Twitter-ization has shortened everything: blog posts, book reviews, and friendly communication. Now it's shortened the already-shortened art of flash fiction.

Author Robert Swartwood coined the literary term "Hint Fiction" this week, describing any story that falls under 25-words, not counting the title. Until April 30th, he's sponsoring a hint fiction contest--Stewart O'Nan (pictured), the author of "A Prayer For The Dying" and "Songs For The Missing," will judge the final entries.

Here's more from the post: "'Hint Fiction: When Flash Fiction Becomes Just Too Flashy' is up today at Flash Fiction Chronicles ... I talk about how short you can make a story until it's no longer considered a story. And what does the winner receive? A $25 gift certificate to Amazon. Which basically works out to a dollar a word. Which, if you think about it, ain't too shabby." (Via HTMLGiant)