I'm applying to a very exclusive Creative Writing program this fall in college and I need to submit a three page short story. I've been working on a novel, but I've written tidbits about it's universe's background and could make them short stories. Here are my current ideas (note, all titles are tentative).
1. Barnfire
A young, mischievous boy (Mark Johnson) and his two friends (Kelly Heartly-a cheerleader and Robby Astor-best friend and next door neighbor) sneak out of their houses (set in a rural community) and try to raise spirits from the dead. They perform a ritual in a local barn, and as it proceeds, they get more and more creeped out. Eventually a spirit speaks to them and the barn lights to flames. Mark and his friend Kelly run away and return to his bedroom. They are exhausted and scared, and hope they are not in trouble. They wake up in the morning to find the barn normal and no sign of the ritual. They find a nametag that says "Robby" and ponder whose it might be. They walk back to Mark's house and get stopped by Mr. and Mrs. Astor, who invite them to their house. The couple always wanted children.
2. Klutz Waltz
This will be presented as a folk story about a female spirit, and my beliefs have been fueled by this story. A fifteen year old boy is at a dance. He is socially awkward and sticks to himself. A girl then invites him to dance, which he is terrible at. Long story short, he loosens up and has fun, and when he turns to thank the girl, she's gone. He asks a nearby adult where she went, but nobody else had seen a girl with him all night.
3. Ancient Ruins
A 35 year old archaeologist takes his class of college students on an excavation. His student (Dean Yolanda) falls into a hidden chamber at the site along with a young girl (a local). He is forced to choose between exploring the ruins bellow, as well as a trail of mysterious runes, or help the girl out. Curiosity gets the best of him and he holds her hand and walks slowly into the ruins. As he translates them, he finds a warning about temptation and a story of untold riches beneath the city (the girl slips away unnoticed). Not unnerved, he pushes forward and eventually finds a spring with a light coming from the hole above, and another set of stairs leading upward. He wades into the spring and reaches fora gold coin underneath him, but it floats away. He follows it, but is dragged underwater when the depth rapidly increases. He starts screaming for help, and just as he about to drown, he is grabbed and rescued by his teacher. Dean is relieved, and when treated at the local first aid station, finds out the girl escaped and notified the teacher. Dean slips the girl a note telling her to inform her family about the riches underground, so that she profits instead of him.
All are in rough draft states right now. This is for a fiction class, and I don't want to sound too juvenile. I feel that 1 may work. 2 is the most realistic of the three. 3 has a moral lesson.
Opinions? I'll show it on this site before I submit it.
I'm applying to a very exclusive Creative Writing program this fall in college and I need to submit a three page short story. I've been working on a novel, but I've written tidbits about it's universe's background and could make them short stories. Here are my current ideas (note, all titles are tentative).
1. Barnfire
A young, mischievous boy (Mark Johnson) and his two friends (Kelly Heartly-a cheerleader and Robby Astor-best friend and next door neighbor) sneak out of their houses (set in a rural community) and try to raise spirits from the dead. They perform a ritual in a local barn, and as it proceeds, they get more and more creeped out. Eventually a spirit speaks to them and the barn lights to flames. Mark and his friend Kelly run away and return to his bedroom. They are exhausted and scared, and hope they are not in trouble. They wake up in the morning to find the barn normal and no sign of the ritual. They find a nametag that says "Robby" and ponder whose it might be. They walk back to Mark's house and get stopped by Mr. and Mrs. Astor, who invite them to their house. The couple always wanted children.
2. Klutz Waltz
This will be presented as a folk story about a female spirit, and my beliefs have been fueled by this story. A fifteen year old boy is at a dance. He is socially awkward and sticks to himself. A girl then invites him to dance, which he is terrible at. Long story short, he loosens up and has fun, and when he turns to thank the girl, she's gone. He asks a nearby adult where she went, but nobody else had seen a girl with him all night.
3. Ancient Ruins
A 35 year old archaeologist takes his class of college students on an excavation. His student (Dean Yolanda) falls into a hidden chamber at the site along with a young girl (a local). He is forced to choose between exploring the ruins bellow, as well as a trail of mysterious runes, or help the girl out. Curiosity gets the best of him and he holds her hand and walks slowly into the ruins. As he translates them, he finds a warning about temptation and a story of untold riches beneath the city (the girl slips away unnoticed). Not unnerved, he pushes forward and eventually finds a spring with a light coming from the hole above, and another set of stairs leading upward. He wades into the spring and reaches fora gold coin underneath him, but it floats away. He follows it, but is dragged underwater when the depth rapidly increases. He starts screaming for help, and just as he about to drown, he is grabbed and rescued by his teacher. Dean is relieved, and when treated at the local first aid station, finds out the girl escaped and notified the teacher. Dean slips the girl a note telling her to inform her family about the riches underground, so that she profits instead of him.
All are in rough draft states right now. This is for a fiction class, and I don't want to sound too juvenile. I feel that 1 may work. 2 is the most realistic of the three. 3 has a moral lesson.
Opinions? I'll show it on this site before I submit it.