Thursday, April 5, 2007

Flash! 100 words "A Pretty Flower"

Today in class I asked you all to write a piece of flash fiction in 10 minutes. I will write these pieces alongside you and share them as well since - as I made it clear - everyone in the class has to participate and share their work. That includes me as well. The plot that I gave you for the flash fiction, if you didn't have any instant inspiration was Little Red Riding Hood. Here is the one I wrote on that subject (my first draft):

Pretty Flower (first draft) by Nadine Wills

“Remember what I told you. The path.”
“I will.”
She skipped into the forest, her cape wrapped tightly around her, picking flowers.
“It’s getting dark,” a voice leered.
“You scared me.”
“What a pretty flower.”
“Do you like it? Here. I’d better get to Gram’s.”
“See you.”

“Gram? You okay? You look different.”
“Not too different for a hug.”
Hesitating, her cape slipped open, then she flung herself onto the bed.
“Ow Grams, your nails are getting caught in my hair.”
“You’re so young, my pretty flower. Did you give the wolf the poisoned posy like you were supposed to?”

I will post a final draft later to show you how much my writing changes during the rewriting process.

Notice that I tried to keep to the aspects of "flashing" that we discussed:
  1. word limit (not going over 100 words)
  2. characters that go through a story (as opposed to "slice of life")
  3. a distinct setting
  4. conflict (develop much of this through dialogue)
  5. implication
  6. resolution and/or twist
Please remember that for April 19 you are to come to class with your 100 word flash fiction (bring 6 typed copies of it). I look forward to reading what you've come up with.

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