Which uses of dialogue work well for flash fiction? Select all that apply.

Question

verbal interactions that drive the story’s plot forward

deep conversations that develop characters fully

a brief exchange that helps clarify the story’s themes

a few lines that suggest character traits

Answer 1

In flash fiction, the following uses of dialogue work well:

1. Verbal interactions that drive the story’s plot forward - This is crucial in flash fiction, where every word counts. Dialogue that pushes the plot along helps maintain pace and keeps the reader engaged.

2. A brief exchange that helps clarify the story’s themes - Since flash fiction typically has limited space, using dialogue to succinctly convey themes can enhance the depth of the story without overt exposition.

3. A few lines that suggest character traits - Minimalist dialogue can effectively indicate personality traits, motivations, or relationships between characters, adding richness to the narrative in a compact form.

Deep conversations that develop characters fully tend to be less practical in flash fiction due to space limitations, making it harder to fully realize characters within such a short format.