Skeleton Key to Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Intro to Flash Fiction Test Kitchen and its Skeleton Key, by Robert Fuller
Flash Fiction Test Kitchen is now my working title for the daily Flash Fiction project that I began in mid-February 2024. Originally, I was going to write at least one Flash Fiction piece per day for a full leap year (366 days, 2024 being of course a leap year), but then it went on and on, eventually to a total of 512 days straight, just a couple of weeks past my 63rd birthday.
What I am referring to as a "Skeleton Key" for this project is ultimately a guide to the interrelationships between the individual elements of this vast canvas of short fictions of one sort or another.
At the time of the present writing (9/30/2025), my best judgment informs me that the interrelationships between the various components of this project will be grouped into three different groupings: Themes/Motifs, Characters, and Settings.
This list of groupings may be added to at a later date, but for now, they will suffice.
My intent in adding this new feature is to expedite the reader's ability to find common threads among these disparate writings, and to allow the reader to cross-reference some of the themes, characters, and settings that occur within these incoherent ramblings of my addled mind.
But seriously, there are numerous threads and strands of varied nature that occur within this body of work, and I myself am still struggling to interpret the true nature of what I have written.
I must confess that I was most highly motivated to make this feature happen once I had read (reread, that is) the first two or three dozen Flash Fiction pieces that appear in this set. I have recently been posting translations of a select few Flash Fiction pieces in thirty-two languages above and beyond the main three (English, Spanish, and French), and once I began rereading those pieces, I realized more clearly what it was that was happening as this project unfolded over time.
Thus, there are themes and motifs, characters and settings that recur at whim in the 500+ Flash Fiction pieces in this set. And I figured that it might be of interest (of use, even) to readers of my work as to how all these pieces of this strange puzzle interconnect... How they live together, in some sense, within the same ecosystem of words and ideas and whatever else.
And they all connect in strange and wondrous ways in part because of all of these vastly different languages that they have been rendered into; each new language, each new translation, in my way of thinking, is not an imperfect replica of the original, but rather, an augmentation, an amplification, an intensification, of what the original was.
For every new instance of my original story, a new light is shed upon whatever it was that I originally wrote. This, in a nutshell, is how I view translations. Not as imperfect replicas, but as new insights into the original text.
I hope that someone out there may find this compendium of interrelationships between the many pieces of my Flash Fiction Test Kitchen puzzle to be somehow of use.
Update, 10/7/2025. There are now seven Categories/Groupings: Themes & Motifs, Characters, Settings, Composers & Music, Visual Artists, Literary, and Food & Culinary. Literary covers prose, poetry, theatre, and various other literary arts. Additional Categories/Groupings may be added later on... Seven seems good for now, although some societies view eight as more auspicious.
Update, 10/16/2025. Just a few general comments about this Flash Fiction Test Kitchen project. I began the project on February 13, 2024, and formally ended it on June 8, 2025, but I've included in the project two earlier Flash Fiction pieces, “Close Call” (written February 13, 2013) and “The Inspector” (written September 12, 2023), primarily because, as I later discovered, they bring out at least two major themes that recur pretty often throughout the collection. So, in a sense, you might say they’re “seeds” for much of the rest of the writing.
Many of the Flash Fiction pieces begin with a central premise or an idea or a kind of philosophical musing, and then they take off from there. And probably more often than not, the ending ends up being a complete surprise, even to myself. For most of these pieces, I really did take them as being an intense time trial; if you examine the times given at the end of each piece (in brackets, after the date), you should see that many of them have a completion time of one hour and one minute. But these pieces felt to me like a kind of musical “improvisation” in a very real sense, except that the instrument was words and feelings and language sounds and meanings rather than, for example, a piano.
Another general observation about this collection is that many of the pieces fall into the category of either prose poetry or experimental writing; prose poetry because my general approach to writing in literary forms tends toward language thick with meaning, even multiple meanings, and language that flows, I hope, musically, and language that is compact and of a rich and intricate fabric, and language that inspires you to think, I hope, and language that bends usual ways of saying things in favor of a more experimental approach in which words are juxtaposed in ways they might not normally be juxtaposed, and language that makes words resonate, I hope, with one another to create harmonious, or even discordant ways of thinking about the world; and experimental writing for many of the same reasons, along with my inclination, at times, to work with a kind of numerological approach to things, including strict word counts (per sentence, for example), or word count “schemes” (utilizing a numerical sequence with regard to word counts per sentence, for example), and the like.
