Flash Fiction

Flash Fiction vs Short Stories

Flash Fiction & Short Stories Flash Fiction• Setting• Character(s)• Conflict• Resolution

• Has a limited amount of words: usually 1000 words or less

• Usually uses twist endings

Strategies of writing of Flash Fiction

1. Before you write, know what your story is going to be about.

You should have a clear theme in your mind while you are writing.

Theme is the main idea or the message of a story.

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2. Keep the number of characters to a bare minimum.

Every new character adds a dimension to your tale and will require words to introduce, describe, and resolve any conflicts.

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3. Focus your story plot on one subject.

Write your theme down and keep it near you while you write.

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4. Focus on one powerful image.

Effective flash fiction stories deal with one event or time in a character’s life.

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5. The small idea

Look for the small ideas in larger ones.

For example, you would need to write a novel to address the complex interrelated relationship between parents and children.

Instead, focus on one event such as a bad report card.

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6. Pick each word carefully.

You do not need a long, involved description of the character’s bedroom in flash fiction.

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7. Use emotion to move your story forward.

Emotion is a powerful writing tool.

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8. Bury the preamble.

When you write your story, don't take two pages to explain all the pre-story. Find a way to set it all in the first paragraph, then get on with the rest of the tale.

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9. Start in the middle of the action.

Don't describe any more than you have to. The reader can fill in some of the blanks.

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10. Use dialogue to move your story forward.

Write an all-dialogue story using as few tags as possible. Let the dialogue describe the characters and create conflict:

"Take that lolly pop out of your fat mouth!""Make me, you skinny runt."

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11. Make the reader guess until the end.

A little mystery goes a long way. Your reader may have no idea what is going on for the majority of the story. This will lure them on to the end. When they finish, there should be a good pay off or solution.

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12. Use a twist

The twist ending allows the writer to pack some punch at the end of the story.

Flash fiction is often twist-ending fiction becauseyou don't have enough time to build up sympathetic characters and show how a long, devastating plot has affected them.

Like a good joke, flash fiction is often streamlined to the punch-line at the end.

“The Duel” by Aaron Kidd

Two foes faced one another on a desert battlefield. Sweat beaded both brows. One infamous, clothed in black. The other, a golden star over his heart.

They drew revolvers.Gunshots sounded.A woman yelled from a nearby porch.The combatants fell and lay still.Then, rising, they began to sprint towards the

porch.Snack Time.

Tips• Use contractions instead of two words.

– He is: 2 words– He’s: 1 word

• Use punctuation instead of conjunctions.– She glanced over her shoulder and spotted the clown.– She glanced over shoulder, spotted the clown.

• Use strong words instead of weak ones.

Being ChoosyStronger Words• Verbs• Nouns• Adjectives

Weaker Words• Adverbs• Pronouns• Interjections• Prepositions• Conjunctions

Nouns Verbs Adjectives

“The Duel” by Aaron Kidd

Two foes faced one another on a desert battlefield. Sweat beaded both brows. One infamous, clothed in black. The other, a golden star over his heart.

They drew revolvers.Gunshots sounded.A woman yelled from a nearby porch.The combatants fell and lay still.Then, rising, they began to sprint towards the

porch.Snack Time.

14 12 7

“Broken Girl” by Jessie RoarkSnapped ankle. Out of coma.

Amnesia. Every day goes by the same. The doctors come in and ask hundreds of questions. That social worker won’t leave me alone.

Today a tall man with my high cheekbones, wearing a blue jacket, comes in to see me. “Tess?”

Then I see his cold eyes and I remember.

“Refined Lifestyle” by Lindsey CoxDon’s parents said he’d

never amount to anything. They said he’d never be successful, but here he was, sitting in the lap of luxury. The house had magnificently tall ceilings and elaborate art on the walls that Don admired. He took them down and threw them in the truck with the rest of the plunder.

“The Scarlatti Tilt” - Richard Brautigan

"It's very hard to live in a studio apartment in San Jose with a man who's learning to play the

violin." That's what she told the police when she handed them the empty revolver.

For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

--Ernest Hemingway, American author

(1899-1961)

Flash Fiction: A story in six words.

Challenge: Bubble Flash Fiction

If you are up for a challenge, try the Bubble Flash Fiction.

http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/virginiawiles-547758-introduction-to-narrative/

Start with slide 13Do not do the part that asks you to list animals.

References

• https://www.wiziq.com/tutorial/80695-Writing-Flash-Fiction

• http://www.fictionfactor.com/guests/flashfiction.html• http://static.schoolrack.com/files/79740/363667/flash.ppt.• http://www.teacherweb.com/OK/DeerCreekHighSchool/St

ephenson/Fiction-in-a-Flash.ppt.

• http://www.writing-world.com/fiction/popek.shtml• Flash fiction photo

http://www.litro.co.uk/2012/09/flash-fiction-panel-special/