Author: Terry Connelly

Terry Connelly is a retired high school English teacher. She earned her BA and Single Subject Teaching credential from California State University of the East Bay, in Hayward, California. Her short story "The Visitor" was published in the Noyo River Review after winning first place at the Mendocino Coast Writers Conference in 2019. Another short story, "Swept Sway" is in the CWC Literary Review. She taught for 18 years at Newark Memorial High School in Newark, California. She was gifted to work with both College Prep students and those with learning disabilities.

Magical Shed

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            Imagine a world in which magic is accepted, not feared. Residents love dropping into magical situations, places, events. Celebrations feature magical acts with throngs of people gathered to witness the performance.

What if there are specific places imbued with magic? Anyone can go there. Anyone can walk through the doors and feel the hum of magical power.

Let’s take a backyard shed as an example. What happens when kids sneak in? Do they need to hold certain tools for the magic to work? Is it a simple walk through the door that sends them off to magical lands?

Your task is to write a story in which a specific place is imbued with accessible magic. After being there, are the people now endowed with certain magical powers? Does everyone get the same magic or does it change from person to person? Is all the magic good, or can it be used to cause harm?

Have fun  with this one.

Public Speaking

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            Some are quite comfortable speaking before a crowd. They love the attention, love being at the podium sharing their writing, reading a speech, offering a toast. Their faces light up, their eyes grow huge and when they begin to speak, the room quietens as they know something wonderful is going to be shared.

            Many of us hate public speaking, tremble at the thought of standing before others to say or read anything. Our voices shake, we break out in a deep sweat, and there are moments in which we think we’re going to be ill.

            Your task is to write a story in which your protagonist has to give a speech. First, determine the setting and the purpose of the speech. Then decide how your character is going to react when asked to speak.

            Both scenarios work to make interesting stories.

            Have fun with this one.

Weather Mistakes

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            Meteorologists today seem to be much better at forecasting future weather. With all the updated computer applications, they can look at weather patterns a week in advance. Such accuracy is quite helpful when planning outings, picnics, vacations and so forth.

            But…predictions sometimes fall apart. The lows and highs switch places. Instead of sun, it pours. Or instead of fine layer of snow, you get 2 feet in one day.

            Imagine what would happen if a town, using predictions, schedules a St. Patrick’s parade for Saturday, when the sun is expected to shine, instead of Sunday, the actual date. Floats and marching bands line up. Fancy cars decked in ribbons are ready to go. Kids in cute outfits are prepared to march.

            And then dark clouds roll over.

            Your task is to write a story in which the actual weather is diametrically opposite of what was predicted. Through everything at the wall until an interesting idea strikes!

            Have fun with this one.

A Different Kind of Vampire

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            Legend has it that all vampires drink human blood. But what if they didn’t? What would the alternative be?

            Could a vampire be converted to some other form of nourishment? If so, would it be solid or liquid?

            What if there are researchers out there experimenting with a solution? What kind of lab would they work in? Where would they get the “victims”?

            Your task is to write a story in which a vampire is trying to find an alternative that works.

            Let your imagination run wild!

            Have fun with this one.

Stolen Artifact

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            Recall a recent museum visit and all the artifacts you saw there. Which were the most valuable? The most appealing? The ones you wish you owned?

            Go online and search for images that represent things you might have seen. Print up one or two.

            Imagine those artifacts disappearing, without a trace.

            Your task is to write the story, beginning with your protagonist/antagonist strolling through the museum, taking careful looks at various items.

            Take time to describe each, the character’s reaction to them, and let readers get into her internal thoughts. (This is tricky, but you can do it!)

            Write what she does as closing time looms ever closer. Does she saunter out, to return another day? Does she hide somewhere so as to steal the items once the building is cleared?

            How does she steal them, especially if they are under or behind glass?

            Have fun with this one.

Autobiographical Fiction

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When I was young my father worked at a union-based factory in Dayton, Ohio. Every winter there was a Christmas party in which a jolly Santa distributed gifts while some type of performer kept the kids entertained. I was most amazed when the famous Sherry Lewis walked out on stage with her sock puppets. After all, I’d seen her on our small black and white television. Another Christmas it was a TV cowboy, and sometimes, near Easter, there’d be others whose names I don’t recall.

