Day 17 Assignment 17: Write a scene that took place in your main character’s past. Then write a scene that takes place in the present using the “past” scene as a back flash.

So a flash back can be one sentence or a couple of sentences. The hard part is not overwhelming the present scene (as the Author Sarah Domet said). In other words a successful flash back gives you important information without drawing too much attention to it. If you stay in the flash back too long the reader can forget what’s happening in the actual story or even get annoyed and stop reading.

This one wasn't too hard, especially if you have ever had a lot of practice quoting things in papers. In papers you use the quote to support your argument. Flash backs are similar because they support your characters and give a little more depth to the situation. Without flash backs the story would probably still makes sense but you would miss out on learning more about the character's personality and who they were in the past.

An example of a brief flash back: (this one I used in a previous assignment Justin's POV) 'Sheepishly he reached out and shook Aaron’s hand he didn’t know what to say. Habitually he recited what he had often said in high school whenever the principal had forced him to apologize to the boys he beat up, even if they had started it. Sorry I guess I let my anger get ahead of me.'
A flash back doesn't have to be long and it doesn't have to be too in depth. with this flash back alone you learn a few things about Justin

• he fought in high school, 
• he was always the one who had to apologize even if he hadn't started the fight,
• he must have had to say those words often to be able to recite them when he was flustered,
• he most likely has a bad temper if he was fighting so much in high school,
• the principal must have either had a close relationship to Justin or Justin must have respected him or feared him (someone with so much fighting spirit wouldn't have given in and simply apologized if it wasn't his fault),
• since he fought often he probably didn't back off unless he knew fighting wouldn't work or benefit him (doesn't back down easily)

Sorry I'm not posting the scene I wrote today, it turned out better than I thought it would and since it would give some exciting things away I'm not going to share it. ;)
Mwahaha!
Have a great weekend!

Day 17 Completed!