So, you’re not one to dive into a prompt book without seeing how others use it, huh?
That’s fine. Chandra Arthur (my co-author) and I both have different approaches when we tackle our flash fictions from blank page to 1 point font, writing in the margins because we know editing us will have to somehow get it under 1,000 words.
I like to search for a prompt first. Some people like to go consequatively through the book, but as a mood writer and reader, I like to see what speaks to me in the prompt.
From there, I like to pick my 10 words. Where the prompt was my spark, the words become my kindling to keep the fire going. At this time I’m already brainstorming different “snapshots” of a scene in the story. It’s like a movie of a classroom in my head but with the word selection, I’m seeing those close up shots of a pencil tapping, leg bouncing, clock ticking (sometimes backwards), or the marker flowing across the whitebaord (guess we don’t use chalk boards anymore?).
Now, don’t worry, I didn’t forget about those pesky challenges we have in our book. Usually I pick the prompt last and I pick the prompt based on maybe a stylistic writing I want to explore, be mentally taxed by, or the one that will let me focus on the plot more. There are times where a challenge should be picked first, but those challenges are the ones the affect the 10 words you’re picking. Like use the antonyms of the 10 words instead of the words themselves. Or you can’t use any double letter words, like the t’s in letter.
Lastly, the writing itself. Yes, Chandra and I do timed writing exercises, but you do not need to follow that rule if you haven’t tried times writing before. When it comes to the words, Chandra is a purist and doesn’t change the tense, suffix, or prefix of the ten words. I however will do all of the above to make the words work for me.
And my final piece of advice, treat these stories like a diary to keep you from criticizing yourself for mistypes, plot holes, reinforced stigmas, flat characters, or any other problem you may find with the story. The purpose is to practice and make the draft exist. Editing you, if you want to practice that, can fix those things and sensitivity readers, if you want to publish or just getting better, can ensure you’re characters are more than the stigmas society puts on any group.
That is how Natalie drafts her 1,000 words.
If you want to see Chandra’s process, click here.
