Three Paragraphs + Anaphora
Three Paragraphs + Anaphora
An Immersion Prompt
Hi friends,
This is a popular prompt I ran during February’s Flash Immersion Extravaganza. I will be running more fun, inspiring events like this in the future, along with readings and more, so do consider upgrading to a paid subscription if you’ve not already!
Those who are new to flash fiction sometimes express frustration about how to begin. It’s often challenging to those of us who’ve been writing flash for years! And if you’re used to writing longer, you may feel yourself cut off by the constraints of flash fiction before you’ve had a chance to really get a story going. You’ve used up half your available words and you’ve only just cleared your throat!
I find it very helpful in this case to 1) begin with a constraint, a time limit, a structure, a container, etc., then 2) supply a “way in” that silences the editor and taps into your subconscious to get the words flowing.
In my teaching, I will rarely tell you what to write about (that’s up to you), but I’ll give you a variety of ways in to expressing your own unique voice and vision.
YOUR PROMPT
Write three paragraphs. Begin each paragraph with the same phrase. Repetition has a way of lulling us. It feels rote, automatic. As you write or type, you're merely filling in the blanks. Interesting things may happen as you go. Unplanned detours and juxtapositions, magic even.
Some examples:
You won't remember….
What I found…
What he needed…
The place I…
We would always...
After that, they…
He knows…
By writing in three parts it already feels like you're telling a story. You’re imposing a structure of sorts but this is only to get you going. It’s only to stretch your muscles, loosen up. If it turns into something, wonderful, but if it doesn’t that’s fine too. I want to see where this goes for you. You may unearth something that surprises you.
Fill with sensory detail, musings, dreams, asides, flashbacks. Pull from what you've collected over the years, consciously or subconsciously. Don’t worry about “making sense” or writing anything that adheres to rules or feels official. Tell blatant lies or make confessions. Invent or play or steal all your want.
If you're inspired to do so, give your three paragraphs a great title and/or subtitle it.
RECOMMENDED READING
Here’s some flash fiction I have recently read that knocked my socks off:
“A Three-Hour Tour” by Didi Wood in Smokelong Quarterly
“Kilter” by Dan Crawley in Variant Literature
The entire 5th Anniversary Issue of Splonk, (don’t miss Marie Gethins’ interview with none other than Lydia Davis! )
I’m convinced Francine Witte must write in her sleep. She has SO much great new work out there, but I was especially taken with her ekphrastic piece, “After Nighthawks,” recently published in Five South.
“This Isn’t the Start of the Story” by Sumitra Singam, in Anti-Heroin Chic
And while you’re at it, check out the photography by Koss here. Well, just check out the whole recent issue of Anti-Heroin Chic. It’s bursting with gorgeous poetry, flash, art, and music.
BEFORE YOU GO
There are some spaces still available in my upcoming live 3-in-90 workshop on Saturday, April 20th, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time! These are both productive and FUN! More info and sign-up HERE.
More for the Toolbox: Rhetorical & Poetic Devices in Flash
Through interactive discussions and engaging prompts, we’ll explore the fusion of linguistic artistry and concise storytelling. Uncover the secrets of using rhetorical devices to compel your reader, along with poetic elements to infuse beauty and resonance into your flash fiction. From metaphors to alliteration, from parallelism to vivid imagery, we'll unravel the nuances of language manipulation in the realm of concise storytelling. By the end of this session, you’ll have crafted compelling flash fiction pieces that showcase the marriage of precision and artistry. Elevate your flash fiction game and leave with a toolbox full of techniques to make your stories truly unforgettable.
ALSO, if you’ve not made all your summer plans yet, Nancy Stohlman and I are teaming up again to run a writing retreat in beautiful Grand Lake, Colorado, and we’d love for you to join us! July 23rd - 28th. Find the details HERE. These retreats all sell out and come very well recommended. “This retreat provided such a great learning experience with innovative lessons from some of the industry’s finest writers in a beautiful setting, and surrounded by a supportive bunch of friendly, like-minded people. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will remember fondly.” ~Ryan Stone
He knows it's time to wake up even before he's fully awake. The mattress suddenly feels weightless under the bones of his spine. But it’s the smell of Mexican dark roast wafting from the kitchen that stirs him into consciousness. He cherishes it because of the way she prepares the divine brew -- praying over the beans first, then manually grinding them, then watching the water boil in the cezve until the dark elixir spills over its brim.
He knows all the tenets of mindfulness, having meditated for over three decades. The 'being-in-the-moment-and-seeing-the-world-in-a-grain-of-sand' thing sounded good when he was younger, mainly as a distraction or an excuse not to do the work that mattered. But now, at 89, the pain in his gums, the hurting joints, and the clogged arteries make the art of noticing a luxury he can no longer afford.
He knows he will have to die someday and is almost ready to accept it. But she, ten years younger, started taking piano lessons in January, practicing every day, as if melodies and harmonies could protect her from the ravages of time. Leaving her here alone would be an act of cowardice. So, he shuffles into the kitchen and stands behind her, silently, smelling her hair and watching the water boil in the long-handled pot.