How to write a flash fiction | step-by-step
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- Breaking down two flash fiction short stories from conception to revision to see the writing process in detail. Let me know if this jives with you, because I can make another step-by-step video for a longer short story.
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Rate my FF Story, Kim in mind in 12: Cats Favourite Food
Lydia Lovelace was a young writer and author of 3 hard cover books. The rest of her writings went to her online store. She started it her first year of college and it was running very well. She was a very imaginative person, most if not all her stories were fictional. She loved how her imagination could run free and she wasn't tied down by the ropes of reality. She jumped in bed ready to shut down. Her cat “Sweet Tea” lay on a pillow next to her. She was incredibly tired, but overjoyed she could make progress on a book she wanted to write, it was a book of many stories she would publish as one. She was at the library from Lunch till Dusk, Thinking of a list of ideas she could put in her new book. Tomorrow after classes she would write away.
She woke up in the morning not feeling any different to every other morning. She got up and made herself some eggs and tea, she fed her cat and walked to campus. After her lessons she walked home and had mysteriously forgotten to go to the library. She walked past the library to go but some Turkey for her cat, it was her favourite food. Along the way she walked past the library and Halted to a stop. Confusion in her face she looked through the window and something drew her in. She walked through the doors and slowly walked towards the laptop in a zombie-like state and she found her file and made a Document. She was sitting there thinking what to do when she saw someone writing in their diary and remembered she was supposed to be writing her stories. She could be forgetful, but not like this. She was sitting in front of the computer staring blankly and she couldn't remember anything she thought of. It was like someone stole her ideas from her mind. She got up and went home and when she got there she fed her cat her favourite food and made some dinner, what could have taken her memory, maybe she’s getting old.
“NO I'M NOT GETTING OLD” She yelled, at who? Is this a mystery
She was 22 not 122 so what could it be.
She woke up the next morning and started theorising on what could be the problem.
She first thought it could be the doctor who stuck some device in her ear. But she soon realised they were removing ear wax.
Then she thought she was stressed, but she realised she writes for a living.
Then she thought she was disorganised but she’s a clean freak and even her cat knows that.
After she thought she was sleep deprived and she needed to get some rest, she slept at 12:00 pm and she woke up at 11:00pm unable to sleep, and she still couldn't remember her ideas. She sat in the living room with her cat and turned on the TV. The cat's eyes lit up and turned into shades of yellow and blue spinning in circles and suddenly the weather girl forgot her lines. It was probably a coincidence, but what are Sweet tea’s eyes doing?
“Sweet Tea!” She yelled
He snapped out of it, and returned back to his normal state.
“What was that?” Lydia Questioned
“Meow”
“What do you mean you dont know”
“Meow”
“Don't give me attitude Good Sir.”
Her cat jumped down from the couch and went to his bed, sas in his walk. Suddenly Lydia realises that…
“Sweet Tea, oh no you have Iron deficiency!” She says, concerned, “Come here my baby!” She picks her cat and they sit together and she turns on a reality show. Laying Low with the Lynns it was her favourite but as Liora was about to take a dive in the pool she suddenly forgot what she was doing or why there was a film crew. Sweat Tea’s eyes were spinning in blues and yellows again and this time Lydia realised that.
Her cat must’ve stolen her List of stories.
“Sweet tea? Did you” She asked, as if the cat would speak back to her.
“I beseech thee to pardon mine transgressions, for it is a mannerism I have yet to quell.” The Cat explained
“You can TALK?” She screamed in horror
“It's the Turkey”
03/09/2024
- [00:00] 📝 Anna shares her video series where she analyzes stories as examples to teach writing techniques, aiming to demystify the writing process.
- [02:24] 🤔 Anna discusses her approach to drafting stories, highlighting the progression from initial idea to final draft through multiple iterations.
- [05:12] 🖋 Anna shares the evolution of her story "Mother" through several drafts, focusing on refining the narrative and character development.
- [11:32] 📝 Anna transitions to discussing her story "Ink," describing how she translated a dream into a narrative and iterated on its draft to refine its structure and language.
- [15:41] 🤔 Anna reflects on the drafting process, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, experimentation, and seeking feedback.
- [19:29] 📝 Anna concludes by encouraging viewers to embrace the iterative nature of writing, preserve their ideas, and continue refining their work.
That thing about some stories taking YEARS to write is SO TRUE. One of the best stories I've ever written just sat in my head for like...3 FREAKING YEARS before my brain figured out how to write it. :D
Y E P
Aw Emily, I had one sitting in my head like that for eighteen years.
@@cityman2312 EIGHTEEN YEARS?
@@HannahLeeKidder I did mention that I was in the baby writer phase for 25 years. I had the idea for a witch and warrior story when I was sixteen, but to do it justice, I had to improve my writing, hence the delay.
Yup. I know the feeling
It's always cool to look at someone else's writing process. You realize at the end of the day, we all have the same struggles, especially with those first few drafts that will inevitably suck ass. It'd be cool to see how you go about writing longer stories.
Yup
You are awesome!
I loved this video, it's so helpful to see your process like this. I would love one about a longer work.
I stumbled on your video and I was really impressed, young lady. You are a wonderful teacher, as well as a writer. Despite my sixty three years old, profoundly deaf, I just started to learn to write stories a few years back and I have got a lot of learning to do. Thank you for posting your video and will continue to watch other videos of yours.
I was already considering buying your books just because I love your advice and personality, but now I just want to read more of your writing. I've never read flash fiction, but these two little stories have convinced me to start.
Man, I interpreted that crow story completely wrong. Thought it was a human child warned to be aware of crows, and slowly over time this crow manipulates and morphs this child into a freakish human/crow hybrid.
