Micro-Fiction Mini Unit - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Micro-Fiction Mini UnitSlide2

What is Micro-Fiction

Micro-fiction

- a

very

short story; also known as flash fiction

Specifics-

half a page or less

First or third person

Always has a protagonist, but not always an antagonist

starts right away with the action of the story

Surprise ending Slide3

Example Micro-Fiction by Annie McMahon

"

Are you sure you weren't followed?"

"

Positive."

"

Were you able to secure the equipment?"

Zeth

glanced around, and pulled a black bandanna off a shiny red metal box. He opened it ceremoniously.

"

With this under our power," Mauricio declared, "we will be able to annihilate the enemy before complete invasion."

Zeth

carefully picked one of the silver elements from the box and examined it thoughtfully. Just as he laid the piece back in place, the ground shook, the room darkened, and a voice boomed from above:

"

What are you two doing under the table with my toolbox

?"Slide4

Example Micro-Fiction II

“We might see some interesting new animals on this vacation,” Mother told her three year old son as they drove along Highway 1.

Their drive passes uneventfully until a common, white-tailed deer dashes across the road right in front of them.

“Look!” Mother calls.

The three year old turns his head just in time to see the white deer butt hop off the road into the trees.

The little boy looks at it in amazed confusion and cries out, “What kind of monkey was that!”Slide5

The

conversation between one or more people in a literary work

Dialogue

Slide6

The purpose of Dialogue

Dialogue can be used to successfully reveal a characters’ personality or to propel the action of the story.

However, there is a fine line between too much and too little.Slide7

Examples:

Using dialogue to express emotion

Too little:

"

Stop!" he yelled angrily,

Too much:

“I need you to stop right now or I might get really, really mad at you!” he growled.

Just right:

“

Cut it out, or I swear, I’ll pound

you

,” he said

.Slide8

NOTICE:

Start a new line and indent each time there is a new speaker

End punctuation (, ! ? . ) goes

inside

the quotation marks

Capitalize the first word in quotation marks if it is the start of the sentence

Comma goes between speaker tag and quotation mark

“

H

ow was your weekend

?

” asked Suzie

.

Timmy responded, “Fine, how was yours?” “Great! I went hiking through the canyon,” she explained, “and then my family and I got ice cream.” “Sounds fun,” he said.

Punctuating DialogueSlide9

Writing Dialogue

Turn to your learning partner. The partner on the left is the character on the left and vice versa. Together, write the dialogue you think these two are having. Slide10

Writing Dialogue

The partner on the left is the character on the left and vice versa. Together, write the dialogue you think these two are having. Slide11

Writing Dialogue

The partner on the left is the character on the left and vice versa. Together, write the dialogue you think these two are having. Slide12

Writing Dialogue

The partner on the left is the character on the left and vice versa. Together, write the dialogue you think these two are having. Slide13

Writing Dialogue

The partner on the left is the character on the left and vice versa. Together, write the dialogue you think these two are having. Slide14

Writing Dialogue

The partner on the left is the character on the left and vice versa. Together, write the dialogue you think these two are having. Slide15

Writing Dialogue

The partner on the left is the character on the left and vice versa. Together, write the dialogue you think these two are having. Slide16

Writing Dialogue

The partner on the left is the character on the left and vice versa. Together, write the dialogue you think these two are having. (Person #2 is on the phone)Slide17

DIRECTIONS: Think of your favorite movie/TV character. Write out a conversation between that character and Miss Blanchard.

REMEMBER:

Indent each time there is a new speaker

End punctuation (, ! ? . ) goes

inside

the quotation marks

Capitalize the first word in

quotations marks

if it is the start of the sentence

Comma goes between speaker tag and quotation mark

Write your own dialogueSlide18

Thoughts as dialogue

When writing out thoughts, italicize the words instead of using quotations marks.

All other punctuation is the same.

Wow!

she thought,

I had no idea he was such a good dancer! Slide19

Micro-Fiction Assignment #1

Take a look at item 2 on your Brainstorm list on the inside front cover of your Creative Writing Portfolio.

Using that item as inspiration, write a 250-300 word micro-fiction story keeping in mind the following:

First or third person

Always has a protagonist, but not always an antagonist

starts right away with the action of the story

surprise

ending

Dialogue Slide20

Examples:

Using Speaker tags to propel Action

When writing, keep in mind the writer’s motto: “Show; don’t tell.”

INSTEAD OF-

“

I don’t care,” Mark said indifferently, but deep

inside

, he

cared

a

lot.

TRY-

“

I don’t care.” Mark shrugged, but underneath his desk, through his lined jeans, his fingernails gouged his thighs.Slide21

Dialogue Tips continued…

Avoid "talking head" dialogue to reveal background information. If both characters already know the information, don’t reveal it through contrived dialogue:

“Hi Bob, my darling husband. I’m going to work, now, as I usually do at 7 p.m., and I’ll be back as usual at 5 a.m.”

“OK, my loving wife, Julia. As you know, I try to be cheerful about your job, but I still wish you’d quit and spend more time with Derek, your 10-year-old son from your first marriage, who is dyslexic, since he and I don’t get along."Slide22

Micro-Fiction Assignment #2

250-300 words

Examine item 10 on your Brainstorm list.

Let that item in some way inspire your second micro-fiction story, keeping in mind the following:

First or third person

Always has a protagonist, but not always an antagonist

starts right away with the action of the story

surprise ending

Try and make this dramatically different than your last micro-fiction.