are mostly Flash Fiction, though there's the odd prose poem and CNF piece ("Becoming Marie"). Some pieces look suspiciously innocuous, as if I've missed the point. A few are commented on by judges, which I found useful.
I can only read a few pieces at a time. I'm still learning how to like some styles of Flash. I think that I have the most trouble with quirky (Pokrassian?) pieces which have a surprise each sentence. I've a bias towards formalist pieces and pieces that have an essay tone.
Phil Hudson's story fooled me, though maybe it should have a different title. My favourites included "A Foreign Place" and "Barbie Arm", reprints by experts Kathy Fish and Nancy Stohlman.
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