The capstone project for the minor gave me an opportunity to experiment with content. In other words, I was able to write in a genre where I hadn't had too much experience. So rather than writing another creative non-fiction piece or research essay, I decided to try writing fiction. While I had dabbled a bit in fiction before, I considered this to be my first serious attempt in this genre. 

 

My capstone project is a short story detailing the experiences of four people at a wedding. To challenge myself further, I decide to write the story from the angle of multiple perspectives. So instead of one conventional narrator, there are four. This allowed me to not only create concrete characters but to also learn how to write and convey distinct voices. My inspiration for the story stemmed from the idea of people grappling with change and identity. 

 

As expected, the writing process for the short story was lengthy. There were three different stages.

 

• First Stage: Much of the earlier days were spent outlining characters and plot lines. I would sketch out character relationships and backstories. I wanted to understand the extent of my characters' personalities and quirks so I could effectively write in their "voice". I also had to identify central conflicts for all the characters and understand how they would relate to the plot. You can see parts of some of these drafts below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Second Stage: This stage was filled with writing. Here, I got the chance to put all of my planning from the first stage into action. With each draft, I would get feedback on points that didn't make sense and would work to revise those problems for the next draft. Initially, I broke the story into "parts" so I could effectively handle and separate all the content. Some examples of this stage are shown below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Third Stage: This was the final stage of revision and proofreading. Here, I re-solidified the characters and plot. I made confusing things less complex and tried to make the story more concise and shorter. Before, it had felt too overwhelming. At the end, I also made sure any loose ends were tied and proofread for minor errors. I finished the piece with the understanding that no draft will ever be perfect! Here are some examples: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can see my capstone project below. References can be found in the link (bottom left corner).