This week's reading is very short and comes again from the Bath Flash Fiction Awards. This piece is called The Undertakers' Jolly and is written by Conor Houghton.
If you missed it, you can find it here: https://bathflashfictionaward.com/2018/06/conor-houghton-june-2018-second-prize/
I chose this piece because it seems to have a narrative that narrows down throughout the story.
The first paragraph refers to 'all the undertakers in Limerick'. The second paragraph starts with a broad statement about 'The conversation', focusing on Paddy Sherry's tale, and by the third paragraph we are settled in on Mary Sherry who takes us away from the busy pub and into a more peaceful silence.
What to take away from this week's reading:
1. Play around with perspective - you don't just have to have one main character and talk only from their perspective!
2. Think about how many characters you want and whether you want their thoughts to be heard.
3. Make sure your characterisation is strong - even in a short piece such as this.
Related exercises:
Use your notebook to play around with perspective. When doing writing exercises (you can find lots under the 'writing prompts' tab), try writing the same story in the first, second and third person.
Writing in the second person might seem like a challenge, but hey, all the more reason to practice it right?
Happy writing!
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