Story #2: 1-3 page story about a curse, monster, or urban myth.

Read Spencer Holst’s excellent and strange story “On Hope” and Ron Carlson’s story “Bigfoot Stole My Wife,” in the handouts. Now go to the internet and look up “urban myths” and “curses.” Your job is to write a story that incorporates a monster, curse or urban myth. Part two of this assignment: notice how good Ron Carlson’s title and first sentence is. Notice how good Spencer Holst’s first six lines are, his ironic ending, and the pun in his title. These openings hook the reader, and pull them bodily into the story. In this story pay particular attention to your first sentence, last sentence, and title. One good trick is to read through the story after you write it, find the best sentence in the story, and rearrange the story so it begins or ends on that sentence. Consult “First Sentences: Beginning in the Middle” writing exercise #1 in What If for good examples of first sentences. Write 5 first sentences for this story, choose the best to begin with, and append the rest at the end of the story.