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.

Thankfulness

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Being thankful isn’t always easy. It requires a genuine awareness of the gifts in one’s life, of being capable of thinking about those gifts in an honest, open manner.

Imagine a character receiving an unusual gift, such as a wilted potted plant or an album recorded by the giver (who has a terrible singing voice). The character must feign thankfulness so as to not hurt the other’s feelings.

Your task is to write a story in which the protagonist exhibits thankfulness after receiving an unexpected gift.

Have fun with this one.

The Storyteller

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Everyone loves a good story. There’s something compelling about sitting in a circle, gathered around an energized speaker as she relates something that just happened, in a dramatic tone of voice. Better yet if she can give each character a unique voice, personality, and demeanor.

Children beg for scary ghost stories, then can’t sleep in the dark.

Movies hold viewers entranced as an axe-wielding overall-wearing murderer chases the protagonist through a graveyard.

Throughout time, storytellers have been cherished.

Your task is to write a story in which the protagonist is one of those great storytellers.

Have fun with this one.

Superpowers!

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            Everyone loves a superhero. She might fly over a dessert to save someone in distress, without being impacted by the severe heat. Perhaps he’ll dive deep into the ocean to rescue passengers from a capsized ship. The two of them, combined, can leap into a fiery building while, at the same time, calling up river water to douse the flames.

            Now imagine what will happen when each of them discovers a new power! What if she can make desert plants bloom, creating a source of food? What if he can soar under storm clouds to control the funnel clouds, moving them into empty spaces?

            Your task is to write a story in which your protagonist, a superhero, discovers a new talent. Make it something impactful, something that can be used to save lives.

            Have fun with this one.

Being Brave

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            Some people are naturally brave. They climb trees, strap on skates and speed down bumpy sidewalks all without an ounce of fear. Are they brave or foolhardy?

            Imagine your character participating in a frightening activity. How does she act?

            Your task is to write a story about a time when your character did something requiring bravery.

            Include emotional details.

            Have fun with this one.

A Time When You got Lost

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            Imagine that you are driving to an unfamiliar place. So far, everything has gone according to plan. The exit appeared when you expected it to, the street on which to turn showed up just as the directions said. But as soon as you made the turn, you realize this was not where you were supposed to be.

            You expected an office complex, but instead find yourself in an old part of town, where junk litters every yard and groups of young men laze about porch steps. A drunk stumbles down the street, weaving in and out of a row of old cars parked along the curb.

            You don’t know what went wrong.

            Your task is to write that story. Your readers will want to be with you, from when you happily left home until that feeling of being lost washes over you.

            Have fun with this one.

Illness Strikes

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            The sniffles might irritate you for a few days, perhaps even cause you to miss a day of work, but generally don’t keep your down for too long.

            More serious illness might even land you in the hospital for days on end. You get board being there, but realize it’s for the best. Until your stay gets extended over and over.

            Your task is to write a story in which your protagonist falls ill. Choose something long-lasting so as to provide necessary tension.

            Have fun with this one.

Weather Threat

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            Almost every day we hear or read a story about a damaging weather event. Recently there was a huge fire in the Los Angeles area that burned thousands of homes and business. There was flooding in a North Carlina community that wiped out roads and ravaged the environment of a once-beautiful tourist spot.

            Sometimes authors include weather in a story, but often as an aside. The sun was shining or it poured for days.

            Your task is to write a story in which a major weather event occurs, which alters the pace and direction of the story.

            Have fun with this one.

Defying Authority

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            From a young age we’re taught to do what we’re told, no questions asked. If a parent tells you to clean up your room, you go do it. Later on, if a teacher tells you to open your history book, you comply.

Then when your boss says to wipe out the computer’s memory, you stop and contemplate if that’s what you’re really being asked to do.

There’s a certain code drilled into us that tells us we must do what an authoritarian figure tells us to do. But when commanded to do something that feels wrong, seems illegal or questionable, we hesitate. When the act is discovered, who will be blamed?

Your task is to write a story in which defying authority plays a central role.

Blocked Passage

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            In a lot of thriller and fantasy stories, blocked passages play a critical role.

            Imagine running from a horrid monster, around corners, up and down stairs, to come to a doorway at the end. The protagonist turns the handle, but it doesn’t move. There’s no keyhole or latch or button to push.

            The blockage could also be a mental one. Imagine studying for an important exam, say the SAT which gives admission to the college of your choice. You’ve gone over sample test questions and even taken a test-prep course. The day arrives. You open the test booklet. Your mind goes blank. It’s like standing in front of a locked door.

            Your task is to write a story in which a blocked passage plays a major role.

            Have fun with this one.

Something Breaks

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            Imagine an office filled with expensive treasures. You tend to be a bit clumsy. When faced with such a situation, what do you do? Stand in the middle so as to not touch anything? Slink over to the nearest chair?

            What happens if you do break something? Do you hide it? Put it back in place hoping the owner won’t notice?

            Your task is to write a story in which something gets broken. It doesn’t have to be something of great financial or historical value, but perhaps something meaningful to the other person.

            Have fun with this one.