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Words Not Spoken
Write a story featuring the “words not spoken” in a <a href="relationship“>relationship between a father and son. Develop some otherwise common object as a metaphor for the “words not spoken” between a father and son: stone, hammer, photograph, hockey sweater, guitar, slide rule. Read “War” by Timothy Findley. Read “My Father is a Simple Man”…
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Language Barrier
Write a story that features a “language barrier” in a relationship between a mother and daughter. For example, have the two come into conflict over a misunderstanding of some new 21st century words: “selfie”, “hashtag”, “follower”, “salty”, or “wheeling”. Read “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan (from The Joy Luck Club).
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“He was terrified of small spaces and she knew”
Write a short story with the first line – “He was terrified of small spaces and she knew” – and containing some sort of direct reference to each of the following: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclopædia_Britannica http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Genealogy_of_Morality https://www.edx.org
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Write a Short Story
Imagine your story is already done: Who is the hero in your story? Explain why you think so. What is the turning point? In what way does your protagonist change? What is the overall message and mood? Is humour an important part of this story? Why is your story title significant? Now begin with a…
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26 Letters
Create a short story, piece of memoir, or epic poem that is 26 sentences long, in which the first sentence begins with “A” and each sentence thereafter begins with the next letter of the alphabet.
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Go Stubbornly Forward
Sometimes you experience a time when what you planned takes an unexpected turn, ending in a rude awakening. Other times you may go stubbornly forward with plans which have every indication of not working out, but you are certain that you are right or you want desperately to make things right. Recollect such a situation…
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A New Insight
Write a short story in which the central character is a child who gains a new insight into a parent or guardian, or in which an adult and child arrive at a mutual understanding and acceptance.
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Exhilarating Challenge
Write a personal narrative essay, feature article, or short story about a time when you were faced with an intimidating, yet exhilarating challenge. Use imagery in your writing.
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Unclaimed Bank Balance
Write a short story that features the discovery of an unclaimed balance.
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The Michelle I Know
Read “The Michelle I Know,” by Alison Lohans. Respond to the Story Who is the hero in this story? Explain why you think so. What is the turning point? In what way does Michelle change? What is the overall message and mood? Why is humour an important part of this story? Why do you think…