My final general observation for now is that, as the collection progresses through the time of writing, it begins to reflect the political aspects of these dark times we are living through, what with all the “strongman” tyrants and wars and whatever else that we hear in the daily news, unfortunately. For much of this writing, I personally view it as a kind of counterattack against the horrid atrocities we hear about so often nowadays (and that way too many people experience personally). So the collection becomes a bit darker over time, although every now and then I try to lighten things up a bit. Basically, I have been striving to somehow reflect these interesting and dark times we are living through.
Flash Fiction Test Kitchen Categories/Groupings, by Robert Fuller
Themes & Motifs in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Visual Artists in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Literary in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Food & Culinary in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Themes & Motifs: Mirrors in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Mirrors, within the Themes & Motifs grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, is a category that groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that directly reference or allude to mirrors, reflections, and the like. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference the theme or motif of mirrors and the like.
Themes & Motifs: Gaud in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
The Gaud Chronicles, within the Themes & Motifs grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, is a category that groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that directly reference or allude to varous religions of the Book and the like, either reverentially, or perhaps not so much. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference the theme or motif of various notions of what I call Gaud.
Themes & Motifs: Nature in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Nature, within the Themes & Motifs grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, is a category that groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that directly reference or allude to various aspects of nature or the natural environment. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference the theme or motif of nature.
Themes & Motifs: Music in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Music, within the Themes & Motifs grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, is a category that groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that directly reference or allude to various types of music. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference the theme or motif of music.
Themes & Motifs: Ghost Towns in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Westerns & Ghost Towns, within the Themes & Motifs grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, is a category that groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that directly reference or allude to ghost towns and other western settings. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference the theme or motif of westerns, ghost towns, and the like.
Themes & Motifs: Tyrants in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Tyrants & Tyranny, within the Themes & Motifs grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, is a category that groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that directly reference or allude various types of tyrants that we all know exist in this day of tyranny. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference the theme or motif of this kind of tyranny and the tyrants that perpetuate it.
Characters: Gaudeau in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
(Inspector) Gaudeau, within the Characters grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that directly reference or allude to Inspector Gaudeau, a fictional character related at least loosely to Godot, from the play by Beckett Waiting for Godot. (Most of the references within these Flash Fiction pieces are to an unnamed Inspector who is understood to be, or to possibly be, Inspector Gaudeau.) The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference this character in one way or another.
Characters: Mort in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Mort (Mortimer Dalton), within the Characters grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that directly reference or allude to Mortimer Dalton, a fictional character who generally works as an extra in films. The name Mortimer means “Dead Sea”, and the French word mort obviously means “death”, whereas his surname Dalton refers to “a settlement located in a valley”. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference this character in one way or another.
Characters: Esther in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Esther, within the Characters grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that directly reference or allude to Esther, a fictional character who shares the given name of my great-great-great grandmother. The name Esther means “star” or “myrtle tree”, and in the Bible there is a Book of Esther. Esther is also the main character in my short story “A Feast for the Senses”. (In that story, Esther is the owner and brewster of Jove Bird Saloon & Brewpub, located right next to Smith’s Glass Blowing Company, owned by her friend Alma. Esther has a pâtissière by the name of Paige, who also doubles as a sous chef.) The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference Esther in one way or another.
Characters: Alma in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Alma, within the Characters grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that directly reference or allude to Alma, a fictional character. The name Alma means “soul” in Spanish and Portuguese and, interestingly enough, “apple” in Hungarian. Alma is also a good friend of the main character (Esther) in my short story “A Feast for the Senses”. (In that story, Esther is the owner and brewster of Jove Bird Saloon & Brewpub, located right next to Smith’s Glass Blowing Company, owned by her friend Alma. And Esther has a pâtissière by the name of Paige, who also doubles as a sous chef.) The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference Alma in one way or another.
