Writing a Short Narrative Inspired by "The Monkey's Paw"

In this activity, you'll plan and begin writing a short story inspired by themes from "The Monkey's Paw". Choose one of the following themes to focus on:

Part 1: Planning Your Story

1. Choose Your Theme

Which theme from the list above will your story focus on?

Theme: ________________________________

Tip: Think about which theme interests you most or gives you the most ideas.

2. Brainstorm Your Story Idea

Write down your main story idea in 1-2 sentences:

Tip: Keep it simple! Focus on one main event or change.

Example: My story is about a teenager who finds a magic phone that grants wishes through text messages, but each wish has an unexpected consequence.

3. Create Your Main Character

Describe your main character:

Tip: Your character's wants will help drive your story forward.

4. Choose Your Setting

Where and when does your story take place?

Tip: The setting can help create the mood of your story.

5. Plan Your Plot

Fill in the basic plot points:

  1. Beginning (introduce character and setting): ______________________________
  2. Problem or challenge: ________________________________________________
  3. Rising action (what happens?): _________________________________________
  4. Climax (the exciting part): _____________________________________________
  5. Resolution (how does it end?): __________________________________________

Tip: It's okay if you don't know all the details yet. You can fill them in as you write!

Part 2: Start Writing

6. Write Your Opening Paragraph

Use your plan to write the opening paragraph of your story. Try to introduce your main character, the setting, and hint at the problem to come.

Tip: A good opening should grab the reader's attention and make them want to read more.

Example: Jenna's fingers trembled as she unwrapped the sleek new phone. It was supposed to be a regular 16th birthday gift, but the message on the screen made her heart race: "Make a wish. But choose wisely."

7. Continue Your Story

Keep writing your story. Aim for at least one page. Remember to:

Tip: Don't worry about making it perfect. Focus on getting your ideas down!

Reflection

8. Think About Your Writing

Answer these questions about your story so far:

  1. What was the easiest part of planning your story? ________________________
  2. What was the most challenging part? ____________________________________
  3. How did the theme from "The Monkey's Paw" inspire your story? ___________ _____________________________________________________________________