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My writing teacher told me to never use flashbacks and it almost ruined my story
In a workshop at the community college, the instructor said flashbacks are lazy and told our whole class to avoid them completely. I was working on a story about a woman finding her grandfather's old letters, and I cut all the past scenes. The draft felt flat, like just a list of things happening now. I put one short flashback to 1944 back in, right when she opens the first envelope, and the whole piece clicked. Has anyone else been given a hard rule that just didn't work for your specific plot?
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angela_carter2mo ago
Honestly that teacher sounds way too strict. Tbh flashbacks are just a tool, like anything else. If your story needs one to make sense, then use it. Ngl I've seen way worse writing tricks than a simple flashback.
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owens.nancy2mo ago
Wait, is it possible your teacher meant like, avoid long confusing flashbacks? Because a short one like you used sounds perfect.
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wadebailey27d ago
Read somewhere that even classic authors like Hemingway used flashbacks sparingly but effectively. It's probably more about how you use them than whether you use them at all. A short one that serves the story is usually fine.
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