Writing Prompt 2

Okay, I said I’d put up a story prompt.

I’m taking this word for word (selectively) out of my old EN 300 book, Behind the Short Story. It’s a “Writing Suggestion” trailing Janice Eidus’ short story, “Vito Loves Geraldine” (In case you’re interested in checking out the story).

Retell a fairy tale, myth, or legend in a contemporary setting. For example, the movie Pretty Woman is a moder-day revision of the Cinderella story, as is the movie Ever After. George Saunder’s “The 400 lb. C.E.O.” (from CivilWarLand in Bad Decline) is a retelling of the Beauty and the Beast tale. Feel free to break from the structure of the original fairy tale if it helps your story. Because the plot is suggested from an outside source, focus your attention on developing a believable, three-dimensional protagonist who will elicit reader sympathy.

If you don’t have time to write a page or so story, then think about substituting the final four words in Hemmingway’s six word story (“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”). Keep to the form. Or think about tackling both prompts!

SO: For sale: _______ _______ , _________ _________ .