Flash Fiction - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 / 11
About This Presentation
Title:

Flash Fiction

Description:

Flash Fiction What is Flash Fiction? - Style of fictional literature or fiction of extreme brevity. There is no widely accepted definition of the length of the category. – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:401
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 12
Provided by: schoo392
Category:

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Flash Fiction


1
Flash Fiction
2
What is Flash Fiction?
  • - Style of fictional literature or fiction of
    extreme brevity. There is no widely accepted
    definition of the length of the category.
  • - Other names for flash fiction include sudden
    fiction, microfiction, micro-story, short short,
    postcard fiction, prosetry and short short
    story.
  • - One type of flash fiction is the short story
    with an exact word count. (Ex a story with 55
    words)

3
Elements in Flash Fiction
  • Setting is where the action takes place. This
    can be told in a sentence She watched him go to
    bed.
  • Usually, there is not room for more than two
    characters--three at most. But realize
    "characters" don't always have to be human. In
    fact, they don't even have to be animate. Can you
    create a story about a pebble and a blade of
    grass trying to inhabit the same spot?
  • Conflict is just a difference of opinion--tension
    to keep the reader reading. It can be verbal,
    physical or mental. It doesn't always have to be
    villain/hero.

4
Elements of Flash Fiction
  • Resolution is the conclusion of the conflict.
    "Small" works best in flash fiction don't go for
    miraculous resolution, in which the protagonist
    is saved by some miracle not of his/her making.
  • Most writers use surprise endings, partly because
    flash fiction lends itself to such, but mostly
    because it makes it more fun both to read and to
    write. But they are not necessary. Even with a
    twist, don't surprise your readers too much. Make
    them think, "Ah--of course!" Don't make them
    think, "Boy, am I stupid!"

5
Flash Fiction Writing Tips
  • Write as fast as you can. Write as fast as you
    can. Don't worry about grammar - yet. Fill about
    half a page, count the words, fix the grammar,
    then read it aloud to yourself. Does it have
    setting, implied or otherwise? Conflict?
    Resolution? Does it affect a change?
  • Edit yourself-ruthlessly. Write your story, then
    go back and erase all phrases, clauses and
    coordinating conjunctions that are not absolutely
    vital to the story. Delete any unnecessary
    adjectives. You'll be left with tight, active
    sentences.

6
Flash Fiction Writing Tips
  • Let dialogue do it. Write an all-dialogue story
    using as few tags as possible. Let the dialogue
    describe the characters and create conflict.
  • Stories to avoid. Although the form is new, there
    are some clichés already. Don't write about a
    writer writing and don't rely on "it was just a
    dream" pieces. These are overused and abused in
    many types of fiction, especially in flash
    fiction. And when your story is over, just stop.
    Like this.

7
Famous Flash Fiction Pieces
  • For Sale Baby shoes, never worn. - Ernest
    Hemingway

8
The Dinosaur by Augusto Monterroso
  • When he woke up, the dinosaur was still there.

9
Margaret Atwood
  • Longed for him. Got him. Shit.

10
Richard Powers
  • Lie detector eyeglasses perfected Civilization
    collapses.

11
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.
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com