1.    Think of a mythical figure (e.g a super villain, ghost, a centaur . . . ) and put that figure in a realistic situation (e.g. having to attend boarding school, witnessing a former lover fall in love with someone else) in a realistic setting. Then, write 8 pages involving that conflict. •    Each of these stories has vivid characterization, narrative detail, and events which somehow change someone’s worldview – either that of the characters who inhabit the story or the readers who consume it. •    When in doubt, write about what you know (people or settings with which you are familiar) •    Provide more scenes than summary, and more story than backstory. •    Give us a complete story, even if you struggle with the ending. •    Active stories have active characters!