Three New Blogs Added to Blog List

For those interested in writing for Avenir Eclectia, there is a place with much info concerning this shared universe. The blog is called "Inside Avenir Eclectia" and hosted by Grace Bridges, founder of the Avenir Eclectia story world.

Through my friend, Walt, I found "Rocket Science for the Rest of Us" hosted by Karina Fabian. Okay, I admit it. I have it in my blog roll for my own sake because I'M interested in space and rocket science. Walt is doing a smash up job giving an eye witness to the space race starting in the fifties.

The third and final addition is "Travis's Big Idea". Hey, I listen to anyone who can help me get my mind around dimensions that the human mind cannot naturally detect. He is also in my list so I can find him faster. Anyone else who wants to tag along can enjoy the benefit. Also, Travis is a fellow AE author exploring ideas and pushing creativity in Grace's playground for speculative writers.

Number 9 Is Up At Avenir Eclectia

What could be worse than the dreaded Avenir Eclectia ailment "Ash Lung". Well, if Jereth Davis is telling the truth this time, the answer may lie here:

http://www.avenireclectia.com/2011/11/worse-than-ash-lung.html

Installment # 8 Up At Avenir Eclectia

#8, "The Offering" is up. Thanks to those who have commented over there already.

http://www.avenireclectia.com/2011/11/offering.html

Titles in Flash Fiction

In flash fiction, every word counts and often does double duty.
Because you can use precious few words, the title becomes even more important and can be utilized to do double duty.
The title can help place the characters in their setting so less words are need in the body of the work.
Grace doest this in "Maddie's Pub" on Avenir Eclectia by letting the reader know where this story takes place even before it starts.
http://www.avenireclectia.com/2011/05/maddies-pub.html

It can also can be used to foreshadow and add extra 'punch' to the last line or hook of the story. I did this in "Just Remember".
http://www.avenireclectia.com/2011/09/just-remember-flashback.html

These are two ways to get the most out of your titles. I wouldn't mind knowing more ways if anyone has any ideas.

Installment # 7 Is Up At Avenir Eclectia

I'm kind of excited about this one.

It's my first attempt to interact with other people's characters, Grace's Maddie, and Kat's Jax.
I hope to do more of this in the future.

http://www.avenireclectia.com/2011/10/meeting-at-maddies.html

Installment # 6 Is Up On Avenir Eclectia

Dangerous Jobs, #6 of my story thread is up on Avenir Eclectia.

http://www.avenireclectia.com/2011/10/dangerous-jobs.html

It's fun pulling some of the stories together.

Power of Imagination

I Reckon entirely upon the reader to add for himself the subjective elements that are lacking in the story.
--Anton Chekhov

It is true that writers have imagination. But so do readers.
I've heard it said that there are actually two stories contained in every book. There is the story that the writer wrote and then the story the reader reads.
I know this is true for me.
Have you ever read a book and then tried to watch a movie made from it. It never looks anything like I imagined, even with movies that stick close to the book. How the movie is visually made is based on the imagination and vision of someone else. And their pictures and take away info is different from everybody elses.

The reader fills in the holes and creates their own visual of a story that may differ a bit from what the writer envisioned. But this is not a bad thing.

And flash or micro-fiction leave more holes than regular story telling. Because word count is so low, fewer words are used. It's kind of like trying to get a overloaded airplane or other flying ship off the ground. It's too heavy and you have to start throwing things overboard.
In a story, a lot of description has to get tossed out. Not all of it, by any means. There has to be some setting, otherwise our characters are floating in space with nothing to attach to. But there are a lot of holes, a lot of details left out because they have to be. If they aren't, then the writing is all description with little or no action or plot.

So as flash fiction writers, we have to have faith in the imagination of the reader, that it will be strong enough to fill in the details. I find this leap of faith exhilarating