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Exercise #718: Craft
Posted 7/7/17
It seems to me that society is becoming more impatient by the day (by the hour?). Even waiting for the five minutes at the microwave seems to be more than most folks can handle.
Our stories reflect this. We can no longer start at the beginning but instead must jump right into the action. Action scenes are great but they don’t allow us much - if any - time for giving our character personality or depth.
Enter the flashback. The flashback is a good way to get some of the prior storyline or character development (or both) into the current tale, in a way that won’t bore the readers. It is important to be very clear with the start and stop of your flashbacks.
In a story, a flashback starts in past perfect tense (had picked instead of picked, had run instead of ran, etc.). Then it moves into past tense. Occasionally in a longer piece it might be wise to use the past perfect tense to remind your reader they’re in a flashback. It’s also usual to use it at the end of the flashback to trigger the shift into “now.”
(Note: I am using “she,” “he,” “his” and “her” for this exercise, but you are not limited to a human female as your character for your piece.)
Your character is browsing a social media site and sees a post from someone who has wronged her. She sees the post was added within the last half hour, and the idiot posted where he was, too. The location is close by.
Show us how she handles this situation, using a flashback in your work. This piece should strive to be a full short story.
Critiquers, along with a technical critique, note whether you were clear on whether events were happening “now” or “then.” Pick out lines that clarify it for you, or note where you got lost.
Note the increased word limit.
Word limit: 2500
Please use the subject line
SUB: Exercise #718/yourname
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