In this activity you will read winning works from the Narrative High School Writing Contest and respond to the same prompt.
The Prompt:
What happens when you make a mistake?
We’re living in such fraught times. And too often the adults we see and hear on the public stage won’t fess up to their mistakes. So we roll along. But wait. In the hands of skilled writers, mistakes are gold. They are opportunities for drama, reflection, reversals of fate and fortune, or, at bottom, they are a grim reminder of life lived and suffered.
In a 600-word story or essay, address a pivotal “mistake.” Be fearless as you mine the hard lessons life hands you. Find grace, if grace is in the offing. You might find humor to share with your audience. And if nothing else, show your readers how truly painful, irrevocable, and life-altering mistakes can be.
Read the winners:
- “Underaged” by Avianca Jackson
- “Far from the Tree” by Chloe Green
- “Homecoming” by Uriel Acuna
- “Nothing to Hide” by Cayla Berstein
Consider:
- What do you notice about the winning works?
- What do they have in common? How are they different?
- How do the authors engage their readers and draw them into their stories?
- What type of mistake will you write about?
