This Unit pushed you to think about stories complexly: from their elements to their literary devices, all the way to their symbolisms. If anything, you now have a grasp on what it takes to read, write, and analyze stories.
Now, we flip the switch. Apply the story writing elements and techniques you learned from this unit to your very own creative writing. For this activity, you will write a story following the Creative Writing Prompt of “What If…?”.
1. Creative Writing: Fiction
Fictional work is anything that is not based on facts. It is not a real person’s life story, a how-to book, or a self-help series of novels. Fiction is your Harry Potter books, your Holes, and even your The Fault In Our Stars.
While you can derive inspiration from real world feelings and events, fiction, at its core, is non-factual prose meant to entertain audiences.
In order to make a riveting and entertaining story, descriptive text is very important. Learn more about it in this TED-Ed video.
From there, you can take the next step in this Assessment.
2. Writing Prompts
Writing prompts are tiny pieces of questions or events that nudge your imagination in the right direction. These are not a one-size-fits-all situation; what inspires one may not always inspire another.
For this exercise, there is a list of writing prompts to choose from. The main theme of all of these is that they are “What If…?” questions.
Choose from this list of prompts:
● What if we are actually the descendants of another planet, brought here long ago?
● What if an executioner was suddenly granted the ability to bring people back from the dead?
● What if the dream world is the actual world?
● What if World War I never happened?
● What if the oceans began to dry up?
● What happens if dinosaurs are still alive somewhere?
● What if you had the powers of God for one day?
● What if you could relive your childhood in exchange for your life?
● What if someone unlocked the secret to immortality?
● What if you could stop time at will?
● What if someone from Oz was left in Kansas after a tornado?
● What if a cow could talk?
● What if rooms in a huge mansion were portals to people’s nightmares?
● What if someone woke up in a remote forest with no recollection of how they got there?
● What if video game consoles could control real soldiers?
If these prompts still aren’t sparking your imagination, feel free to suggest your own “What If…?” question!
3. Creative Writing Expectations: Short Story
While creative writing is borne out of freedom and creativity, there are specific expectations, still, of your output. Note that this is only the beginning of your story, so you have the freedom to develop or tweak it however you want to even after this exercise!
Your output must:
● Have a Title
● Be around 500 – 1,000 words long.
● Answer a specific “What If…?” question
● Have an identifiable plot, atmosphere, characterization, and setting.
● Have at least 2 emerging themes (that you will identify after writing)
● Use figurative language (at least 5)
● Have a symbolic item/event/person—-add any symbols however you want! (You will also identify this symbol after writing).
