Flash Fiction Challenge: One Small Story In Seven Acts


The “write in the present tense” challenge is just wrapping up. Won’t you check it out?

Earlier this week I was all like, “Blah blah blah, here’s 25 things about story structure.”

And in there I offered one particular structure for a story —

A seven-act spread.

There I wrote:

Behold, a rough seven-act structure: Intro (duh) –> Problem or Attack (duh) –> Initial Struggle (character first tussles with source of conflict) –> Complications (conflict worsens, deepens, changes) –> Failed Attempts (oops, that didn’t work) –> Major Crisis (holy goatfucker shitbomb, everything’s gone pear-shaped) –> Climax and Resolution (duh).

…and now I want to see those seven acts put into play.

In a 1000-word example of flash fiction.

From you.

Yes, that’s right. I want you to take your 1000 words and orchestrate a full seven-act arc from intro all the way to the climax and resolution, not missing a step in the middle.

You have, as always, one week. February 10th by noon EST.

Post your story at your blog or online somewhere, then drop a link to the comments so we can find it.

One story.

Seven acts.

Get writing.


39 responses to “Flash Fiction Challenge: One Small Story In Seven Acts”

  1. You’re killing me.
    I really want to do this one, but I have so much editing (unpaid night job) and writing (hopefully future full-time job) to do, not to mention my day job (soul-sucking nightmare).

    Gah. Who needs sleep.

  2. @Amy – I know the soul-sucking nightmare. But even when you step away from it there is still no sleep in the “future full-time job.”

    Adding this to the list of writing to finish before Feb. 10.

    Thanks Master Wendig for the regular boot to writing butt.

    BTFO!

  3. The Getaway

    http://kleamidnightdisease.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/flash-fiction-challenge-one-small-story-in-seven-acts/

    I thought this would be much more difficult than it ended up being. I seriously stressed over it for a couple hours until I realized that The Wonder Pets pretty much follows the same structure, more or less. And then I just needed a muse, which ended up being a conversation with my soul mate about robbing banks and stealing Chargers. And then, viola! Words danced and here it is 🙂

  4. Beware! The next attack on America may hit us all, with unexpected consequences, including…loooove (awww).

    http://keithkarabin.com/2012/02/10/terrorist-cells-a-love-story-flash-fiction/

    Yep.

    Interestingly, to me, the “Failed Attempts” part was the longest and the most full of character development. Seems true to life…

    Thanks, C-Diddy. Been a while, and it was good to get that one out of my head. Though, it’s still a bit rough.

    And now that my brain-pan is clear, I’ll start reading y’all’s!

    K

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