First Writing Class: Part 6

I’m happy to say that my piece of flash fiction, The Parking Lot, was well received. The instructor offered a few bits of constructive criticism for improving some of the sentences, but the story worked well. My first metaphor managed to set the stage for the plot, a metaphor about half way through increased the tension, and by the time the five-paragraph story was completed I had a strong resolution.

When I sat down to write The Parking Lot, I had no idea what I wanted to write about. I struggled with the opening three sentences, and it wasn’t until I linked the pigeon’s wings with the sound of falling sheets of paper that the plot came to me. The rest of the story was actually very quick to write after I had a clear idea of the micro-plot. I can’t explain why, but it was the clear plot idea that gave me the second metaphor about coffee. I used it to build tension but also to show the protagonist procrastinating.

But enough about me! It was very interesting to listen to the other pieces of flash fiction written by my classmates. Some of them had rich sensory descriptions based on the material world, others leaned towards feelings while using four out of five senses. There were a couple of unexpected twists and even a surprise ending. Listening to the other students has been as helpful as listening to the instructor. Any weakness helps me recognize my own, and any strength is something available to take.