This is my work for another assignment in my short story writing class at UW. It was much more difficult than I had anticipated, but I received a rewarding mark for my work. Excellent. Hope you guys enjoy it!

The prompt:

For this assignment, you’ll write only nine sentences, but they may be the toughest nine you have ever written. That’s because you’ll be dealing with identical material in nine different ways. Here’s the material:

It is Monday morning at the office and everyone has arrived for the weekly staff meeting. Each is preoccupied by thoughts of his or her weekend, yet each wants to appear focused on matters at hand.

My work:

Assignment 4:

1st Person Factual:

I walked into the dimly lit conference room holding a disposable coffee mug, a plastic bound 3 ring binder, and two Bic ballpoint pens.

1st Person Deeply Emotionally Involved

The morning coffee was nearly as bitter as the faces sitting around the long, mahogany conference table; my remaining energy was quickly being sucked through my eyes into their empty, hung over attempts to smile.

1st Person Humorous:

I prayed to the Lord Almighty that Thomas, the pudgy man blinking in and out of sleep across the conference table from me, would dive face first into his uncapped slow-drip coffee and send a fiery tsunami into the lap of our monotonous CEO.

3rd Person Limited Factual:

J hid any trace of exhaustion beneath his perfect posture and $3,000 Armani suit as he confidently stepped into the conference room past fellow employees.

3rd Person Limited Deeply Emotionally Involved:

F practically crawled into the conference room, his face melting with exhaustion, wheeled himself up to the table with the heels of his muddy shoes, and lifted a small black mug to his clearly quivering lips.

3rd Person Limited Humorous:

Eager to appear agreeable, H nodded mindlessly the entire meeting, making perfect eye contact with the Spartan boss; his enthusiasm landed him two weeks of third floor bathroom duty.

3rd Person Omniscient Factual:

Each employee was suited in glistening Calvin Klein shoes, creaseless Ralph Loren slacks, tailored Nordstrom coats, and solid black Dolce and Golbana ties; it was the dress code created enforced by the CEO–he understood that a man who felt good looking would be more willing to work.

3rd Person Omniscient Deeply Emotionally Involved:

Everyone couldn’t help but notice Sharon as she reluctantly passed into the conference room; her normally beautiful face was black and blue, swollen around both eyes, and her once supple, red lips were a purple mess hanging lopsidedly off her crimson nostrils.

3rd Person Omniscient Humorous:

Everyone except Arvie walked into the office wearing professional business attire.

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