Many fiction writers say that a story’s ending is the most difficult part to write. Below are 10 possible ending lines for a piece of fiction. Pick one, adjust it however works best for you, and then write a story with those words as the closing. We had come so far, but there was yet a long way to go. She thought I’d forgiven her; she was wrong. They had just settled in for the night when the door creaked open. It can’t be, thought Miriam, but there stood David, his face scarred, his …
Writing Tips & Lessons
I'm constantly developing new lessons for my College Writing and/or my Creative Writing classes. I'll post and explain some of my favorite writing tips and lessons here.
Creative Writing Prompt: Using Legends, Myths, or Fairytales
Writing Prompt: Use a legend, myth, or fairytale as a starting point, and write your own story where you try any or all of the following: change the time/location of the story, switch the genders of the main characters, write it only in dialogue, write it without any dialogue, write the entire thing in one long sentence. I'm using a legend from Treasury of Folklore, Seas, and Rivers by DeeDee Chainey and Willow Winsham as a basis for my own story. It's about a pink river dolphin who …
The Swimmer: Analysis and Study Questions
In Neddy, John Cheever created a truly delusional man who suffers from selective amnesia while he imagines himself to be great. Neddy lives in what should be a suburban paradise, but in the superficial McCarthy-era world of deceit, materialism, and broken promises, nothing is as Neddy wants to believe it is. Even the weather eludes him. There are hints of autumn everywhere, but Neddy believes it is still summer. Yet, he takes pleasure in the possibility of a coming storm. …
The Yellow Wallpaper (Icebreaker)
“I didn’t realize for a long time what the thing was that showed behind, that dim sub-pattern, but now I am quite sure it is a woman.” - Charlotte Perkins Gilman, "The Yellow Wallpaper" This story is about a woman who is trapped by society, her marriage, and her own mental illness. She is also literally trapped inside a room with ugly yellow wallpaper, and all she can do with her time is stare at the wallpaper. Eventually, she is convinced there's a woman trapped behind the yellow …
Feminist Fiction Writers: Sara Orne Jewett
Sara Orne Jewett was a turn-of-the-century novelist, poet, and short fiction writer, known especially for emphasizing nature and descriptions of coastal Maine in her work. Two pieces she is most well known for are:
And
In The County of Pointed Firs, Jewett inserts throughout a dueling yet complementary sense of loss and perseverance. The rural …