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.

True Feelings

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            Honesty isn’t always the best policy. If someone asks if you like their new hairstyle, which you think is abominable, and you express those feelings, the friendship will be ended.

However, if that same person asks if you’d prefer Italian food or Mexican food, and you reply Mexican, they might laugh and say, “I knew that’s what you’d like!” Well, that’s okay.

            Your task is to write a story in which the expression of true feelings is a key part. Increase tension by making it a bit dicey for your character to speak the truth. Or by having him say what he really thinks, then having the other person become offended.

            Have fun with this one.

True Feelings

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            Many times, people keep their true feelings hidden. It could be because the work environment isn’t conducive to sharing, or it might be that the individual has a difficult time opening up, especially if the relationship is a bit testy.

            Sometimes a person will ask what someone’s feelings are about a given matter. When this happens, the response depends upon the fabric of the relationship, the look in the asker’s eyes, the body position, and even the status of the relationship.

            For example, a boss might not really want to know how an employee feels, while a beloved friend is depending upon an honest response.

            Your task is to write a story in which the protagonist is placed in a situation in which they are asked to express their feelings.

            Have fun with this one.

Acting out of Character

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            Imagine a kind, loving, patient parent slapping a child for not making a goal. Or a mean, obnoxious parent offering to buy pizza for the team after a terrible defeat.

            A strong man bending down to rescue a kitten stuck in a drain. A lightweight lifting a minivan off of a trapped little boy.

            A dictator changing stripes and setting up a democracy. An elected leader suspending government to become a dictator for life.

            Your task is to write a story in which the protagonist does something totally unexpected based upon what the reader knows or intuits about that person. The wider the discrepancy, the better.

            Have fun with this one.

Missing

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            When someone goes missing, we panic. We expected them to arrive at a certain time, but then they don’t. We pace the room, stare out the front window, call repeatedly.

As time passes, our level of anxiety rises. We try not to think the worse, that the individual was injured in some way, or got lost, or, in the worst-case scenario, was kidnapped.

When it’s an item that we lose, there’s a similar degree of anxiety, especially if we need it for an upcoming activity. We retrace our steps, pick up pieces of paper and clothing strewn about. We feel our blood pressure rising, heart beating rapidly, and our level of activity increase exponentially.

Your task is to write a story in which someone or something is missing. Make the person or item important enough that the protagonist is incredibly anxious.

Have fun with this one.

Animal Cameo

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            A sudden appearance of a growling dog changes the atmosphere of a story. Just as the dog’s hackles rise, so do the reader’s. As the character slowly backs up, the reader does as well.

            On the other hand, when a cute, fluffy, tail-wagging dog jumps up on the couch, the readers want to reach out and give it a good petting.

            The same is true when a cat enters the room. Cats have a reputation for being aloof and a bit touchy. Whereas one cat might tolerate a scratch under the chin, others will immediately reach out with claws extended.

            Your task is to write a story in which an animal appears, changing the trajectory of the story.

            Have fun with this one.

A Time When You Had no Voice

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            Many of our memories come from times that hurt us or made us cry. Not having the ability to speak your thoughts and feelings is an important one. Don’t think about a time when laryngitis stole your voice, but when someone chided you or told you to be quiet.

            The first time might have happened when you were quite young. For example, a teacher called on you to answer a question and then didn’t like your response.

            Maybe at home you said something that angered your parent and were severely disciplined.

            Your task is to write a story in which your character was silenced. You must evoke the emotions that arose so that the reader feels the pain, the hurt, the frustration, the anger.

Have fun with this one.

A Twist on the Traditional Love Story

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            Movies, TV shows and books often feature love stories between two individuals who don’t like each other when they first meet, have several crusty encounters, begin to see the good in the other, then fall in love at the end. Predictable, yes, but satisfying to many or there wouldn’t be news ones popping up every day.

            What happens if there isn’t love at the end? If the two go off in different directions, never to run across a sunny beach and fall into each other’s arms? Or what if it isn’t the wonderfully kind protagonist isn’t the one to find true love but the cantankerous store owner who treats everyone rudely?

            Your task is to write a different kind of love story. First you must decide the angle of approach. The villain falls in love or the almost-couple never gets together. Next establish setting. Is this a fantasy, historical story or fictional account?

            Have fun with this one.

Divine Act

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            Sometimes unexpected things happen. For no rhyme or reason, a gift arrives in the mail, no sender’s name included. Or perhaps your character is demoted and no explanation is offered.

            Perhaps it’s something uncontrollable, such as a major storm that shuts down the highway you intended to take, or it takes down a series of power poles in your neighborhood, robbing you of power.

            Are these occurrences some form of a divine act? Or are there other, logical explanations?

            Your task is to write a story in which something completely unexpected happens that borders on the bizarre. It needs to be impactful enough that your protagonist’s life is altered in a major way.

            Have fun with this one.

Murder or Accidental Death?

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            Everyone loves a good thriller. Something nefarious happens in the first chapter, then the chase begins to find the perpetrator.

            In most cases, a body is discovered, in a bedroom, barroom, lying in the street or even hanging in the garage. Was it murder or an accident?

            Your protagonist sets off to solve the case.

            In cozy mysteries, the protagonist isn’t a detective, but rather an ordinary person with an inclination for intrigue. She could be a dentist, doctor, baker, contractor, just about any profession. The main requirement is the ability to doggedly pursue the chase.

            Your task is to write a story in which a body is found and then the case must be solved.

            Have fun with this one.

Release the Monster!

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            Imagine a scene in which a frightening monster arises, eating, mauling, destroying, everything and everyone in sight. Who comes to the rescue? Does it depend upon what kind of beast? For example, if it crawls up from underground, are there special forces that arrive? But what if it’s from outer space? Who then?

            Perhaps it’s not a fantastical monster but rather a tyrannical teenager? The boy who rules the house, or the girl who demands all the attention? What if the teen behaves perfectly at school, but runs roughshod at home? Who, then, tames the beast?

            We’ve all seen toddlers in action. Stomping feet, pounding fists, tossing things about, screaming a the top of their lungs: who brings the kid under control?

            Your task is to write a story in which a monster is the antagonist, a pretty scary one at that.

            Have fun with this one.