The Child’s Voice
Copy Sandra Cisneros’s approach in “Barbie-Q” by recounting one of your own childhood experiences in a child’s voice. Pay close attention to word choice and the rhythm of speech, as well as the order in which you present the information. Also, consider the way that Cisneros allows the reader to understand the true feelings of the child even though the narrator does not express these feelings explicitly.
The Epiphany
The epiphany—or sudden realization—is an important feature in many short stories. Copy James Joyce’s approach to “Araby” or John Updike’s approach to “A&P” and recount your own experience of internal transformation, in which you did something and suddenly realized the consequences and/or real meaning of that action. In other words, tell your own story of experiencing an epiphany, paying close attention to how both Joyce and Updike build up to that final “aha!” moment.
Minimalism
Copy Ernest Hemingway’s minimalist style from “Hills Like White Elephants” and tell your own story through dialogue and minimal (but meaningful!) narration. Pay attention to how he doesn’t actually resolve the story—he never tells the reader whether or not Jig decides to have the abortion. Also, pay close attention to the way that the setting works symbolically to tell us what the characters don’t.
