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So in this most weird of years I wanted to celebrate some of the great flash I've read - reading & writing have been the best escapism. Behold: my top 15 flashes of 2020! (Though I could have picked at least 50). These are the ones that stayed with me for whatever reason. 1/
1. @Jonzeywriter - âSo Far Over The Rainbow The Rainbow Is A Fucking Dotâ. I mean - it has to be included for the name alone. The piece itself is breathless, visceral and vivid. https://www.reflexfiction.com/so-far-over-the-rainbow-the-rainbow-is-a-fucking-dot-flash-fiction-by-gaynor-jones/ 2/
2. @ContesdeFaye - âFishsplaining Baudrillardâ. Whatâs not to love about a robotic, Baudrillard-spouting fish? https://xraylitmag.com/fishsplaining-baudrillard-by-faye-brinsmead/fiction/ 3/
3. @DonnaLouise67 - âAngels only dance with Astronautsâ. I swooned over this when it came out and I will do so again. This flash is pure quality - each sentence is so beautifully crafted.
https://themolotovcocktail.com/vol-11/flashpocalypse/angels-only-dance-with-astronauts/ 4/
https://themolotovcocktail.com/vol-11/flashpocalypse/angels-only-dance-with-astronauts/ 4/
4. @loki_writes - âSomething that can never be heldâ. Iâve said it before, but a perfect flash, AND in second person too.
https://flashbackfiction.com/index.php/2020/05/18/something-that-can-never-be-held/ 5/
https://flashbackfiction.com/index.php/2020/05/18/something-that-can-never-be-held/ 5/
5. @ricketywhite - âThe Principle of Gentlenessâ. This one got me in the feels. No, *youâre* crying. http://heroinchic.weebly.com/blog/the-principle-of-gentleness-by-rick-white 6/
6. @MKenWrites - âIt was the horse that killed herâ. A very deserving winner of the @RetreatWest themed competition. Such a strong voice, and very satisfyingly weird. 3 June
https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/it-was-the-horse-that-killed-her-by-matt-kendrick/ 7/
https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/it-was-the-horse-that-killed-her-by-matt-kendrick/ 7/
7. @TaraCampbellCom - âMy mother is a plantâ. Beautiful and folkloric, requiring many readings to tease out the complexity of this tale.
https://lost-balloon.com/2020/06/17/my-mother-is-a-plant-tara-campbell/ 8/
https://lost-balloon.com/2020/06/17/my-mother-is-a-plant-tara-campbell/ 8/
8. @NeilRClark - âPenâ. I loved this because it was totally batshit and reading it was like watching an action film. âIâm Sandra fucking Bullock!â 9/ https://xraylitmag.com/pen-by-neil-clark/fiction/
9. @thatnancynguyen - âMermaidsâ. There are a lot of mermaid stories, but this did something a bit different. Plus the Vin Diesel part killed me. https://jellyfishreview.wordpress.com/2020/07/03/mermaids-by-nancy-nguyen/ 10/
10. @emmanya - âDear Sophieâ. An unusual format that made me feel pangs of recognition for all the things we leave unsaid.
https://xraylitmag.com/dear-sophie-by-emma-brankin/fiction/ 11/
https://xraylitmag.com/dear-sophie-by-emma-brankin/fiction/ 11/
11. @Chelsea_Stickle - âThrough Rose-Coloured Glassesâ. Iâve never read a flash quite like this before - I found it so engaging.
https://www.thetemzreview.com/prose-chelsea-stickle.html 12/
https://www.thetemzreview.com/prose-chelsea-stickle.html 12/
12. @livingallover - âThe Eight Year Hope of Us.â Another competition winner ( @lunatefiction) - loved the nostalgia & cultural references running though this genuinely uplifting flash. https://lunate.co.uk/monthlyflash/july-2020 13/
13. @eilisecnorris - âFirst dates are for silencesâ. Because, you know, itâs bold to wear a pikachu outfit on a first date; bolder still to write about it.
https://lunate.co.uk/flash/first-dates-are-for-silences-by-eilise-norris 14/
https://lunate.co.uk/flash/first-dates-are-for-silences-by-eilise-norris 14/
14. @ingram_wallace - âScrolling Facebook Memes Waiting for the Paediatricianâ. It wouldn't be a best of 2020 list without including the winner of the @forge_litmag flash prize. The unusual form truly enhances the already achingly poignant narrative.
https://forgelitmag.com/2020/10/19/scrolling-facebook-memes-waiting-for-the-paediatrician/ 15/
https://forgelitmag.com/2020/10/19/scrolling-facebook-memes-waiting-for-the-paediatrician/ 15/
Last but not least: 15. @KathrynKulpa - âRoad Runnersâ. I loved the sense of giddiness & danger in this one. https://milkcandyreview.home.blog/2020/11/12/road-runners-by-kathryn-kulpa/ 16/
There we have it, my top 15 of 2020. I think it's more important than ever to celebrate people creating things that have given us moments of joy or hilarity or escapism during these times.
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