Short Story Assignment

We have read quite a few novels this year. Take time to reflect on the writing styles of the authors.

• In Montana 1948, Larry Watson used a prologue and epilogue to enhance his work.
• Angela Johnson used the ideas of Then and Now to alternate between different times in The First Part Last.
• In The Bean Trees Barbara Kingsolver uses point of view and writes from the perspectives of more than one character.
• Maxine Clair structured Rattlebone in a unique way as well. She uses short stories that are connected in some way. Each story in this collection focuses on a particular event in Irene Wilson’s childhood. Many of the characters show up in several stories, and their different functions in each story create a seemingly accidental multiperspective picture of each, and Clair leaves us with a deep, wide, rich fabric of the lives in this town.

Your Task: Choose one of the novels we have read this year and write your own unique short story using the style of the author you chose. This is a major project and should be longer than the stories you have written thus far. Be on the lookout for a deadline and page limit...