June 1, 2022

Episode 69: Flash Fiction

Episode 69: Flash Fiction

FLASH FICTION (by Jeff Robinson, Don Muchow, and Gil Schmidt)

Time for something DIFFERENT! Please enjoy this episode of FLASH FICTION sci-fi stories. These stories have been proven even more difficult to write, and write well, than our longer stories - as well as novels and novellas. Writing short stories is a challenge.

It is harder to write a very short story than a long one, because every word becomes important.

“Perhaps the best example of this is the “six-word story”. Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway won a bet by writing the six-word story. He wrote:

“For Sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.”

It is amazing how few words can generate such emotive force.

Since then, numerous competitions are held annually that challenge writers to produce such ultra-short stories.

Indeed, since 2000 Flash fiction has become a special sub-genre of science fiction that does not receive nearly enough attention.”

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Don MuchowProfile Photo

Don Muchow

Guest Author

Don Muchow is a guest writer on the Untold Tales podcast. Don lives and works in the suburbs of Dallas, TX, where he is currently training to finish his "bucket list" run across the United States. A lifelong advocate of immersive, dystopian SF, he believes that buried in the shadows of every dark future lies the inextinguishable spirit of hope and the yearning for a better tomorrow. When he's not imagining dystopian futures, you can catch Don running across the US or planning his next epic exploit.

He has appeared in 10 episodes and is scheduled for 9 more in the near future.

Gil SchmidtProfile Photo

Gil Schmidt

Guest Author

"I was born. I’m told I was very little. Had to grow, but did so by tearing around the neighborhood crashing into things (trees can be tricky) or acting like each baseball game (or any game, for that matter) was a "winner take all" epic. And by reading. Plenty of short stories, particularly those in "Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine" and "Boy's Life." Also comic books, tons and tons of comic books, along with science fiction by the truckloads. And anything else I could find, from "Newsweek" and "Reader's Digest" to "Highlights" and the encyclopedia. Started writing at 12, have kept at it since. Not as prolific as I like, but then again, whose fault is that? I say the trees, who have a record of 11-0 against me. On the other hand, my stories have appeared in thousands of printed pages, so maybe I have evened the score." - Gil Schmidt

He has appeared in 1 episode and is scheduled for another in the near future.

Dr. Jeffrey A. RobinsonProfile Photo

Dr. Jeffrey A. Robinson

Author / Co-Founder

Jeffrey A Robinson is the co-creator, editor, and principal writer of the Untold Tales podcast, a collection of short stories of the highest caliber based on the first in a set of three published science fiction anthologies. Jeff is a retired technologist, who grew up loving to read science fiction. After serving as a Naval Flight Officer, who flew F-4 Phantom jets, and an Air Traffic Controller, in the Marine Corps, he became a device physicist in a semiconductor-manufacturing facility and an expert in Manufacturing Execution Systems, computer automation, integration & cybersecurity. He has a B.A. in Physics, a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, an MBA, and a Ph.D. in Information Systems. He also has postgraduate certificates in Computer Forensics, and a PMP, and is a certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt, as well.

Melissa Del Toro SchaffnerProfile Photo

Melissa Del Toro Schaffner

Narrator / Co-Founder / Producer

Melissa Del Toro Schaffner is the primary Narrator for ALL the UNTOLD TALES episodes. She is an American Voice Actor and the co-creator narrator of The Untold Tales Podcast. In addition to being in the Mom after 40 club, she wears multiple hats including international best selling author, accomplished Accountability Coach, and creator/ illustrator of the Minority Girl Empowerment Coloring Book “Careers for Little Sisters” (available in English and Spanish). Melissa was also a contestant on the nationally televised game show “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire” and shares a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and MBA background with Jeff. Her current mission to inspire one million women to live the life of their dreams.