Flash Fiction

1
Flash Fiction

• Mr. Kohli
• English 2

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What is Flash Fiction?

• Flash Fiction A tale between 300-1000 words
  long.
• Usually a story of a single act.
• Sometimes the story is the culmination of several
  unwritten events.
• Flash Fiction authors focus their story to a
  brief, interesting event.

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Flash Fiction Writing StrategiesThe small idea

• Authors often look for the smaller ideas in
  larger onesex. The relationship between parents
  and childrenThink smallerex. How kids feel when
  they arent included in the conversation, Bad
  report card, middle child
• They find a smaller topic and build on it.

4
Flash Fiction Writing StrategiesBury the
preamble in the opening

• Flash fiction authors avoid the temptation for
  long exposition (background) they dont take two
  pages for the pre-story
• Rather, they set the pre-story / exposition in
  the first paragraph, then move forward with the
  tale.

5
Flash Fiction Writing Strategiesstart in the
middle of the action

• Flash fiction authors start the story in the
  middle of the actionex. A man is running, A bomb
  is about to go off, A monster is in the house
• They avoid over descriptionthey tell what needs
  to be told.
• Flash fiction authors let their readers fill in
  some of the blanks.
• The stories stay within 1 specific setting.

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Flash Fiction Writing StrategiesFocus on one
powerful image

• Authors focus the tale on one powerful imageex.
  A war-torn street, An alien sunset
• Imagery is key!...Stories will paint a picture
  with words for the reader.
• Stories appeal to the senses of the readers
  through vivid imageryThink about figurative
  language as well (similes, metaphors.)

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Flash Fiction Writing StrategiesKeep your reader
guessing until the end

• A little mystery goes a long way.
• Stories keep the reader in suspense as they tell
  the talestories draw readers into the
  intricacies of conflict or plot.
• When the reader finishes the tale, there should
  be a good payoff or solution.

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Flash Fiction Writing StrategiesUse allusive
references

• Allusion a reference to a piece of art,
  literature, time, place, or event of which the
  reader should be familiar
• Famous pieces of literature, famous events from
  history, famous speeches, quotes, famous people,
  or famous places will serve the purpose.
• Be cautious Dont make references too
  obscurereaders will know what the story is
  talking about.

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Flash Fiction Writing StrategiesUse a twist at
the end

• O. Henry it!--Master of the surprise ending.
• Twist ending allows writer to pack some punch at
  the end.
• Since space is limited, twist endings help
  because of the inability to build up sympathetic
  characters and how conflict and plot affect them.
• Flash fiction stories have a streamlined ending

10
As you watch and readNote and respond to the
following

• Respond to these questions as you watch the video
  clips / read the short selections
• 1. What is the small idea? Think subject of
  the story or clip
• 2. What are you led to know about the pre-story?
• 3. Where does the story actually begin?
• 4. What is the major image the story focuses on?
• 5. What elements in the story keep you in
  suspense?
• 6. What allusions, if any, are used?
• 7. What is the surprise, or twist ending?