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I have to write a story with the title "What Road Will You Take?" Can you help me get started?

It sounds like your teacher or professor has given you a great opportunity to exercise some freedom as a writer! With this writing prompt, "What Road Will You Take," I think the best way to get started is to figure out what kind of story you'd like to write. First, what does the proposed title bring to mind? Are you reminded of any personal experiences where you had to make a decision that might lead you down a literal or figurative path? If not, can you think of some "paths" and decisions you've read about or seen in literature, film, or theatre? When preparing to write a story or essay, I think it's a good idea to write down whatever comes to mind, and worry about editing and "cleaning up" the story later on.


If you do have previous experience with paths and decisions in their literal or figurative sense, you might want to share your own personal experience or consider how things might've gone differently. Another way to approach this assignment is to consider a time you were reading a book or watching a film and you felt that a character made the wrong decision-- what would you have done differently and why?


If you can't think of any previous experience or knowledge with paths and decisions, take this opportunity to make up a totally new situation! It is easiest to write characters we relate to ourselves, and this often makes it more enjoyable for the reader, as well. So, what kind of decisions might be difficult for you to make? What would be the consequences of each decision further on down the path?


It sounds like your teacher expects you to create a narrative in your assignment, so consider these elements of plot before sitting down to write the bulk of your story. What is the setting? (Feel free to make one up!) What is the problem or situation at hand? What is the decision to be made, and is it an easy or difficult one? What happens after the decision is made?


I'll include a link to a plot diagram below. Try to figure out what parts of your story build up the excitement, what is most exciting, and how things will be resolved. Is the decision itself the most exciting part-- the climax? Or is it what happens after the decision that is most exciting? 


If you do base your story on other pieces of media (film, books, plays, etc) try to avoid plagiarizing any of the content. If you have chosen to write a story about what you might have done differently in a situation, or a story that is inspired by another piece of media, it would be a good idea to consult with your teacher on whether or not the content of your story is plagiarism.  

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