Flash Fiction Weekend

A Creative Weekend Writing Retreat

Flash fiction is a unique and exciting way to challenge your storytelling abilities in a compact, powerful format. Whether you're an experienced writer or someone just looking to explore the world of writing, a flash fiction retreat can help you discover new ideas, break free from writer’s block, and finish multiple stories in one weekend. This guide will take you step-by-step through a Friday-Sunday writing retreat, complete with creative prompts, activities, and reflective moments to make your weekend both productive and enjoyable.

Friday: Setting the Stage for Creativity

Evening: Arrival & Warm-Up

Your weekend begins with setting up a comfortable writing space. Whether you're retreating at home, in a cozy cabin, or at a rented writing cottage, make sure your environment is calm, inviting, and free of distractions. The goal for the evening is to ease into the creative process.

• Set the Scene: Create your writing nook. Gather materials like notebooks, pens, your laptop or tablet, and a cozy blanket. Light a candle or make yourself a cup of tea.

• Warm-Up Exercise:

  • Freewriting (10 minutes): Set a timer and write anything that comes to mind, no rules, just letting your pen flow. The idea is to get the creative juices flowing and shake off any pressure.

  • Flash Fiction Inspiration Exercise (15 minutes): Browse a few images (you can use Pinterest, Google, or magazines) and choose one that speaks to you. Write down a few words or phrases that come to mind when you see the image. These can act as potential story starters.

Saturday: Immersion & Storytelling

Saturday is all about diving deep into writing. You'll write, reflect, and push yourself to explore new ideas through the lens of flash fiction.

Morning: Write Your First Flash Fiction Story

Start the day by diving into your first flash fiction piece. Flash fiction is typically defined as stories that are under 1,000 words, but you can push that boundary slightly if it feels right.

• Prompt 1: "The Moment Before" (30 minutes)
  Write a story that takes place in the moments leading up to a life-changing event. This could be a moment before a wedding, an important decision, a meeting, or a confrontation. Focus on the emotions, thoughts, and tension that fill the air just before the key moment occurs.

  Example: "The Last Breath Before I Jump"

• Prompt 2: "What’s in the Box?" (45 minutes)
  Someone receives an unexpected package. The contents inside are mysterious or hold great significance, but the story is about the recipient’s reaction and their inner thoughts rather than the object itself. What does it mean to them? Is it a symbol of hope, regret, fear, or longing?

  Example: "The Box From My Father"

• Reflection (15 minutes): After finishing the prompt, take 15 minutes to reflect on your writing. How did you feel during the process? Were you surprised by where the story went? What did you learn about your characters and their motivations?

Afternoon: Group Writing Challenge & Peer Feedback

If you're in a retreat with other writers, you can engage in a group writing challenge. If you're solo, consider interacting online or sharing your work with a trusted friend for feedback.

• Group Challenge (45 minutes): Write a flash fiction story that involves the following five elements:

  • A red balloon

  • A mysterious phone call

  • A cliffhanger ending

  • Someone running

  • A room filled with books

  The challenge is to incorporate all of these elements into one coherent, engaging story. This exercise will push your creativity and force you to think outside the box.

• Peer Feedback Session (45 minutes): If possible, share your story with a fellow writer or in a small group. Offer constructive feedback and focus on what worked well, such as character development, imagery, and emotional depth. Use the feedback to revise your story.

Evening: Writing from a Different Perspective

In the evening, work on writing from a perspective that's outside your comfort zone. This is your chance to try something new and stretch your storytelling muscles.

• Prompt 3: "The Voice of an Inanimate Object" (45 minutes)
  Write a flash fiction piece from the perspective of an inanimate object. It could be a lamp watching a family go through a difficult time, a park bench observing people falling in love, or an old book that has seen many owners over the years. The challenge is to convey the object's personality and emotions.

  Example: "The Watchful Lamp"

• Reflection (30 minutes): After your writing session, reflect on how it felt to write from a completely new perspective. What did you learn about your own writing process? Did the exercise surprise you?

Sunday: Refining & Finalizing Your Stories

Sunday is all about polishing your work, fine-tuning your stories, and setting intentions for future writing projects. By the end of the day, you’ll have several flash fiction pieces to work with and revise further.

Morning: Rewrite & Revise

After a day of deep writing, you may want to take some time to revise and refine your stories. Select your favorite story from the weekend and give it a solid revision.

• Tip: When revising, focus on cutting unnecessary words or sentences, enhancing character development, and sharpening your imagery. Flash fiction often requires you to be economical with words, so ask yourself: "Is this sentence doing enough? Does it add to the mood, plot, or character development?"

Prompt 4: "The End, or Just the Beginning?" (45 minutes)

Write a flash fiction piece that ends with an open question or mysterious twist. You want to leave the reader wondering: "What happens next?" The idea is to craft a conclusion that suggests a larger story without resolving everything.

Example: "And Then the Door Opened…"

• Reflection (15 minutes): After writing your twist-ending story, take some time to think about your favorite parts of this weekend’s writing retreat. What did you enjoy most? What parts challenged you the most? Did you discover anything new about your writing style?

Afternoon: Share Your Work & Celebrate

The final part of your flash fiction writing retreat is sharing your work and celebrating your accomplishments.

• Sharing: If you're retreating with others, organize a "read-aloud" session where each person reads their favorite flash fiction piece from the weekend. If you're working solo, consider sharing your stories on a blog, social media, or in a local writing group.

• Celebration: Reward yourself for completing the retreat. Go for a walk, enjoy a celebratory snack, or take a moment to reflect on how much you accomplished in just a few days.