In 3 full pages (double-spaced), write the opening of a story in which you place a particular character in a particular situation and setting. (Your situation need not be highly dramatic, but I do expect you to introduce the seeds of conflict somewhere in the first two pages.) If you are having trouble generating material, I encourage you to reflect on a significant incident from your life or the life of a close friend/family member. From there, feel free to invent details and see where your writing takes you. Please engage with the following: concrete, meaningful detail, sensory image, fresh metaphor, active voice, and evocative syntax. (N.B.: There is no need to resolve any conflict in your scene at the end of your three pages; this piece is merely a slice, and you are not expected to create a full story arc.)