Short stories and Flash fiction

[slj3988]

As an aspiring writer, I am searching for opportunities to learn and to grow as I seek the means to be noticed. Entering competitions is one of them. Something I come across often, alongside poetry, is short story and flash fiction entries.

The challenge for me is meeting those word counts. I struggle to condense the plot into 10-20 pages. Maybe I over-complicate stories but the ideas I have would feel somewhat wasted to not tell the whole story. And there's the worry your best stuff isn't going to be fairly credited.

Does anyone have any tips regarding novellas or flash fiction?

[suzzan kristina]

Do you have any ideas that aren’t begging to be explored. Like looking at a sunset or going for a walk. Keep your good stuff for the novels and try other things for shorter works.A list of metaphors and similes helps me

[slj3988]

There's poetry I could use. Pretty much everything else has me itching to expand.

[Nduthu43]

I would use short themes for short stories and flash fiction. Like weather, one time events and encounters.

[Samuel Windybank]

I struggle with this, too. I always want to flesh the characters and their backstories out too much.