Day 12: Making Connections
We're already halfway through the advent calendar, so what a perfect time to think about midpoints....
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Step 1: Take two pieces you've written before about different themes, people, locations or topics. They can have some similarities, but don't cheat and pick two stories that you intentionally wrote about the same character or idea.
Step 2: Now write a third piece that could be placed before, between, or after these two pieces to create a complete Flash Suite.
If you want to, you can make a few small cosmetic changes to the previously written pieces to make all three stories appear to be about the same people or to be set in the same place...things like changing a proper name here and there, or changing the weather so that the seasons are consistent across all three pieces. However, try not to fiddle too much!
Embrace the gaps, and search for hidden connections under the surface of each piece. And most of all, have fun!
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For an additional challenge, keep on going until you have a full-fledged novella-in-flash. Okay, okay, that might be a little ambitious for a single day's prompt, but you're more than welcome to expand the scope of your flash suite by putting together more than just three pieces.
If you'd like a goal or deadline to motivate you, have a look at these opportunities from these UK organisations who are passionate about flash novellas and collections of flash:
- Reflex Press' Open Call for Submissions (no deadline stated)
- Bath Flash Fiction Novella-In-Flash Award (closes 14 January 2019)
- Ellipsis Zine's Flash Collection Competition (closes 17 January 2019)
If you'd like to check out the flash fiction anthologies published by National Flash Fiction Day, have a look at our new bookshop, and stay tuned for our novella-in-flash news, to be announced in late 2019.
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Find out more about National Flash Fiction Day at our website or get in touch if you'd like to learn more about how you can get involved.
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