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In Late, Out Early

Published on Jan 18, 2017

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PRESENTATION OUTLINE

In Late, Out Early

How to Write a Flash Fiction Story 
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Flash Fiction is:

  • Short
  • Concise
  • Economical with words and plot.
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skip the boring bits

if it doesn't move the plot forward, cut it. 
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Know where your story really starts

"In Late" means the story starts just after the action has started.

Out Early

End the story when the reader can assume what will happen 
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leave voids

for your reader to fill 

encourage reader engagement

Refine your scene to a laser focus

The imagination is more powerful than any scene written

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Flash Fiction structure

  • Skip the boring bits
  • Start when the story starts
  • In late, out early
  • engage the reader
  • Believe in imagination
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Start small
go big

Story structure applies to short fiction too.

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every structural component must build tension.

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leave yourself somewhere to go

beats

Increase the struggle in tiny increments 
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Beats create scenes

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Ask yourself, what is the point of this scene?

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A capping scene ends a sequence

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If a scene has no forward motion,
cut it.

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Sequences

are built from scenes 
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sequences build acts

The changes in beats, scenes, sequences, & acts
can be reversed

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Acts combine to form the story

The final change in a story is
absolute & irreversible.

Reversing cheats the reader

The ending must be:

  • built
  • justified
  • irreversible
  • absolute
  • a resolution to conflict
  • fulfilling
  • sensical
  • A release of tension
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How to critique

a manuscript like a pro 
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Leave your ego at the door.

leave your red pen

at the door too. 
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consider how you like to be treated.

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critique the work,

not the author. 
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be prompt

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Ask the important questions:

  • Do I believe this?Do I care? Did I see it coming? What pulls me out of the story? Where did I skim or have the urge to skim? Am I satisfied with the (reaction/ending/character arc)? Ma
  • Do I care?
  • Did I see it coming?
  • What pulls me out of the story?
  • Where did I skim or have the urge to skim?
  • Am I satisfied with the (reaction/ending/character arc)?

make notes

in the margins. 
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Tell the truth

BE KIND & PROFESSIONAL

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Don't rewrite the manuscript and don't offer suggestions on how to fix the story.

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Re-format the manuscript into a file type the author can open.

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Critiquing checklist

  • Don't rewrite, edit, or fix.
  • be honest yet professional.
  • Make notes & ask the right questons.
  • Be prompt.
  • Critique the story itself.
  • it's not about you.