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Writing Assignment Focusing on Point of View

Write a short, short story (flash fiction) for each of the following narrators:

• First-person unreliable narrator
• Third-person detached observer narrator
• First-person or third-person naive narrator

Flash Fiction

Flash fiction is a full story even though it’s brief. Types of flash fiction include the following:

• Six-word story
• 140-character story, the length of a tweet
• Dribble, which is 50 words
• Drabble, which is 100 words
• Sudden fiction, which is up to 750 words.

To read a sample of flash fiction, go to this drabble story titled “Calling Mom Home”: http://www.100wordstory.org/6273/calling-mom-home/.

Length and Details

You get to select your own story prompts (ideas) for each narrator listed above. Choose a different story idea for each narrator.

The three stories definitely should be short: only 1/2 to 3/4 typed, double-spaced page of flash fiction. Each story will be on its own page with a minimum of 100 words, a drabble, which means the entire document will be three pages in length. Each story should engage readers with vivid descriptions, dialogue (if necessary), and a setting.

Remember in order to keep your scene brief, don’t include a lot of characters. One character is enough to work with. Two are allowed if you need another one. Three is probably too many.

Remember to use the correct pronouns for the point of view you are writing in.

• First-person narrators use these pronouns: I, me, my, we, us, our
• Third-person narrators use these pronouns: he, she, it, they, them, theirs

Be careful to show the scenes not tell them. After you’ve written your first draft, go back and find the places where you need to show more vs. telling.

Final Draft Requirements

Follow these instructions for typing the final draft:

• The flash fiction stories must be typed in a Microsoft Word file (.docx).
• The document must have one-inch margins, be double-spaced, and typed in a 12 pt. readable font like Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial.
• Indent paragraphs one tab, which is five to seven spaces.
• In the upper left-hand corner of page 1, type your first and last name, the name of the class, the date the assignment is due, and the assignment name. Example:

Jane Doe
ENGL 1465 – Creative Writing
Due Date:
Writing Assignment: Point of View

• In the upper right-hand corner on all the pages, insert page numbers in the header. Type your last name in front of the page number. Example: Johnson 1.
• Be sure to give each story a title. It should be centered and at the top of the page over the text of each story. Do not bold, enlarge, or punctuate the title. Capitalize the first word and each important word in the title.
• Directly underneath title, type what type of narrator it is. Example: Told by a First-person Unreliable Narrator.
• Remember each flash fiction story is on its own page within one document, and you are writing three drabbles.