Berkeley Flash Fiction Pioneer Grant Faulkner Launches New "Flash Novel" and Memoir Platform

Berkeley writer Grant Faulkner continues to reshape the literary landscape with his latest book release and the launch of a new memoir-focused platform, cementing the Bay Area’s position as a hub for innovative short-form writing.

Faulkner’s seventh book, “something out there in the distance,” represents a new format he calls a “flash novel” — a collection of super-short stories that accompany photographs by Los Angeles photographer Gail Butensky, according to University of New Mexico Press. The 87-page book tells the story of two lovers, Dawn and Jonny, on a road trip through the American West.

“Usually there’s a lot of angst and anguish that goes into writing a whole book,” Faulkner said, according to the source material. “This was so joyful and organic. I just picked a photo and if it spoke to me I would write about it.”

The Berkeley resident has established himself as both a master and promoter of flash fiction, the ultra-short story format that has gained popularity alongside social media’s influence on writing habits. Faulkner cofounded the literary journal 100 Word Story in 2011 and launched the Flash Fiction Institute in 2025, creating educational resources for the growing community of writers interested in the form.

“Writers under 30 especially seem so ravenous with their interest in flash,” Faulkner said, attributing the format’s growth to “the short bursts of internet and social media writing.”

Faulkner’s entrepreneurial approach to literature extends beyond flash fiction. In May 2025, he launched Memoir Nation in collaboration with Brooke Warner, publisher and founder of Berkeley’s She Writes Press. The platform serves as a community hub for memoirists, offering membership tiers that include classes, coaching and events.

The partnership has already produced results. Memoir Nation’s signature event, JanYourStory, attracted approximately 1,500 participants in its inaugural year, according to the source material. Faulkner designed the challenge as a more accessible version of National Novel Writing Month, with participants aiming to write 500 words daily rather than the traditional 1,700.

Faulkner brings extensive experience to his memoir venture, having served as executive director of Berkeley-based NaNoWriMo for 12 years. He departed the organization two years before it closed in 2025 following a series of controversies.

The writer’s influence extends across multiple Bay Area literary organizations. He serves on the board of Litquake, San Francisco’s annual literary festival, and sits on the writers council at the National Writing Project, a Berkeley nonprofit focused on improving writing instruction.

Faulkner has also ventured into television, partnering with Kanopy on “America’s Next Great Author,” a reality TV show with an undetermined air date.

His literary credentials include “The Art of Brevity: Crafting the Very Short Story,” published in 2023, and extensive teaching experience in flash fiction at universities and adult education programs nationwide. Faulkner moved to Berkeley in 2004 and has since become one of the Bay Area’s most connected literary figures.

Despite his numerous projects, Faulkner shows no signs of slowing down. He has another novel in development with University of New Mexico Press.

“Gotta make a living!” Faulkner said of his various endeavors. “I love it all. My wife tells me to stop and I just can’t. I’m happier than I’ve ever been career wise.”

Faulkner will discuss his new book in conversation with ZYZZYVA editor Oscar Villalon at 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 26, at the San Francisco Public Library’s main branch.

The event offers local readers an opportunity to engage with a writer who has helped establish the Bay Area as a center for experimental literary forms while building sustainable communities for writers across genres.