hint fiction

winner winner hot sauce dinner

Ok, for the “Wink Wink” contest, the 2010 results are in!

It was tough, very tough–like counting lilies in a pond or bicycling on a bowling lane tough–to reach a decision.

I want to thank everyone including the various ANONs who turned in the usual crudely sexual themes. The internet could not exist without you, ANONs of the world.

The winner is “twice, never again” by Tom.

I found it ambiguous in a satisfying way, as opposed to confusing. I found I could read off-the-page and feel personal (I’ve felt this way with drugs, diet sodas, noodle shops, certain bedroom follies, etc.) but also universal (forgiveness of_____, themes of relationships, guilt, etc.). I thought it worthy of a late-night ponder. It generated momentum. It did not teach or preach. It appealed to my deeper self.

Congratulations, Tom. Send me an email (leapsloth14@hotmail.com) with address for your book, hot sauce, and deck of cards.

Finalists include:

“spooning in church” by Ben Brooks and “Corby trouser press” by Donald.

Look out in 2011 for Wink Wink 2.

Contests / 15 Comments
April 30th, 2010 / 9:57 am

Wink Wink Contest

Been following Hint Fiction?

The contest?

If you read HTML, yes. (Thanks, Roxane)

I glow flash, write/teach/advocate for flash. But I’m wondering. When do we do this big, when do we go all the way, I mean fucking Double Down KFC big?

I want  a contest where every submission is a blank page. Everything off the page.

Who will write the next silent symphony, the 4:33? The Godot of flash?

Who is up for a blank page flash contest?

Oh that’s just silly (or smart?). Let’s go 3, 3–a holy number, words. Give me 3 words. I’ll begin.

Dolphin Nachos, Bono?

(The award is a good book [my choice–it will rock ass], hot sauce [It will kill your spleen and brain. It will be hot like donuts or making out in the bathroom at that Halloween party] and a brand new deck of kick-ass cards [literary theme])

Random / 380 Comments
April 28th, 2010 / 6:14 pm

A Hint Fiction Contest + A Flatmancrooked Launch

Last year the term “hint fiction” was introduced in the essay “Hint Fiction: When Flash Fiction Becomes Just Too Flashy” by Robert Swartwood, published at Flash Fiction Chronicles. To commemorate the occasion, a retrospective essay by the same author , “Hint Fiction: One Year Later” appears at FFC today. To celebrate Hint Fiction’s birthday, Robert is having another contest.

What is Hint Fiction? Inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s infamous six-word story — “For sale: Baby shoes, never worn” — Hint Fiction is a story of 25 words or fewer that suggests a larger, more complex story. These are complete stories that hint at a larger story, not a first sentence or random sentence plucked from a larger work thinly disguised as a story. To see examples, look at last year’s winners and finalists.

READ MORE >

Author News & Contests / 13 Comments
April 19th, 2010 / 12:51 pm

HINT FICTION CONTEST

barry graham asked me to mention this contest. the guidelines are here. you have to write something termed “hint fiction” which is a piece of writing at or below 25 words. do the contest. don’t be stubborn.

Uncategorized / 37 Comments
April 20th, 2009 / 11:11 pm