Today’s Prompt

1. Today’s Prompt Write a story with the prompt below. It should be 300 words or less… After three months he knew the cat hated him but it came as quite a shock to find out the dog felt the same.

2. Flash Fiction

3. - 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) What is Flash Fiction?

4. 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. Elements in Flash Fiction

5. 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!" Elements of Flash Fiction

6. 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. Flash Fiction Writing Tips

7. 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. Flash Fiction Writing Tips

8. 5 Elements of Powerful Flash Fiction Flash fiction contains most of the following elements in every single story:

9. Brevity Flash fiction tells a complete story in 1,000 words or less. Sometimes a lot less words. Many markets want stories that are 750, 500, or 100 words long. Some contests, such the annual 55 Fiction contest, require even fewer words.  With the surging popularity of  Twitter, some writers have now exchanged word counts for 140 characters.

10. Character All fiction requires characters, or at least some sort of presence through which the story is told. The reader identifies with the characters in a story. In flash fiction, characters have little time to be developed and described, so you must make the most of your opportunities. Show them in action. Describe the little details that bring the character to life in the reader’s mind.

11. Surprise Endings Flash fiction is famous for its twist endings which often surprise or shock the reader.  Think of a punch line to a joke as a good example of this.

12. Rich Language Flash fiction exists somewhere between the realms of poetry and short story and uses poetic language to weave the tale efficiently. The format is fluid, allowing the writer to experiment and play with words and form.

13. Change • Even though flash fiction doesn’t have a lot of words, a lot of action is packed into each story. Something has to happen during the course of the story. • “A story is a container for change.” • This means that something has to change within course of the story.  It can be a physical change to the character, an epiphany that changes the character’s way or thinking, or a change in how the reader perceives that character and/or situation.

14. “For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn.” - Ernest Hemingway Famous Flash Fiction Pieces

15. “When he woke up, the dinosaur was still there.” “The Dinosaur” by Augusto Monterroso

16. “Longed for him. Got him. Shit.” Margaret Atwood

17. “Lie detector eyeglasses perfected: Civilization collapses.” Richard Powers

18. "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. “The Scarlatti Tilt” - Richard Brautigan

19. Today’s Exercise: I finally kicked down the noisy neighbours' door to find they had moved out. All that was left was a recording of them arguing. On loop. At full volume.