Characters: Paige in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Paige, within the Characters grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that directly reference or allude to Paige, a fictional character. The name Paige means “young servant” or “attendant”. (Despite these connotations of her given name, Paige is by no means subservient to anyone.) Paige is also a good friend of the main character (Esther) in my short story “A Feast for the Senses”, and works for her as a pâtissière and sous chef. (In that story, Esther is the owner and brewster of Jove Bird Saloon & Brewpub, located right next to Smith’s Glass Blowing Company, owned by her friend Alma.) The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference Paige in one way or another.
Characters: Maya in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Maya, within the Characters grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that directly reference or allude to Maya, a fictional character who as of this writing appears in just one of the Flash Fiction pieces in Test Kitchen. The name Maya means, appropriately for this collection, “illusion”, “magic”, or “dream”. The name has numerous other meanings, since there are a number of languages and cultures that have embraced a name like this. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference this character in one way or another. (Maya may have to be “reincarnated” in a future Flash Fiction piece so that she can meet up with some of her friends.)
Characters: Max in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Max, within the Characters grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that directly reference or allude to Max, a fictional character who boasts a short story bearing his handle (“Max”). The name Max means “greatest” or “largest”, as you might imagine. Most of the longer forms of the name Max have similar meanings. Max is a rather interesting character, in terms of what is revealed in his (eponymous) story, but also in terms of the other characters within this collection he interacts with. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference this character in one way or another.
Characters: Murray in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Murray, within the Characters grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that directly reference or allude to Murray, a fictional character who boasts a never-to-be published novel bearing his handle (“Murray”). The name Murray means “sea settlement” or “from the sea”. Murray shares a history in that never-to-be published novel with two other characters from that dead novel who make cameo appearances here, Williams and Westpoint. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference this character in one way or another. The first link ("Novel Ideas") should give you some idea of what Murray is like. Note: in “Without Birds Where Would We Be?” and "Sea Otters and the Kelp Forest", Murray is not mentioned by name because he is the narrator.
Characters: Williams in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Williams, within the Characters grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that directly reference or allude to Williams, a fictional character who is in a never-to-be published novel bearing the handle of his good buddy (“Murray”). The name Williams means “son of William”. William is a composite from German roots: Wil (“will” or “desire”) and Helm (“helmet” or “protection”), so the composite means something like “resolute protector”. Williams shares a history in that never-to-be published novel with two other characters from that dead novel who make cameo appearances here, Murray and Westpoint. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference this character in one way or another.
Characters: Westpoint in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Westpoint, within the Characters grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that directly reference or allude to Westpoint, a fictional character who is in a never-to-be published novel bearing the handle of his associate (“Murray”). The name Westpoint is of dubious lineage, and may just be a nickname, and possibly even an oblique reference to a certain military academy in the United States. Westpoint shares a history in that never-to-be published novel with two other characters from that dead novel who make cameo appearances here, Murray and Williams. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference this character in one way or another.
Settings: Beach in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Beach, within the Settings grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that are set at least in part on or near a beach. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference this setting in one way or another.
Settings: Stage in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Stage, within the Settings grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that are set at least in part on a stage or film set. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference this kind of setting in one way or another.
Composers: Ravel in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Ravel, within the Composers & Music grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that reference the French composer Maurice Ravel and his music. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference this composer.
Composers: Bartók in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Bartók, within the Composers & Music grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that reference the Hungarian composer Béla Bartók and his music. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference this composer.
Visual Artists: Van Gogh in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Van Gogh, within the Visual Artists grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that reference the Dutch painter and artist Vincent van Gogh and his artworks. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference this visual artist.
Literary: Kafka in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Kafka, within the Literary grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that reference the Czech writer Franz Kafka and his writings. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference this writer.
Culinary: Wine in Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, by Robert Fuller
Wine, within the Food & Culinary grouping of this Skeleton Key for Flash Fiction Test Kitchen, groups texts within this collection of Flash Fiction pieces that reference wine and wine-related beverages, such as port. The links that follow are to Flash Fiction pieces within this collection that reference this culinary item.