The Damned Thing by Ambrose Bierce
Where to get it: The internets, google it. Any collected Ambrose Bierce.
Why it’s good: This is a________tale told in a(n) _____setting. Written in 1894, the story is remarkably______, pay no _________ to the fact it predates almost any note worthy____. Plus, Bierce has a ____sense of humor and his writing is____ and badass.
Writerly things to note: Bierce’s_____ style may come off as stiff at first, but it makes the_____ resonate. The story’s all the more_____ because it is told so clinically. Bierce also does a great job of ______(ing) the fantastic. He gives a wonderful_____ for how the Damned Thing could exist.
Did you know? Bierce famously_____ (ed) at the age of 72. His_____ is such a mystery that the year of his_____ often has a _____ after it. Bonus, he kept a human_____ on his writing desk.
Type of read: It’s an_______ adventure told________. You should be struck by how_____ this story reads. Or maybe everything just bores the_____ out of you, so who gives a ____anyway.
Bullet in the Brain by Tobias Wolff
Where to get it: In Wolff’s collection The Night In Question.
Why it’s good: I believe the standard ________on this story is that Wolff ____ (s) what’s cliché and gives it a(n) _____ spin, but let’s not _____the baby out with the_______. There’s also the ______ that a tiger can’t ______its stripes. More over, this is a________ story. It’s funny and a bit______. I’m serious. In fact I can show you on doll where it ______ me. The last section of the story, with the thing about all his_______ firing, and the bullet _____through Anders brain is ______.
Writerly type of thing to note: This _____shows you how _____ intent is to your writing. The _____and their situation initially comes off as stock. Once you see what ____ is doing in this story you’ll _____ your finger at him and say “oh you, you’ve done it ____.”
Type of Read: _____at first, then ______.
Did you know? You can______ T.C. Boyle______ this story on the New Yorker’s website. Blank the link.
The Falls by George Saunders
Where to get it: Google it or pick up Saunders’ collection Pastoralia.
Why it’s good: The Falls is _____through two characters ________ monologues. Morse and Cummings’ ________ are ______, in fact some sections are so ______ I read them ______ before continuing. The _____ is particularly wonderful, so is the ______, and I’d be_____ if I didn’t mention the end.
Writerly type of thing to note: The story of Len Beck is a(n) ______ thing to consider. It is _____ into Morse’s stream of ______ almost as an afterthought to one of his ______(s). However, ______ existence in the story ______(s) the gravity of the conclusion. Slight of _____ is the wrong word, but it’s a way to hide the exposition in _______ sight. Maybe it’s a ______ full of_____ to help the medicine go ______.
Best run of neurotic thought: “Had he done something to offend Cummings? It worried him that Cummings might not like him, and it worried him that he was worried about whether a nut like Cummings liked him. Was he some kind of worrywart? It worried him.”
Type of read: _______ it once and enjoy it, _____ it twice and ask it to ______ you.
There Are Some Things He Should Keep to Himself by Dave Eggers
Where to get it: Eggers’ collection How We Are Hungry or open a new word doc.
Why it’s good:
Writerly type of thing to note:
Best line in the story:
Type of read:
