Flash Fiction

What is Flash Fiction?

Flash fiction is the term used to describe very short stories of anything from a few words up to 1,000 words. Other terms commonly used are sudden fiction and microfiction.

My First Flash Fiction Collection

I published my first collection of flash fiction, Quick Change, in 2014 to mark National Flash Fiction Day, which takes place on 21st June – the shortest night in the northern hemisphere and the shortest day south of the equator. Originally issued as an ebook, the excellent reviews persuaded me to turn it into a paperback, which I did in February 2015, featuring a gorgeous new cover (pictured right).

Quick Change comprises 20 very short stories ranging from 100 to 1000 words in length. As its title suggests, it turns the spotlight on moments of change, whether physical, emotional, or psychological. To add shape and order to the collection, the stories are arranged in chronological order by age of a key character in each story, from new-born baby to the newly deceased.

Within a month of its launch, Quick Change had already attracted many excellent reviews:

• “A book of tiny gems. Debbie Young’s attention to detail brings the extraordinary out of the everyday.” – Calum Kerr, Founder & Director of National Flash Fiction Day & highly acclaimed author of flash fiction
• “Sly, witty, surprising, and the twists are genuine twists. The characterisation is lovely, very deft and economical. They make domesticity look edgy, sometimes dangerous, but they are also life-affirming.” – Lucienne Boyce, historical novelist and historian 
• “Very subtle, very English, very clever. I also loved the overall idea, the way the stories went from infancy to old age, shedding a revealing light on each stage.” – Marius Gabriel, author of historical novels and contemporary thrillers 
• “A joy to read, absolutely delightful!” – Georgia Rose, contemporary novelist 
• “The language reveals a sharp intellect and a broad knowledge.” – Mari Howard, contemporary novelist 
• “Sharp observational skills… poignant and entertaining.” Dianne on Amazon.co.uk
• “A brilliant read!” Tino on Amazon.co.uk
• “While some are simple tales of lessons learned, people lost, others loved, many stories stand out thanks to Young’s use of magical realism (more, please!) and more than a few perfect that sting-in-the-tale style twist, which for me is the real secret weapon in this genre. I should also mention how funny many of the stories were; I found myself smiling to myself much of the way through.” – “Amazon customer” on Amazon. co.uk

You can order Quick Change from all good bookshops, on the high street and online.

From now on, I’ll be publishing a new flash fiction collection for every National Flash Fiction Day.

My Flash Fiction in Anthologies

My flash fiction stories have also been featured in National Flash Fiction Day’s online journal, Flash Flood, in 2013 and 2014. Another of my stories was selected for the event’s prestigious 2014 anthology, Eating My Words, now available in print and as an ebook.

I was also invited to contribute a story to Change The Ending, an interesting anthology aimed at promoting positive thinking around local government. My published story, Upwardly Mobile, is a celebration of mobile libraries.

I welcome the opportunity to be involved in other flash fiction and short story anthologies and events, and I’m a supporter and co-judge (with organiser John Holland) of Stroud Short Stories, which takes place near me twice a year.

Free Samples

Here are three free samples of stories taken from Quick Change:  

• Going to Grandma’s
• The Mutton and the Lamb
• Clean Linen

You can buy the ebook of Quick Change via all good ebook retailers, and the paperback will be launched in January 2015.