The Lightning: A Sci-Fi Short Story

Abstract

My project involves a short story of about thirty pages accompanied by three illustrations. I will be writing a sci-fi/dystopian story as if it were a Twilight Zone episode. Drawing on fears and anxieties, I will explore how suspense is employed in works of fiction. The premise for the story involves three individuals who receive prophetic visions from nature spirits of an impending storm that will destroy their town. In keeping with the style of The Twilight Zone, this work is intended to be a pessimistic look at humanity, particularly the United States. I will mimic the brevity of Twilight Zone stories, their twist-endings, and their mix of entertainment and social commentary. This project will explore how cultural differences inform our relationship with the natural world. This project will mainly appeal to young adults of Gen Z who live in the United States. The main character will embody the traits of Gen Z, while two supporting characters, a young girl and an older man, will appeal to other demographics. I’ll be using academic journals to research the themes and styles I want to incorporate and writing exercises from books and YouTube tutorials to practice writing fiction.