tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005986735966635433.post7779693911638516476..comments2024-03-20T21:37:01.626-04:00Comments on Flash Fiction: Visible Signs: a #Halloween Short StoryLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08831231531918915804noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005986735966635433.post-59651419093164746852014-11-03T12:37:10.896-05:002014-11-03T12:37:10.896-05:00It used to be a standard short story in high schoo...It used to be a standard short story in high school English class in the 50s and 60s (my copy's in an old textbook of my mum's). I've seen it turned into a teleplay at Christmas-time -- with Red Skelton, maybe? I might be imagining that last part. Katherine Hajerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08270232675026751342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005986735966635433.post-33461969943617863362014-11-02T16:07:00.137-05:002014-11-02T16:07:00.137-05:00Hi Lisa! Thanks for your interest! I've been w...Hi Lisa! Thanks for your interest! I've been writing flash fiction for about 5 years, but I wrote my first prize winning story back in 5th grade. So, 1st graders can absolutely write flash fiction. Like any story, a "flash" has a beginning, a middle and an end. You need a central event and/or conflict. Description, setting, etc. is often only hinted at. <br /><br />As for ideas, they come from everywhere - people I observe, things I think about while lying in bed, fragments of dreams, those "what if" questions. Writing is really a form of "pretending" for me, since I try and become each character and think about how they would feel, speak, react, and interact. And kids are naturals at pretending.<br /><br />Examples for young students could include:<br /><br />1. A holiday story. What if wild animals celebrated Halloween and dressed up? What could happen or go wrong? (It can be funny or scary.) Or, what if YOU were in charge of Thanksgiving dinner this year. What would you feed everyone? Who would you invite, if you could invite anyone in the whole world, and why? What would it be like? (Maybe you would invite Teenage Mutant Turtles and order pizza.)<br /><br />2. Can you think of a funny story about someone in your family?<br /><br />3. Do you ever imagine or pretend that you are something or someone else? An animal, or a sports hero, or President? Write a story about something that happens to you. <br /><br />That's pretty brief, but hope it helps!Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08831231531918915804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005986735966635433.post-90039773670466794532014-11-02T15:43:13.052-05:002014-11-02T15:43:13.052-05:00Thank you Katherine. And I've never heard of ...Thank you Katherine. And I've never heard of "The Cop and the Anthem" so I'll have to check it out!Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08831231531918915804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005986735966635433.post-39679627884896873072014-11-02T15:42:30.306-05:002014-11-02T15:42:30.306-05:00Thank you Helen :) I'll be around to visit on ...Thank you Helen :) I'll be around to visit on Monday, another hectic weekend for me! :-)Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08831231531918915804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005986735966635433.post-61513664486708398862014-11-02T15:41:45.987-05:002014-11-02T15:41:45.987-05:00Thank you Stu. Even if he can't save others, p...Thank you Stu. Even if he can't save others, perhaps he has saved himself.Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08831231531918915804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005986735966635433.post-66379120729103857252014-11-02T15:40:59.427-05:002014-11-02T15:40:59.427-05:00Thank you Steve. I've always wondered how many...Thank you Steve. I've always wondered how many people would change their ways if psychological/emotional damage inflicted on someone was immediately visible as physical damage. Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08831231531918915804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005986735966635433.post-2480045801927589892014-11-02T15:36:46.276-05:002014-11-02T15:36:46.276-05:00Wow! I really enjoyed reading this story! I am a f...Wow! I really enjoyed reading this story! I am a first grade teacher and am currently taking a grad school class on different topics within literacy. This week, we are studying different types of writing, including flash fiction. Where do you get your inspiration in writing stories like this? How long have you been writing flash fiction? Do you feel like it could be taught to children as young as first grade? I would love any insight you could offer! Thanks! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01736305811287935039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005986735966635433.post-74042045336378778502014-11-01T22:02:11.229-04:002014-11-01T22:02:11.229-04:00This is like a jazzed-up, far less sweet version o...This is like a jazzed-up, far less sweet version of "The Cop and the Anthem" for modern times. And creepy. Wonderfully creepy.Katherine Hajerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08270232675026751342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005986735966635433.post-19283855093291592952014-10-31T20:51:38.008-04:002014-10-31T20:51:38.008-04:00Wonderful story Lisa! Wonderful story Lisa! Helen A. Howellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12748128819820230841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005986735966635433.post-88955777656071036092014-10-30T17:44:06.026-04:002014-10-30T17:44:06.026-04:00Wow, what a brilliant short story, very powerful. ...Wow, what a brilliant short story, very powerful. I love the way his life and disposition turned completely around from such a negative and brutal past and existence into a total opposite.<br /><br />One of the very saddening truths in some peoples' lives is this line... "You paid for others mistakes, and then you passed it on;"Steve Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18414279461366098783noreply@blogger.com