Flash Fiction

Percentages show roughly where each beat lands in the finished story — the midpoint of a 110-page screenplay is page 55. Write your version under each; it saves in your browser as you go.

1. 1.Situation

   ~1%

   Drop the reader straight into a charged moment. One character, one place, one tension, established in a sentence or two.

2. 2.Tighten

   ~40%

   A single escalation or detail that raises the stakes or sharpens the unease. No subplots; one thread, pulled tighter.

3. 3.The Turn

   ~70%

   The pivot: a reversal, reveal, or realization that recolors everything before it. This is the whole reason the piece exists.

4. 4.Resonant Ending

   ~90%

   End on the image or line that lingers. Imply the aftermath rather than explaining it; trust the reader to feel the rest.

More Short fiction beat sheets

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Terms used in this guide