Fiction’s shortest genre is to be celebrated close to the shortest day at a two-part event in Kawakawa on Sunday 26 June.

A one-hour workshop for those wanting to learn about writing flash fiction or to hone their craft will be led by flash fiction aficionado Sian Williams, followed by a public event at which the Northland winner of the National Flash Fiction Competition will be awarded a trophy and $50.

Workshop leader Sian Williams edited Flash Frontier, an online flash fiction journal, from 2012–2014. Sian enjoys promoting flash fiction in New Zealand where it’s comparatively little-known and introducing the genre to a new audience of readers and writers.

“I appreciate the diversity of the genre and its myriad forms and limitless voices,” she said.

Sian considers that writing flash fiction helps make other writing more layered and multi-dimensional, making every word count. It’s also a genre that fits well in a busy contemporary life.

She lives in Kerikeri ostensibly writing flash fiction, working on a young adult novel, growing kiwifruit and chauffeuring children to sporting events but in reality life revolves around her dog, Angus.

The event will be held at the KingsTheatre Creative in Kawakawa, and is part of its Winter Wananga series. The workshop runs from 1.30–2.30pm and costs $10. Places are limited so please register with Margaret Cahill at margareta.cahill@gmail.com by Monday 20 June.

The public event starts with afternoon tea at 2.30 and runs till 4pm, and entry is by koha. Four Northlanders were longlisted in the National Flash Fiction Competition and one of them will be awarded the Northland award. They are Kamala Jackson from Whangarei, Sian Williams from Kerikeri, Jac Jenkins from Whangarei and Jane Percival from Kaipara Harbour.

The winner will read their winning entry and the floor will be open to all writers to share their stories. The audience will be entertained with a series of short, engaging readings.