Conflict Assignment

In no fewer than 300 words, describe the central conflict of a story you might construct, based on the character described below.  Keep in mind Maass' principles of compelling conflict: it must be meaningful, immediate, surprising, not easily resolved and it must happen to a sympathetic character). 

A 65-year-old widower who lives alone in a small coastal town.

When she was 53, she lost James to a shark attack. They were fishing just off the coast of Atlantic Beach, Rhode Island, when he slipped and fell into the water. She couldn’t recount the latter events now because they were just too painful. Her memory had become selective with age. Sometimes, like now, it was a gift. Other times, like when she was buying her new house, it was a curse. She’s always loved Rhode Island for its views and beaches but due to her selective memory (or was it memory loss? She couldn’t remember), had forgotten it was the same state where she’d lost her husband.

            Now Anna sat on the beach overlooking the sea and wondered where the last 12 years of her life had gone. Their, she and James’, children had all grown up and moved out of the house. They had families of their own now, too. She didn’t mind. Of course she missed them but she never minded being lonely. She wasn’t lonely now though. She had the waves and the salt-water smell to warm her heart. Anna, who was finally starting to feel at ease for the first time since she’d moved into her house, started to let her eyes close. The peace was coming to her and she felt a smile creep onto her lips.

            Anna was just about to fall asleep when she started to hear splashing coming from the shore. She didn’t open her eyes. She didn’t remember seeing people on the beach with her earlier but then again, she didn’t remember much these days anyway. She wasn’t concerned.

            But then the splashing turned violent. It wasn’t the splashing you’d hear when someone was simply running through the waves. It was a big whooping sound…like a giant hand slapping the water. Anna lifted one eyelid slowly; she wasn’t sure that she wanted to see what was making the sound.

            She wished she hadn’t opened anything. Lying in front of her was a huge shark. Before she had the chance to scream, move or do anything, something caught her eye. There was a scar on the shark’s left side. The scar reached from its mouth to its gills. She’d seen that scar before. She knew how that shark got that scar. Anna screamed. Her memory was working now. All of those years that she pushed the memory away but it started to resurface. She saw her husband fighting, losing, being dragged away from her forever.

Character Assignment

Assignment: In 300-400 words, make someone up.

 His name isn’t important; he doesn’t even go by his first name anyway. He doesn’t like it. It reminded him of his ex-girlfriend; that’s what she used to call him. He didn’t want to be reminded. He didn’t need to be reminded. His name doesn’t fit him right. He doesn’t look like his name. That’s why his name isn’t important. It isn’t even him.

            He’s tall…but then again, everyone is tall to me. I’m short. One day I asked him how tall he was and he said he was 5’10”. I thought he was 6’2”. He laughed at me as if his height was common knowledge. He reminded me of Jordan, which is another reason why his name isn’t important. They had the same muscle build: big. They also had similar personalities: always smiling, always laughing and always making you feel good about yourself. He usually boosted your ego instead of the other way around. He deserved to have his ego boosted, though, too. They’re facial structure was similar and their voices sounded the same, too. If you took Jordan and his older brother Devin, you’d get him. He was them and they were him. That’s the only way I can explain it.  

            He differed from Jordan, though, too. Jordan didn’t have any tattoos. He did. He had a lot of tattoos. I didn’t understand how he could endure that much pain. I didn’t like needles and he didn’t either. He said it was because the things that he tattooed were important. I told him so was my family but they’re not tattooed on my arm. He knew I was right.

            He was older and he treated me like a little sister. It was nice having family away from family…even if it wasn’t a real family member. He always looked out for my best interest and he was my protection. He taught me everything I know.

Setting Assignment

Assignment: In passages of no fewer than 150 words each, describe a SETTING for each of following scenes (your three passages should total 450+ words). Consider more than simply the objective details of the scene, but what they TELL us about what has happened/will happen there. DO NOT DESCRIBE THE ACTION that did/will take place.
--the birth of a child
--an accident
--a prayer

The birth of a child:

She couldn’t sleep anymore. No matter which way she turned, it hurt. Everything hurt. Every part of her body ached. She couldn’t eat anymore. She loved to eat. All she wanted was to keep a full course meal down but every time she tried, it came right back up. She would love a cup of coffee right now, too…a regular coffee with skim milk and a caramel drizzle. Instead, all she saw were the white lights on the ceiling. It seemed that everything was white today. The ceiling, her gown that didn’t fit at all, the bed underneath her and its sheets…they were all white. It reminded her of angels. It seemed fitting. Next to her bed was even a tiny little white blanket, folded into a nice square. It had pink embroidery on it, with a name sown in cursive. She knew the name by heart because she’s the one that picked it. She ran the name over and over, in her mind, out loud. She felt the name on her lips, her tongue. She smiled. It had a nice ring to it. But of course it did, she picked it. She reached over to touch the blanket and suddenly all of the sleep deprivation, the hunger, the pain washed away. All she felt was love.

