“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” ― Stephen King, “On Writing”
This assignment requires you to write an original short story of 4-6 pages (1000-1500 words). It should demonstrate your learning about character, structure, detail, point of view, and other elements fundamental to fiction writing. It should reflect your reading by observing the stylistic standards exemplified in the short published works we’ve been studying. It should aim to be “literary” fiction, distinct from “popular” or “genre” fiction such as fantasy, romance, or similar forms generally crafted with a reliance on formulaic conventions.
Evaluation Criteria
Structure: a single story with a clear beginning (it can begin in media res), middle, and end
Showing and telling: using significant, concrete details drawn from the senses to reveal information and meaning
Well-developed, believable characters, interactions, and authentic dialogue
Setting conveyed through the description and character interaction to establish a sense of place, a believable fictional world
Consistent and appropriate point of view.
Time: a sense of when this story is taking place, the pacing is appropriate
Plot: conflict and complication, crisis, resolution
Ending: a clear ending that seems appropriate to the story (not tacked on)
Creative title
Creativity: significant thought given to originality and the creative process
Story is free from spelling, syntactical, grammatical, and other mechanical errors
Story meets length and formatting requirements
Of course, no plagiarism or self-plagiarism (submitting work that’s yours but is written for another class or purpose other than this assignment), are automatic disqualifiers with serious consequences.