Compression: Theodore Worozbyt
“When I write prose poems, I think of them as developing from a center outward, and that center is often not a premise or even the beginning of a narrative, it is simply a discrete thought, often simply an arresting image, which then comes into collision with another, and the thing starts stitching itself together, or it doesn’t. Unlike the verse line, with its strictly regulated length, the sentence in a prose poem is a virtually limitless space, and therefore the role of compression in composition is crucial. Every word, every mark of punctuation, every syntactical choice must contribute to the sharp jab that is, for me at least, the mark of a good prose poem.” — Theodore Worozbyt
Compression: Diane Gillette
“I try to capture the smallest of moments that have the biggest of impact. Even if we don’t get to see what that impact might be, the reader should be left with a sense of just how big that moment was. For me, that is what a compressed story is all about.” — Diane Gillette
Compression: Mary McCluskey
“Compression is, to me, condensing or distilling a story down to its very essence. Think of a basket of grapes—press and you get wine, distil it further and you get Grappa. A liquid that burns the throat, leaves a fire in the belly and the head. And it’s (at least) 70 per cent proof. A short fiction should be 70 per cent proof.” — Mary McCluskey
Compression: Judy Huddleston
“Compression can turn story into poetry.” — Judy Huddleston
Compression: J. J. Steinfeld
“Compression enables me to utilize a minimalist approach as I wander the terrain between the absurd and the existential in an effort to present a spectrum of eclectic and idiosyncratic takes on the human condition.” — J. J. Steinfeld
Compression: Curtis Smith
“I really enjoy boiling a story down to its essence—I love it when I can take a situation and give it depth with a hint or minimal amount of words” — Curtis Smith
Compression: Ryan Ridge
“In terms of literary compression, I think the twin virtues of brevity and speed are the only reason literature remains relevant in an otherwise here-today-gone-today-era. A well written flash doesn’t take up much of the reader’s time but it occupies vast real estate in her mind. Get in, get out. Don’t fuck around. Be precise.” — Ryan Ridge
Compression: Monique Finley
“Compression like wit requires minutiae to perfect the fit. ” — Monique Finley
Compression: Mark Budman
“The hardest part of writing is not the creation but removal. Michelangelo knew what the term ‘compressed’ means. Take the slab of raw marble and remove all the unnecessary matter until only the statue remains.” — Mark Budman
Compression: Maude Larke
“My compression statement: A phone number. A joke. An ‘I love you.’ Some things just tell themselves.” — Maude Larke
Matter Press is now offering private flash fiction workshops and critiques of flash fiction collections here.
Upcoming:
03/23 • Kenneth Pobo
03/30 • Roberta Allen
04/06 • Avril Shakira Villar
04/13 • TBD
04/20 • TBD
04/27 • TBD
05/04 • TBD
05/11 • TBD
05/18 • TBD
05/25 • TBD
06/01 • TBD
06/08 • TBD
06/15 • TBD
06/22 • TBD
06/29 • TBD
07/06 • TBD
07/13 • TBD
07/20 • TBD
07/27 • TBD
08/03 • TBD
08/10 • TBD
08/17 • TBD
08/24 • TBD
08/31 • TBD
09/07 • TBD
09/14 • TBD
09/21 • TBD