Flash Fiction and other things

    This is mostly a link dump post, but still pertinent to what I am doing (if we just saying that what I am doing is writing).
    Recently I was informed that The Globe and Mail, in cooperation with Harper Collins, is running a Flash Fiction contest to promote the newest edition of the Harper Collins Canadian Dictionary.  The only real limitations are that the entry cannot be more than 1000 words (thus “flash” fiction) and must contain at least ten of the “New” Canadian words in this edition.
    Easy stuff, right?  So I have to say mikmuk and poutine a couple times, that doesn’t sound all that difficult.  That part isn’t, it’s the “flash” component.  Flash fiction is essentially a vignette, or a short, very descriptive literary sketch.  It occurs within a greater story, painting a picture of perhaps a ten-minute period within one much larger story (and that larger story, btw, is never entirely discussed, just alluded to).
    Flash Fiction has generally been my bane.  I am a Rambling Man, prone to bumbling and blathering along to say things, sadly much like Tolkien (who was, I will admit, a greater master of the rambling arts than I).  So condensing something to only a couple of pages really is a tough spot for me.  Still, it’s worth a shot and I will be giving in the college try, and later will link the aforementioned vignette here, so you, my diligent and dedicated cadre of fanatics can read it.

    Next, I want to talk about something quite local.  The Creative Arts Guild, formerly the Durham Comic Guild, based in Oshawa, Ontario and catering to…well Durham.  I was originally drawn to the CAG when I heard about them at FanExpo 2009, and saw the potential to find an artist who might work on a Steampunk (and entirely relevant to my work) comic book mini-series/graphic novel.  Something that could primarily focus my work, and secondarily make a buck or two (not to mention tertiarially get me contacts within my desired community).
    I won’t lie, as is my way, I dithered.  I avoided contacting the CAG (then the DCG) because my idea wasn’t “flush” it lacked the purity of form that my secret anal-retentive soul holds dear.  The weekend that just passed, as I was attending the Pickering Arts Festival in support of my friend Emily (see some of her work over at Suspended Imagination) I discovered that the CAG had a booth there, and got to talking to a couple of the members (to all three of you, I apologise but your names have escaped me).  What I can say of them is this: they were not only interested in what I had to say, but they were encouraging.  They wanted me to show interest in meetings and post on their lovely forums, and whether that was for traffic or actual interest I don’t care; they made me feel wanted.
    That’s vital to an artist of any kind: we are isolated folks, and for too long I’ve been remiss on working within my chosen community.  So thank you to the three musketeers of the CAG!

    That’s about it for me today, surprisingly brief I know, I just wanted to let everyone know about these things, if you are local sorts they are great resources and contests that you really need to look at.  To the CAG members reading this, I look forward to seeing you at a future meeting.  Excelsior!