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Post by Mini Mia on May 18, 2013 17:34:02 GMT -6
Divide the number of words you have, or intend to have, for your WIP by 4. That is the word count for each act of the story. Example:
4-Act Structure for a 500 word Flash Fiction Story
Act One: 125 words
----- Turning Point # 1
Act Two: 125 words = 250 words / Midpoint / Act 2a
----- Turning Point # 2
Act Three: 125 words = 375 words / Act 2b
----- Turning Point # 3
Act Four: 125 words = 500 words / Act 3
----- Climax
The 125 word count isn't set in stone. But your acts should be as close to that number as possible. You can have one act smaller, and another act larger, but not by much. The turning points and climax should be at the end, or very close to the end, of each of the acts. There can be a sentence or two of followup after the climax.
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Post by Mini Mia on May 18, 2013 18:22:46 GMT -6
BTW: This writing information was inspired by Holly Lisle's Free 3-Week Flash Fiction Course, but it was not a part of lesson one. This is not a pirated portion of her lesson one. (I've yet to receive other lessons in the course, so I'm unaware if it is a part of any following lessons.)
This information came about when I read her lesson comment that a story has to have: a beginning, a middle, an ending, and meaning. Which, for some reason, I never thought about when writing short pieces. And a light bulb went off. Then I got out a few of my flash fiction pieces and divided them up by 4 and began figuring out what their TPs and Climax were. One FF is finished, but I took a break before reworking a second FF story.
I got the 4-act structure from reading Jennifer Crusie's various blogs, and Larry Brook's Story Engineering writing book uses a 4-part structure. (I added the 3-act structure as well, for those who prefer it. Act 1 is Act 1; Act 2a is Act 2; Act 2b is Act 3; and Act 3 is Act 4.)
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