LESSON OBJECTIVES

• compare and contrast various 21st century

literary genres (En12/Lit-IIij-31.3)

• identify flash fiction

• evaluate the elements of flash fiction

 Six Word Story

For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.

 FLASH FICTION
 are also known as short-short-stories or
micro fiction since these stories are no
longer than 1500 words and are designed
to be read in four to five minutes.
 FLASH FICTION
 although it is short, it should not feel too
short. Hence, there are a few important
pointers in determining a good flash
fiction.
 Traits of Flash Fiction
STORY STRUCTURE
 it is not a shortened version of a longer story
 it still follows the elements of plot, including
the beginning, middle and end, as well as a
conflict and satisfying resolution
 Traits of Flash Fiction
SETTING
 most flash fiction stories take place in one
setting, as moving between locations uses up
too much space
 Traits of Flash Fiction
CHARACTERS & BACKSTORY
 flash fiction stories are plot-driven and include
no more than three or four characters
 too much backstory is employed to save
valuable space
 Traits of Flash Fiction
DESCRIPTION
 one may think that flash fiction stories
are short on description to save space,
however, a strong piece can balance vivid
descriptions with a quick-moving plot.
 Traits of Flash Fiction
DESCRIPTION
 stories that lack description are not
satisfying to read, and a flash fiction
piece should feel complete
 Shorter forms of flash fiction

1. Micro fiction
 a story under 250 words
 tends to start in the second act of the
story to focus more on the climax and
often has a surprise ending
 The Pedestrian
By: Ray Budbury

To enter out into that silence that was the city at eight o’clock
of a misty evening in November, to put your feet upon that
buckling concrete walk, to step over grassy seams and make your
way, hands in pockets, through the silences, that was what Mr.
Leonard Mead most dearly loved to do. He would stand upon the
corner of an intersection and peer down long moonlit avenues of
sidewalk in four directions, deciding which way to go, but it
really made no difference; he was alone in this world of AD 2053,
or as good as alone, and with a final decision made, a path
selected, he would stride off, sending patterns of frosty air
before him like the smoke of a cigar.
 Shorter forms of flash fiction

2. Six word story

 no exact beginning middle, or end, but
tell an entire story in only six words
 the story structure manages to establish
character, conflict, and tone without
direct exposition
 Shorter forms of flash fiction

2. Six word story

 readers are left to their own tragic

interpretation when it comes to the words
that are not present
 Six Word Story

For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.

 Short story vs. Flash fiction
SHORT STORY
• Composed of 1,000 to 10,000 words.
• Take a couple of sittings to read
• Begins with a crisis right away
• More number of characters
• Setting frequently change
• More complex plot
• Can span from a day to years in terms
of the timeline of the story. The story
passes into another time.
FLASH FICTION
• Shorter than short story (less than
1,500 words)
• Can be finished in one reading
• Follows the sequence of story telling
having beginning, middle, and end.
• Less number of characters
• No frequent change in setting
• Simpler plot
• A snapshot in time, usually a time
travel or jumping from one time to
another time