Hi there

Thanks for subscribing to the 5 Step Flash Fiction Bootcamp.

Over five lessons, this plan gives you all the support and structure you need to write a 600-word short story you're proud of – an example of what is often called ‘flash’ or ‘micro’ fiction.

The plan is achievable even if you have very limited time – each lesson takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete - or less.

The power of constraints

This bootcamp is all about being concise.

Economy is everything - it's harder than you might think to tell a story over just 600 words - but that's the challenge!

If you're up for it, let's dive right into the first lesson. This is where you get your inspiration to write.

Do you have around 30 minutes now? If so, let's crack on...

Once up on a time...

Beginning to write is difficult.

We’re sometimes afraid of committing ideas to paper - or screen - in case they’re not good enough; or we might be wary of putting ourselves ‘out there’. 

In this step, we’ll start exploring options for possible stories as we follow instinct and imagination. 

We’ll start with some images to give you some ideas. Think of it as a warm up for the creative muscles.

Using picture prompts

We've specially curated a gallery of 20 images to give you prompts for your story.

The selection is small to keep your focus tight.

It contains photos old and new: pictures of people and settings to evoke moods.

Task #1: pick a prompt

Your first task is to spend no longer than two minutes scrolling through the gallery to see if any image immediately catches your eye.

Don't worry if the style of the image doesn't fit with your chosen genre. Think about the people, the relationships and the emotions - make this your inspiration.

Now do this:

> Choose one picture that appeals

> 'Fave' the photo you have chosen or download

> When you have, come back here.

Task #2: flesh out your idea

Your second task is to think about these two questions concerning your key character.

Do this in no longer than three minutes.

Q. Are there people in the picture, they might be potential characters for your story - who are they?

Q. If you prefer settings, these might serve as backgrounds or settings to your story. What mood do they create?

Now do this:

> Return to your chosen photo

> Quickly note down answers to the questions above

> When you've done that, come back here.

Task #3: plan the plot

For your third task you're going to think about plot.

Look at the details in the picture and start to formulate some answers to the questions below.

Spend no longer than ten minutes on this task. Read through the questions:

Q. What's happening? What might happen? What has happened?

Q If there are people in the picture, what are the relationships between them?

Q. If there's just one person in the picture, how are they feeling? Why are they there?

Q. If the picture's a setting, what does it reveal and why does it speak to you?

Q. Where are you in the picture, scene or setting? Try to imagine yourself IN the picture and in the character's shoes.

Now do this:

> Return to your chosen photo

> Quickly note down answers to the questions above

> When you've done that, come back here.

Task #4: develop your character

Your fourth and final task is to find your character and in a moment, you’ll be led through a list of directed questions. 

These will help you work with the image in more detail.  

This final task should take you no longer than 15 minutes.

Soon, you’ll be engaging in ‘freewriting’, which means writing without stopping or without judging; you should aim to get down onto the page whatever first comes to mind. 

Here are the questions.

Q. Who are you?

Q. Where are you?

Q. What do you want?

Q. What prevents you from getting what you want?

Now do this:

> Return to your chosen photo

> Set a timer for 15 minutes.

> Aim to write for 3-5 minutes per question  

Remember this:

# We're exploring ideas at this stage - that's all.

# Imagine yourself IN the photo.

# Don't look back and don't edit.

# Don't agonise over words

# Don't worry about anything other than getting your ideas down.

One last tip:

If you don’t want to write using the first person (‘I’), putting yourself in the character’s shoes, you might prefer to use third person (‘he’ or ‘she’). 

If you’re not happy with what you’ve produced, set the timer and do it again from a different perspective or find another image and do the same thing.  

Now go write...

That's step one done...

That's it for this session, we hope you enjoyed gathering some initial ideas for your story and your character.

Next, we'll start to structure your story and you'll need around 20 minutes to complete the exercise.

See you then!