lightning flash writing – Allison Renner Writes

My biggest writing accomplishment this year was, of course, publishing Green Light… even though it was written back in 2022! I’m glad it wasn’t immediately picked up, though, because publishing it on the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby is too perfect. A lot of my “writing” life dealt with interviews, reviews, podcasts, and fun extras relating to the book and its release. Get quick links to those things here!

I did a lot of my usual favorite writing experiences, like National Flash Fiction Day and the Ekphrastic Marathon.

I only had 26 submissions this year, yikes! I slacked a lot earlier in the year, but with my birthday resolutions in September, I promised to submit 4 places each month, and have done so since then! I just needed to kick my own butt into gear. I had 8 acceptances from those submissions. (I submitted 45 times in 2024, 111 in 2023, 134 in 2022, and 52 in 2021.)

I wrote several reviews for MicroLit Almanac, plus three craft essays for Intrepidus Ink. (I also wrote and submitted my essay for March Sadness, which of course won’t go live until March, but it’s definitely an accomplishment and I’m really proud of it.)

I started a monthly Substack, posting an article on the 14th of every month. I’ll be honest, it’s mostly just me trying to harness my LiveJournal days, but I have ideas for next year that might truly orient the posts toward “the love of writing,” as the name suggests it should.

While not specifically writing related, I was accepted to be a Short Story/Flash Fiction reader for Split/Lip Press. I’ve missed working with that team and am glad to be back in some small role, and I really think this will help my writing and editing life so much to read amazing submissions during the reading period. I’ll also continue to be a contest editor for Flash Fiction Magazine throughout the year; it’s always inspiring to read stories and help writers revise them (if necessary!).

Speaking of that… I also celebrated the one year anniversary of Lightning Flash Writing!

If you need help polishing your work (flash fiction, short stories, novels – I do it all!), getting your ideas on the page, or marketing yourself or your book, I’m here to help!

2024 Writing in Review

2023 Writing in Review

2022 Writing in Review

2021 Writing in Review

This has been a strange year for my writing… I’ve focused more on paid work, which is great for my bank account, but makes me feel really out of touch with the flash fiction community.

I still did some fun things, like writing during National Flash Fiction Day and taking part in the Ekphrastic Marathon. I wrote some books and outlines for major publishers, and that news will hopefully come out next year. I judged four contests for Flash Fiction Magazine and ghostwrote some books I’m really proud of, so I feel like I had a very creative year even if my submission spreadsheet isn’t reflecting that.

I only had 45 submissions this year, despite initially having a goal of submitting 5 pieces per month. I had 13 acceptances from those submissions. (I submitted 111 times in 2023, 134 in 2022, and 52 in 2021.)

I also only took one writing workshop (plus a few two-hour Zooms), while I used to take a lot more. I generate a lot of content during workshops because I thrive with the prompts and accountability, so I think that might be a big part of my lack of content this year.

I started writing reviews for MicroLit Almanac. Several were books I’d already read or wanted to read, but a few weren’t even on my radar, so I’m grateful I got the chance to read and review them, hopefully helping spread the word of these indie writers so they can get the attention they deserve.

In addition to the online stories and reviews you can read here, I had a flash fiction piece published in Stanchion’s Away from Home anthology and another in the Third Bullshit Lit Anthology.

I also launched my own writing services: Lightning Flash Writing

If you need help polishing your work (flash fiction, short stories, novels – I do it all!), getting your ideas on the page, or marketing yourself or your book, I’m here to help!

2023 Writing in Review

2022 Writing in Review

2021 Writing in Review