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I admit, I tend to overwrite. In every form of writing (except syllable-controlled poetry forms). So when I write flash fiction, I need to do a lot of cutting.

Word choice: First, I look for words and phrases that readers might not understand or might throw them out of the story.

• slang

• dialect

• idioms

• difficult-to-read names

Dialogue: Next, I look for wasted words in dialogue. Flash fiction tends to use very little dialogue so I cut a lot here and turn the rest to summaries of conversation.

• unneeded interruptions

• repetition

• dialogue tags

• adjectives and adverbs

• correcting another person

Narrative: Finally, I look at the bulk of the story.

• trivial details

• modifiers

• long sentences

• anything not in POV

• flashbacks and memories

• words that could become contractions