An Accident:

There was blood everywhere. I can’t exactly tell if it’s from me. I actually can’t even tell where it’s coming from. I can’t look anywhere but straight in front of me. Am I upside down? Maybe I’m right side up? I’m definitely not sideways. Well at least I don’t think I am. I can’t really tell at all. I feel like I should be in more pain right now. Actually, I feel like I should be able to feel anything right now. I don’t feel anything right now. Toes. Wiggle my toes. Can’t. Fingers? Can’t. Can I twist side to side? Pain. Wow, that’s a lot of pain. Interesting. What do I remember? Nothing. Maybe something…? I think I remember flashes of blue. Was it the sky? But it was spinning too fast and it was too dark of a blue to be the sky. Isn’t it daytime? Maybe it’s nighttime now. I’m not sure how long I’ve been here.

A Prayer:

He has always been my friend. He has always been there for me every single time that I’ve needed him. He’s the best listener I’ve ever had the pleasure to talk to. We’ve been friends for quite some time now. He’s known me since I was a baby and he’s always watched over me. He’s with me constantly. He’s been there for all of the highs and all of the lows of my life and through it all, his love for me hasn’t waivered in the least. Every single morning and every single night, I talk to him. I thank him for his everlasting love and support. I thank him for never leaving my side. I thank him for giving me faith when I feel as if mine has run out. I think he appreciates that I do that. He’s never told me, though. It’s mostly me talking to him. He doesn’t really like talk back to me. He shows his love in other ways.

Premise Assignment

Assignment: In no fewer than 300 words, describe a story premise OF YOUR OWN that you think meets Maass's four criteria (plausibility, inherent conflict, originality, gut appeal).

Sarah Pilson and Jacob Archer were high school sweethearts. They met during their sophomore year English class. Sarah tutored Jacob; he couldn’t seem to understand the difference between who and whom, their, there and they’re and whoever and whomever. Sarah helped him pass the class. From that point on, they were inseparable…until their graduation. Sarah was set to attend Syracuse University in August while Jacob chose to enlist at Marine Corps University in Virginia. The two parted ways on mutual terms, wanting simply what was best for the other and hoping that one day fate would bring them back together.

While Sarah grew into her occupation, becoming the youngest ESPN female sports reporter at the ripe age of 24, Jacob completed his marine tour and grew into other things…one of which included marriage.

Jacob returns home, to rural New Jersey, to tell his parents about his engagement. On his visit home, he stumbles across his favorite old coffee shop, “Sips”. Since Jacob ordered at least two coffees from Sips every day during his high school career, he was very friendly with the owner, Mr. Sykes.

Mr. Sykes informs Jacob that he’s going to sell the shop because he’s gotten too old and can’t run it anymore. Jacob ends up buying, and running, the shop.

That same weekend, Sarah had to return home as well to prepare her parents for her little brother’s graduation from Louisiana State University, where he was the starting quarterback. Sara, not knowing that Jacob has just bought Sips, wanders in expecting to find Mr. Sykes. When she walks up to the counter, she comes face to face with Jacob, the one man that she’s ever truly loved.

The two rekindle their relationship, despite Jacob having a fiancé. The next morning though, Jacob is called by his commanding officer and is informed that he needs to immediately return to battle. Despite the sparks that flew between the two the night before, Jacob leaves. Sarah, who refuses to let Jacob slip through her fingers again, decides to follow him into battle.

Memoir Assignment

Assignment: In no fewer than 300 words, describe ONE memory that you think helps others to understand you as a writer.

Top of Form

Her name was Caitlyn. I'd known her before this...she wasn't very nice. I told everyone that she'd followed me here. They'd laugh, I'd smirk, and she'd shyly smile. The last time I'd actually seen her was probably second grade...now I was forced to sit next to her in Mr. Roberts' eighth grade English class and I honestly had no idea how I felt about it.

I moved when I was 10 and was convinced that I was being punished for…well I wasn’t sure what I could’ve done that was bad enough for my parents to rip me away from my friends and my life. That was in 5^th grade. By the time I reached eighth grade, I was starting to feel normalcy in my life.

And then Caitlyn showed up. She was threatening everything I’d done in the past five years. I tried so hard to rebuild my life and then she brought all of the memories rushing back. She would talk to me about all of my old friends and act like she knew more about them than I did  (as if). I ignored her at first. In fact, I did everything in my power to ignore her (I was in eight grade, okay?).

And then came English class. I’m not sure how I ended up sitting next to her since our last names were no-where close to each other in alphabetical order but there she was, Caitlyn K. sitting right next to Marisa T.

One day we were learning about poetry and we had an assignment: to write about something that deeply affected us. I looked to my right and there she was, writing away. I whispered to her,  “what are you doing?” She looked back at me almost confused and then gave me a half smile.

“I’m finishing our assignment.” Key word here: finishing. She must’ve seen how confused I looked because then she added, “I like to write...and I had some inspiration.”

             Caitlin taught me how to write poetry and take all the things in my surroundings and use them as inspiration. From that point on, Caitlin read all of my poems. It provided me a good outlet when I needed to vent. I also write when I don’t know how to say something…it helps me work through what I’m trying to say and get my points across more clearly.

10.2.14: Updates

Okay, so it's been a while. I've got good news, though! One of my classes this semester is another creative writing course. I'm going to start sharing some of my work on here. I'll have to go through and find some of what I've written so far but you guys should be getting about five new posts heading your way very shortly!

xoxo,
ris