They say it all started with the 'six-word story' written by Ernest Hemingway (which we all know, don't we? For sale, baby shoes, never worn...) Here's some more recent 6-word attemps,
"Wrong number," said a familiar voice."
"Ghost seeks body. No experience necessary."
"Introduced myself to myself. Amnesia hurts."
Six-words stories are clever, but I don't find them very satisfying. I prefer something that has a clear beginning, middle and end, even though it's only hundreds of words long. Every so often I offer one to be read: you can find my latest here, on Substack:
I've learnt a few lessons as I've been honing the craft. And it is a craft, and possibly an art; people continue to debate the difference between these stories and poetry. I'm not going down that wormhole today except to say that flashfiction must tell a story; a poem does not need to.
Very short fiction depends on having complete control of point of view and language including tense, and working out how much detail to put in your story. Reading Short Circuit, the book about writing short fiction, (editied by Vanessa Gebbe), I noticed that a famous early short-shortist, Edgar Keret, had five staunch rules for the form.
Number One: Sweat the Title
'Make it work for a living', Keret recommends. it can anchor the story, or illuminate the theme, click with the surprise in store for the reader, explain the plot, develop character flaws or expand a metaphore you're weaving in. You could steal it (titles are pretty immune from plagiarism rules), add hidden context, create drama, friction, emotion. The best advice is; don't use vague terms. Don't call your story about your cat, The Cat's Adventure. Call it Midnight Escapology, or something even wilder. 
Number Two: Don't use too many Characters
A story of less than 1,000 words can’t hold the number of characters longer pieces can. It must have the least number of characters and one point of view.
Number Three: Start in the Middle
Use your In Medias Res knowledge to drop into the story as late as you possibly can. You don't have time for exposition or scene setting. You don't have space for life stories.
Number Four: Make Sure the Ending is in the not at the End
Creating a microscopic volta can help focus a flash fiction. Volta is a literary term for a turning point which shifts the perspective. this way you can summarise the narrative in very few words, exposing the emotional core of the story. Keret believed that getting to the denouement before the end helps the reader wind the story down as it plays out.
Number Five: Make your Last Line Ring like a Bell.
Your last line isn't your ending; we had that at that volta moment (above). Keret says the last line should leave the reader wth something which will continue to sound after the story has finished...take us into a new place, where we can continue to think about the ideas in the story, puzzle over them.
The more I practise the art of flash fiction, honing it each time I start a new story, the more I realise that, five rules just isn't enough! So I'm adding these two to the mix:
Number Six: Hook your Reader with Voice.
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Character is a defining force in flash fiction, therefore, the voice of the narrator becomes an essential component in hooking the reader in from the beginning. Create a distinct voice that is saying something arresting and original.
Number Seven: Tighten to Get the Word Count Down
Flash fiction thrives on compression. There is no time to stop and smell the roses, so sneak your description in, using powerful imagery to convey emotions and themes You have to imply any world-building with no extra wordage. Flashbacks really don't work, and you can cut down on speech tags––and eliminate adverbs. Avoid exposition; SHOW everthing and TELL nothing. Remove details unless they are critical to the meaning of your story. Take out everything that doesn't move the story on––even dialogue if it holds the story up. In fact, the only thing I insist on including in my short fiction is the name of the narrator. I know writers love to keep that quiet, but readers really want to know.
But Remember––Rules, are made to be broken!
Who knows, a flashback may make the story sing. The entire piece could be in dialogue; or description. You might find three characters are really necessary! Nothing is impossible. Because flash fiction is as much fun to write as it is to read.
