Written by December 5th, 2013

Writing Prompt: The Reader Knows

Most of Shakespeare’s plays hinge on the fact that the audience knows more than the characters. In Romeo and Juliet we know that Juliet is not actually dead, even though Romeo takes his own life believing that she is already dead. In the Twelfth Night we know who is a male pretending to be a female and who is a female pretending to be a male, even if most other characters don’t seem to have a clue.

Many authors rely on this technique. It easily creates humor and tension in stories. For this writing exercise we are going to do that for our readers. Write about a theft, the theft is an inside job. For example, a husband stole something from his wife, or a wife stole something from her husband. The exact details are up to you.

When you write this make sure that the reader knows who stole what, but that all the other characters, except the thief, haven’t a clue what is going on. If there are very few characters, perhaps only the husband and the wife, the story will most likely be more humorous, but it ultimately depends on what was stolen.

If the item is something trivial like a list, cookies, or a piece of stage jewelry, it will most likely be a comedic story. But if the item was something of value, like a rare antique, a family heirloom, or a love letter, the stakes are altered entirely.

Have fun coming up with the details, and exploring this new situation.

 

We Send You Publishers Seeking Submissions.

Sign up for our free e-magazine and we will send you reviews of publishers seeking short stories, poetry, essays, and books.

Subscribe now and we'll send you a free copy of our book Submit, Publish, Repeat

The Final Girl Review: Now Seeking Submissions

The Final Girl Review: Now Seeking Submissions

An online journal seeking fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual art,

81 Opportunities for Historically Underrepresented Writers (July 2025)

81 Opportunities for Historically Underrepresented Writers (July 2025)

This list of publishers meet our guiding principles, but are only open to free submissions from historically underrepresented writers or focus on publishing content produced by historically underrepresented writers. Some of these publications are open to a wide range of writers including writers of color, gender non-conforming and LGBTQ+ writers, and those living with disabilities….

How and Why to Bring Novelty into Your Writing

How and Why to Bring Novelty into Your Writing

Prompts and techniques to reinvent your writing style.

How to Get Started With Writing Essays

How to Get Started With Writing Essays

By Ratika Deshpande The essay is a form that can take diverse appearances: travelogues, memoirs, lists, drabbles. As exciting as its variety feels, I’ve also found it frustrating that there are hardly any guides detailing how to work with the form. The following is a sort of beginner’s guide I wish I’d had when I…