I love how the following story (at Pithead Chapel) by Kyra Kondis suggests a whole story-world in a compressed space, through the use of vivid, specific details. (A novel might be constructed from these beginnings!) The title too is neat – offering more than we might take from it at first glance.
https://pitheadchapel.com/triptych/
Taking this story as a springboard, why not write a scene/chapter for your novella in which…
- a character gets involved in an affair (as revenge?)
- OR: a character is propelled towards risky behaviour (of some kind) after experiencing a loss
- OR: a character does something “wrong” but feels justified or has fair motive (you decide the justification/motive)
- OR: a character checks someone else’s text messages or some otherwise confidential or private information (you decide the reason why – and what they find when they do)
- OR: the story is split into a three-part “montage”, set at different times (use past/present/future as you see fit, and consider focusing on three primary characters)
- OR: find some other angle that you unearth from the example
Here’s the story itself:
https://pitheadchapel.com/triptych/
More about Michael Loveday’s Novella-in-Flash mentoring: https://novella-in-flash.com/about-the-course/
You can sign up to this novella-in-flash writing prompt series here:
The Novella-in-Flash 