Cats

  • Title: Cats
  • Genre: Science Fiction
  • Length: 1122
  • Written: July 2005
  • Published: The Written Word, February 2008


    • Review:

    Rick Novy’s very short tale of feline plans for insurrection and world domination exhibits the complexity of flash fiction. -- Carole Ann Moleti, The Fix


    Excerpt:
    John walked up to greet the family. "Welcome to PetLand," he said. "Is there anything I can help you find?" Please be here to buy fish food or something else quick.

    "No thanks," the mother said. "We're just here so my daughter can look at the cats."



    Discussion
    Cats was one of my "index card" stories at the Orson Scott Card Literary Boot Camp. During the workshop, we had an assignment to create five story skeletons. This story was the indirect result of a personal interview. I didn't get much out of the interview, but the story came to me while watching a couple of children all ga-ga over the selection of cats. It got me thinking, what if these cats were more than they seem.

    The thing about short-short fiction is the lack of words. Every word must be meaningful. Although the reviewer (above) called this flash, it technically is about 10% too long for flash. This kind of story is a good exercise for writers. They help you to collect your thoughts and distill them into the bare essentials.







    (c) 2005-2007 by Rick Novy

    Last update: 24 March 2007