You fell into the anti-crow propaganda of the girl’s elders. Shame on you
The third draft and beyond sound like a suicide story, “girl grows wings, jumps out window, the court finds her corpse at the bottom of the tower. The hate for crows is further galvanized throughout the kingdom.”
I’ve never written an ink metaphor and I hope I don’t.
This is a really interesting window into your process, and I love it! Thanks for sharing!
Your hair looks so curly n happy omg
The first draft of that crow story is the one I like the most, I think.
I saw the first story as a lesson about how someone can be their own friend, inspiration, comfort, etc.
I love this whole format. It's so helpful to see everyone's editing process :D
Yup and I don't feel so bad about my self berating when editing!
This was super interesting. I'd definitely watch another video of this. And one of you drafting a lknger short story. This was brilliant!!
I love this format/video! As a beginner writer, it is encouraging to see the process of other writers. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you. This was SO helpful.
This was so interesting because I’ve never seen someone else’s process in this much depth before! Thank you for showing this 😁
I'm ready to delve into writing more some more flash fiction after a long period and this video was super inspiring. Really love your style. Thank you for sharing your process.
You eyes are SO GREEN! I've been watching your videos for like 5 years (?), how have I never noticed that‽
Smfh sorry excuse for a reply guy
@@HannahLeeKidder ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Awesome advice. Between each draft of a novel, I write a short story. I usually try to do something I have never done before. My one problem is trying to keep them under 10k words. if I don't watch it, they end up becoming novellas. New subscriber, and new authortuber, keep up the awesome work.
YES WE STAN MORE PLS
It’s useful information; however you are very beautiful. Respect
"Brains are so fallible and your ideas will leave and they will never come back" 💀
I always felt like my ideas are better suited to novels but could never follow through.
I also always felt that I'm crap at short stories. But this video makes me entertain the idea of trying to pen flash fiction myself.
Check out my flash fiction course on Skillshare!
@@HannahLeeKidder holy cannoli!
I began the course today, and I already penned four stories! You're an amazing teacher!
Thank you so much
@@Cavirex that's fantastic!! If you could leave a review/share the class with a friend, that would mean the world
@@HannahLeeKidder I reviewed it already and shared it with friends.
I'm kinda stuck now though :(
I lost the initial momentum
Oh wow, my impression of the first couple drafts of Mother was way dark. It seemed like the evil crow lured a lonely child to jump out from a tall window to her death, thus validating the stern warnings against them. I thought the image of the child growing wings was some metaphor for making the decision to jump, and that the crow flew away with the child's soul.
Haha that's how a couple straight beta readers interpreted it. It's been interesting to see how different demographics interpret different stories.
Personally, I like when a story is ambiguous. Like The turning of the screw.
This felt the same. It can be a wonderful story about friendship and the desire to overcome fear, or a really messed up Grimm style fairytale of not being able to recognize evil and negativity.
@@Cavirex short stories have the power to appear to different to everyone. It's part of the beauty.
LOVED THIS. Liked. Subscribed.
Curious/ concerned about the Enigmatic light morphing Spectre that keeps appearing over your shoulder stage left when you describe the creepy dream boy/ gazelle flamer though...
Just me...?
Hi Hannah; I'm SO with you when it comes to notes. I am notebook crazy.
On the subject of Flash-fiction, *IS* the purpose of this style to 'Cut to the Chase' while providing the reason for the central story in the briefest time?
I have an idea for flash fiction story. I just want to make sure I'm even close to the WHY of Flash fiction. THANKS for posting.
Hi! I actually have a class all about flash fiction. Check the link in the description for a two month trial of skillshare to take it for free!
@@HannahLeeKidder Cool! I'll check. Thanks!
"All writers write at some point write about ink metaphors."
I feel called out.
We all do
I have a question. I understand the necessity of few characters. In your first story you said (forgive me if I misquote) 'She was locked away' when she asked about the crow. If you are limited by the number of characters, would you say that it is okay to use passive voice in flash fiction?
Passive voice isn't always bad. It can be used in an intentional way for style. I like passive in something with a disconnected fairytale type voice, for example.
Hannah Lee Kidder - Writer thanks, and thanks for replying so quickly
its so helpful ))
I actually liked the first draft of ink best. It sounds more mysterious.
If you did sign language lessons you'd go extra viral. Also your smiles contagious! 😉☝️❤️
The Crow story is wonderful. I think it is already sophisticated as of draft five.
The flash fiction story of that kind that I like best was told by a gay man - it was about a little dragon who came to terms with the fact that it is natural for him to breathe fire even though the Headmaster and even his parents insisted otherwise. The story was one that would be easy for kids to understand, and even as an angry young man, I saw the point he was making.
How does a critique group work..? I know they give feedback, but how? Thx.
Ok, sure, but how do I not throw it on the trash midway through?
Believe In Yourself, Vini
Lmao that last wink! You should trademark it
Hi! These were fantastic; I particularly enjoyed the crow piece. I'm running a workshop on flash fiction soon, and I was wondering if I could use your video (and the crow story) as one of my examples of structuring this style of prose. I would absolutely give you credit, and I'd send everyone a link to this video so they can check out your awesome channel for themselves!
Go for it!
Hannah Lee Kidder - Writer thank you so much :)
I got a sweater just like that, we can be the Freddy Krueger Sisters 😩
yessss
You might have already seen this but you were mentioned (in a nice way) in this video: ua-cam.com/video/ae61kGNpQPs/v-deo.html
Also thanks for the tips I'm trying to finish revisions on my short story. My brain checked out after the first draft.
My award winning under 40 word flash fiction story:
“Butcher Shop”
Early weekday mornings on my way to work I walk to the local butcher shop not yet open and peer through the clear glass window and notice neatly arranged on the overhead clothing rack the white aprons
-Al Fogel
Comments?
Wow, you're cute.