In addition to phone calls and letters, its time for writers to have a velvet revolution. I’m creating a webpage called Velvet Flash where anyone can post flash fiction. Aside from a 500-word limit, the only requirements are use of the imagination– one the most radical of freedoms—which means a limit on hatespeak, weaponized fear and gratuitous violence. It can be fabulist, surreal, or realist. Nothing needs to be directly political.You can write 100-word stories about secret acts of defiance. Or a confession from one of DTs ties. It can be about imaginary meetings between you and the government. Confessions from imaginary government officials. Spies with secret powers. Strange protests.
Writing shapes our thoughts, our ability to see things freshly and this fiction helps shapes our perceptions of the rest of the world. Generally novels do the shaping. Now and then flash or a short story (think of The Lottery) is powerful. It also works for writers writing long pieces and feeling stymied during a troubled time. Flash can occur iduring a break, in a blank moment in front of the computer, washing dishes. Writing it will remind you that you can indeed write! If you’re interested, please send your piece with a thumbnail photo to fictionsofresh@gmail.com.
There are also so many other things to do For example, in addition to calling your congressmen, there is an ongoing list on Jezebel of organizations that need support. I also read into the following article on Vox about the best way to talk to racially biased or LGTB– biased people. It was quite enlightening for me.
Above all:
