How to Write a Flash Fiction Story
What is it? How long should it be?
Very short fiction (made up stories) that pack a punch, 350-700 words
What does it have to have?
Action
Use strong imagery (paint a picture for your readers)–use color, the five senses, and
Stick to one key moment and Limit the number of characters
Tips/Ideas…
Choose a distinct POV—like a first person narrative (Write a story from the villain’s pov)
Don’t use a human as your main character or narrator—maybe a shopping cart or a circus elephant
Start with action, end with finality—your ending doesn’t have to be abrupt
“The true story of…”
Write what interests you
Use S.T.E.A.L.
Website to help
How to build character Prompts to get you thinking Pinterest “Writing Prompts”
Steps to writing…
- Plot out your basic storyline
- Write without worrying about anything but telling the story
- Edit, edit, edit
- Focus on making your main character as relatable/believable as possible
Flash Fiction Inspiration Board
| Characters | Tropes | Setting | Conflict(s) |
| Inanimate object | Cinderella | Forest | Battling the self |
| animal | Time Travel | Space station | Man v man |
| Mythological creature | Mystery | Historically relevant past | Man v nature |
| Royalty | Day in the life | “Not too distant future” | Man v force greater than self |
| Angsty teen | It was all a dream/flashback | “Not too distant past” | Man v science/machine |
| “Average Joe” | Fairy Tale | Circus | Man v society/social norms |
| A.I. | Futuristic | Desert | Man v fear |
| Misunderstood villain | Happily ever after | Big City | Conflict of interest |
| Musician/Performer | Damsel in distress | Paris | Relationship conflict |
| The Sidekick no more | Misunderstood villain | Sailing vessel | Inner conflict |
| Retired hero | Enemies have to unite | School | Family conflict |
| Witch/Wizard | Overcoming a fear | Mansion | Wealth v Poverty |
| Pirate | Go against the norm | Prison | Haunted by the past |
| Spy | The Sacrifice | War | Painful life lesson |
How to Write a Nonfiction Piece
What is it? Based on fully true (like a biography or journalism story)
How long should it be? (350-700 words)
Major elements…
- Accurate
- Descriptive
- Authentic
- Based in truth
- Works Cited Page/Reference Page
Tips…
- Pick a topic that is often misunderstood or misrepresented (ex: Koalas are not actually friendly) and then do some research so you have facts to support your angle.
- Take something you love (Physics) and tell us why it’s awesome but tell it like the story of why it’s awesome
- Tell it from a distinct POV
- Use research or cited facts to support your storytelling
Steps to writing…
- Research, make a list of facts
- Plot out your basic storyline
- Write without worrying about anything but telling the story
- Edit, edit, edit
- Focus on making facts into storytelling