While the memories are fuzzy, I could use these stories as a springboard in the creation of   original characters and situations.

You can do the same.

Your task is to begin with something that occurred when you were young. If possible, look at photos from albums, or go online, in order to return to that time and place. Adding in sensory details, fill out the scene so that your readers will be there with you.

You could write a serious piece of one with a comedic element.

Have fun with this one.

Pet Ownership

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Pet stores flourish because they often offer sad-looking dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and various amphibians enclosed in tiny spaces. Is this done so that potential buyers will feel sympathy and so buy one as a rescue?

Are the displays set up so that the most desirable choice is at eye-level?

What about pet rescue societies? When they bring pets up for adoption, do they showcase the fluffiest, the cutest, the one with the most outgoing personality?

Or, do we choose our pets as a spur-of-the-moment decision, enticed by the large brown eyes and drooping ears?

Or do we select based or prior experience? What if a child was scratched by a cat? Well, that person is most likely to never choose a cat as a pet.

There’s also some degree of owner-neediness. Cats are notoriously independent, while dogs seek the approval of the leader.

Some pets are unappealing. A tarantula is not cuddly. Neither is a snake or lizard. Guinea pigs squeal loudly and might not be litter-box trained.

Your task is to write a story in which a pet plays a major role. Your character might have a preference, or might be open to just about anything alive.

Have fun with this one.

Cheapskate Travelers

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Imagine that your character goes out to eat with friends.  He orders a number of drinks, a serving of appetizers, an entree and, finally, a desert. The food is delicious and so he eats every single thing…all by himself.

The other members in the group are more conservative. One has coffee, another a soda, the third just water. None of them order an appetizer. One chooses a small salad as an entrée, another the special of the day, and the third has an American Burger. One orders ice cream for dessert, but the rest have nothing.

It’s obvious that each person in the group owes a different amount on money.

Normally, when the four eat out, the understanding is that they pay for what they order. But this time, the glutton, announces that they should split the bill evenly.

They all agree that the service has been excellent and that the waiter deserves a large tip.

Problems ensue when the bill is delivered. The glutton’s share of the bill would be close to one-third, if not a little bit more. But he still insists they split if equally.

What happens?

Your task is to write the story that shows how everyone reacts. Emotions are key here. Most likely there’s an argument, but does it stay low-key or become heated?

Have fun with this one.

Marking Time

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We often keep track of time through events in our lives. There are things that came before, the event, and what happens next. Sometimes the event is so significant that it changes lives.

For example, consider a young boy who broke his arm when he fell out of a tree. He was only eight at the time, but will always remember the incident as a changing point in his life, before the fall and after the fall.

Imagine being hospitalized for such a severe asthma attack that you thought you were going to die. While you were in the hospital, you prayed just to be able to draw a breath. When the tightness finally relaxed, you knew that you were going to live. There is before the asthma attack and after the attack.

Sometimes these events cause significant change in our lives. For example, before a serious illness cleaning house might not have been a priority. But when the doctor tells you that dust is a trigger, you hire a housekeeper.

Your characters keep track of time in the same way. There is before the robbery and then the capture, trial and jail. There is before the monsters come and then the destruction and the deaths of hundreds of people. There is before the military coup and then the restrictions put into place after the general took charge.

Your task is to write a story in which something happens that changes your character’s life. It must be large enough to impact life afterwards. Choose something that’s large enough to have an impact, but unless you’re writing an epic novel, keep it small.

Have fun with this one.

Game Day

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            There are individuals who enjoy creating games. All kinds of games: computer games, board games, card games and outdoors physical games. They have incredible imaginations. They can see the overall scope of a game, from the beginning to end, the obstacles that make the game interesting, the players’ skills and abilities, and the setting under which the game is played.

            Many people prefer purchased games because all they have to do is spread out the pieces or long on to play.

            Some families have official game days in which groups join together to play one game, then reform around another. Others prefer to play individually, on the computer or tablet.

            Your task is to write a story in which the playing of games is a major part of the action. To add tension, include actions by players that lead to disagreements, perhaps even physical altercations.

            Use dialogue to control the ebb and flow, ever increasing the agitation and anger of the players.

            Have fun with this one.