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Every year, I enter two flash fiction pieces to the contest sponsored by the Museo de la Palabra (The Museum of Words), which was founded by the Cesar Egido Serrano Foundation. The Fundación César Egido Serrano “was created to propose that the word be the tool of coexistence between cultures and religions and against all violence.”  The author of the winning piece receives $20,000. You read that right. Clearly, the Foundation is making a strong statement about the importance of every word spoken and written in discourse.

It’s a real challenge to write a flash piece when the maximum word count is 100 words. Writing with that limitation, I’ve learned, more than ever, to appreciate diction choices. The task also reinforces one’s understanding and sense of what constitutes a story.

My only published flash piece to date is “Con Sord,” a story based in a futuristic world where human beings have lost their ability to speak and, resourceful as they are, have learned to communicate through musical instruments. I’ve written a few others, but haven’t dedicated as much time to this genre, which I find fascinating. So much so, that I designed and taught a course in it while at SUNY Plattsburgh.

Below are my two flash fiction entries for this year’s contest (you’re allowed two). Let me know which one you liked best. Leave your thoughts and remarks in the comments box below. As always, I appreciate your feedback.

Death by Laughter

No one knew how laughter became illegal. Some claimed the Great Leader had not tolerated anyone mocking him. History classes taught her the world had many problems. No time for frivolity, teachers lectured. Signs everywhere proclaimed the fatal punishment for disobedience. Her friend owned a smuggled clip of a comedian. The temptation proved too strong. Under the moonlight, he played it. Her lips curled, eyes twinkled, and from her mouth came a cacophony of sound. “Stop,” he warned, but she continued. In fear, he ran. She could not stop. Days later, they found her corpse, a smile on her face.

Hair and Feathers

From a lost civilization, only their creation myth remains. Their Goddess shaped a sphere from one long strand of her hair and cast it into the heavens. On its surface, she created the oceans, terrain, fauna, flora, as a private, hideaway paradise. Her lover, jealous, plucked feathers from an enormous, winged creature and buried the stringy core. Then, he inhabited her world with humans. He granted them intelligence and curiosity so they may discover the lone cowlick sticking out of the world. Once they found it, he knew they would pull it. And the world would unravel.

In this article, written for DIY MFA, I offer advice to committed BIPOC writers on writing and publishing. Whether you enter an MFA program or not, it is advice that any committed writer should consider. Anyone who reads it, whether BIPOC writer or not, will better understand the current state of publishing in the US. It is advice that I would have loved to have when I started my MFA and my writing career. I also explore issues of representation in publishing, the complexity of which, most people do not grasp. I hope you enjoy this piece and learn from it. As always, I appreciate any feedback you offer in the comments section below. I would like to hear more from you! I always look forward to engaging readers in dialogue. Thanks to Gabriela Pereira of DIY MFA for inviting me to submit a guest post.

DIY MFA is an ingenious website which dedicates itself to offering learning resources for writers. If you cannot study in an MFA program and want to learn more about writing, this website is for you. For more information, here’s the link: https://diymfa.com/about.

Click on Mindy McGinnis’s blog, Writer Writer Pants on Fire, for my guest post: “On Writing the Puerto Rican Diaspora.” You can find it as early as Monday, May 31st, on this link: www.mindymcginnis.com/blog/jl-torres

About Mindy McGinnis:

Mindy McGinnis is the author of multiple novels that span many genres. From historical to fantasy, contemporary to gothic thriller, you can always count on Mindy’s books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us.

A ninth-generation farmer, Mindy attributes much of her character to growing up on an Ohio farm, learning the value of physical labor, and the harshness of the natural world early in life. Much of her writing reflects small-town living and aspects of rural poverty. A former school librarian, Mindy still lives and works in her hometown, and is dedicated to making herself available to financially disadvantaged school districts and communities.

Mindy has done multiple interviews and guest posts over the years, and has been featured on such outlets as NPR and PBS. She’s also been a guest on a myriad of podcasts, blogs, and websites.