Seashells(edited)

PROMPT: Flash Fiction Competition 2022

    Shells.
    The waves crash against my knees. Just with a simple slice, a broken seashell cuts my knee, making the water swirl with blood red. I quickly get out of the water, grasping the shell that cut me tight in my hand.
    I storm back home and tell my mom. “A worthless broken shell cut my knee! I hate it!”
    Mom shakes her head. “No, it’s worth something. It cut your knee, after all.” She replies.
    I stare at her. “But it’s just a shell.”
    Mom nods as if that explained everything.“Exactly.”

Message to Readers

Hi everyone! Good luck for anyone who’s entering!

Peer Review

What drew you into this story? How did the writer pique your interest?

I love beaches and (due to the title) this seemed like a story about them. I also loved that line of waves "crashing."

Flash fiction requires the writer to use the power of suggestion—planting an idea or question in the reader’s head without explaining fully. Where did the writer do this successfully?

the line of "waves crash against my knees" establishes that the narrator is at the beach. the dialogue between the narrator and their mom also builds character as the story progresses without having to tell us much.

Were there any places where maybe too much was left unsaid, leaving you confused?

nope! I think this was pretty clear.

What words of encouragement do you have for this writer as they continue drafting their story?

Keep going! this looks like it's going in a great direction and I already love the theme that's popping up here :D

Reviewer Comments

thanks for reading this review! I hope it helped you in some way :)