Compression: Randall Silvis
“Writing that is best experienced as something felt rather than as something understood requires compression. Compression in writing should not entail a squeezing together, not compacting, as we do with trash, so that all of the trash is still there but in a smaller package. Compression in writing should be a distillation, a simmering away until the broth is reduced in volume but doubled in richness, until the juice sweetens into a syrup. Compression of trash requires brute force. Compression in writing, like compression in cooking, requires a delicate hand and a watchful eye, a refinement of the tongue, and a tender brutality of the heart.” — Randall Silvis
Compression: Leah Browning
“Compression is an important element for me, in both poetry and prose. I’ve always been fascinated by writers who can evoke a strong image, feeling, or story using words in an extremely economical way.” — Leah Browning
Compression: Steve Castro
“Compression is the solitary breadcrumb that fell off the king’s table. ” — Steve Castro
Compression: Shannon Winward
“Compression, to me, would mean essence. Sometimes it’s how much you can pack into a word—or, what you leave out. ” — Shannon Winward
Compression: David Salner
“Compression means a self-hating respect for your reader’s time.” — David Salner
Compression: Mary Meriam
“A compressed poem is a champagne grape.” — Mary Meriam
Compression: Mikl Paul
“To the subject of compression, it seems it should be a natural fruit to the belief in the imagination. That the story should lead the heart and mind of the reader beyond where mere definition and scenery will ever allow you to arrive. Every word should be a fuse, that ignites the gap between itself, and the next.” — Mikl Paul
Compression: Lennart Lundh
“Compression? When it’s right for the story. I really like the Canadian term, ‘postcard.'” — Lennart Lundh
Compression: Howie Good
“If dance is largely about being still and music largely about the silence between notes, then writing is largely about what’s implied rather than what’s stated. There are some things that can be said better with fewer words than with more. Yes?” — Howie Good
Compression: Adrian Potter
“Compression is vital to my creative process. I constantly strive to say as much as I can being stingy with my words, in order to stir a strong emotion with a reader with as few sentences or lines as possible.” — Adrian Potter
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