* Brevity: Both are extremely short forms of fiction. Length is a defining characteristic, though the precise word count varies depending on the author and publication.
* Focus on a single moment or image: They often concentrate on a single, impactful scene, image, or feeling rather than a complex plot.
* Suggestiveness and implication: They rely heavily on implication rather than explicit explanation. Much is left to the reader's interpretation.
* Strong imagery and sensory detail: To create impact in their limited space, both genres utilize vivid and concise language, engaging the reader's senses.
* Emotional resonance: Despite their brevity, they aim for a strong emotional impact on the reader.
While both are short, a key difference is that vignettes sometimes lack a complete narrative arc while flash fiction often features a beginning, middle, and end (though extremely condensed). However, the overlap in their characteristics is significant.