Tag: students

Staying up Late

On By Terry ConnellyIn Uncategorized, Writing promptLeave a comment

When I was in high school I obsessed over grades. I stayed up all night, many nights, reviewing material for tests and quizzes. Although I was exhausted the next day, I believed that the effort paid off.

In college I continued the behavior. Was I always mentally sharp? Probably not, but I was so anxious about not doing well and fearful of losing my scholarship, that I continued.

Think of a time that you stayed up. What was the reason? The outcome? Did you accomplish what you hoped to? Did you do it just once or many times?

Now think of the story you can tell.

Your task is to write a story in which your character stays up all night doing something. Remember that a story needs conflict and tension, so how are you going to include those? Could there be a near-accident? Lecture from a parent? Too sleep-deprived to walk across campus?

Make the details compelling enough so that your readers will want to read to the end.

Have fun with this one.

Socioeconomic Status

On By Terry ConnellyIn Uncategorized, Writing promptLeave a comment

            How much money someone has affects the things that he does, thinks, and says. It impacts future dreams and the things that she hopes to accomplish.

For example, a person who grows up in a wealthy family has everything that she could ever possibly want. Nice clothes, a comfortable bed, good food and all the electronics that one could possibly want. He may attend a private school with other entitled children so never knows what it’s like to have class disrupted by unruly students or may have never witnessed a lunchtime brawl.

This character grows into an adult with distinct advantages in terms of status, education and outlook. He has experienced nothing but the best and desires to maintain that status.

Then consider the low income child who grows up in a tiny studio apartment with eight family members. Who is often hungry and wears ragged hand-me-down shoes and clothes. Who falls ill frequently or has to accompany non-English speaking relatives to appointments to act as translator and so misses great amounts of school.

Perhaps she moves around a lot, from one shelter to another, and so schools change weekly. Most shelters are in low income neighborhoods so she does not have access to modern technology in terms of computer labs, WiFi and calculators. School lunches are adequate, probably free, but not delicious. She knows of students who come to school high on drugs, who sell their bodies and who are bellicose.

Think about how these differing early lives affect how your character behaves in your story.

Your task is to decide into which socioeconomic group your character belongs. Then make a bullet-point list of the structures in this person’s life, beginning with the home environment. Consider size of the home, family living there, quality of food and clothes, and what possessions the character owns. Include on your list the things the character sees in his daily life, as he walks down the street, rides in a car or bus, goes into a store, eats at a soup kitchen or restaurant.

Once you have completed your list, write a short scene in which these elements come into play.

This is not an easy task.

Have fun with this one.

Campus Events

On By Terry ConnellyIn Uncategorized, Writing promptLeave a comment

Now that students are back at school, it’s time to start thinking about the stories that are dying to be told.

Think back to when you were in middle school…high school…college. Drama surrounded you on a daily basis. Some of it changed lives for the better. Some of it destroyed lives. Most had impact for a day, an hour, a minute or two, and then diminished.

Many of these events fall into coming-of-age stories for they feature characters who are learning who they are and how they fit into the world.

Consider one of your characters, or one you’d like to write about. Place them on a school campus. What kinds of things might she see, hear, feel or do? What might he witness happening in the halls?

How much a part of the drama is your character? Is she the recipient of teasing or the one who does the teasing? Is he the one dumping freshmen into garbage cans or the one being dumped?

What roles do the teachers play in all this? Are they observant and attempt to bring things to an end or oblivious with notes being passed under their noses?

Your task is to place one of your characters on a school campus and make things happen.

Have fun with this one.

Career Path

On By Terry ConnellyIn Uncategorized, Writing promptLeave a comment

Everyone has a job to go to, no matter how young or old. Babies have a lot to learn in their early years. School children hopefully learn something new every day and then do work to demonstrate mastery. In high school, students take classes to prepare for college or career.

Some might not consider this learning work, but it is. If you are writing a book for young people, you need to take into account that a portion of their day must be spent encountering new things, being exposed to lessons not yet learned.

Beginning with the teen years, many students have after-school jobs. They might work in an office, sell jewelry at a boutique or do basic maintenance on cars. How do they like their jobs? Do they yearn for something more, and if they do, what is it? Do they wear a uniform at their job? Is it mustard-yellow or sky blue? Does it fit snuggly or bag around the waist?

In college, many students work for professors. They run workshops, correct papers, help prepare students for tests. Some work in the bookstore while others in the cafeteria. Some are lucky enough to not have to work, but join fraternities and sororities that take up much of their time.

When you write about college students, their jobs affect how they look at life, what they are able to do during their free time, and who their friends are.

Most adults work. Yes, there are the disabled and homeless who are unable to find jobs that they can successfully master. There are the emotionally damaged and those with physical challenges who cannot work, but their jobs are healing, getting stronger, overcoming fear and loss.

Even into retirement, adults keep busy. They go to the gym, join organizations and attend meetings, volunteer at schools, teach classes part-time and attend workshops. They work for the Census when the time arises and staff polling places during elections. They help at their church or with scouts or around the house, making improvements and keeping up with yardwork.

Your task is to create a scene in which your character has a job to do. It might not be the job of her dreams, but it is a job. Write about her feelings as she prepares to go to work. Tell what she sees, hears, smells as she brushes her teeth, combs her hair, drinks her coffee.

Describe her commute. Is the train crowded and stuffy? Does she get stuck in traffic that creeps along? What does she do while commuting? Catch up on email? Listen to an audiobook? Read? Talk to a friend?

Once at work, what does he do? Imagine walking in his shoes and doing what he does. Is there any point during the day when he has to complete a task that he hates? What is it? Why does he hate it?

How does she feel when her work is complete and she gets to go home? Is she exhausted? Relieved? Still thinking about unfinished tasks?

Walk us through the day, from beginning to end.

Have fun with this one.

Good luck.