It has been a very long time since I have written fiction. At the end of 2025 I started a creative writing specialization through Coursera from Wesleyan University. Below is one assignment in a course I completed. I included the assignment prompt and my work. I did some brief editing but tried to keep most of it as I submitted it. These are entirely works of fiction; any similarity to real people, living or dead, is purely coincidental. I hope you enjoy!

Writing Prompt: Choose a book or film that you have recently enjoyed or select a story from mythology. Identify the core desire, need, or ambition in the main characters. Write one paragraph to familiarize your reader with your chosen characters. Then, create a new, original character and fit that person into your story. Let us see all of your characters in a social situation and craft a short scene. 

The Story

In Jane Austen’s “Pride & Prejudice” Elizabeth Bennett is the smart, romantic protagonist whose mother wants all five of her daughters married to well-established gentlemen in England during the early 1810s. At a country ball, she meets Mr. Darcy, who is accompanying his best friend, Charles Bingley. Mr. Bingley just bought nearby Netherfield Park and Mrs. Bennett is hoping one of her daughters marries him. While Mr. Bingley and Elizabeth’s oldest sister Jane are soon matched up, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy quickly become entangled in a series of hurtful pride and mistaken prejudices with Mr. Darcy ultimately falling in love with Elizabeth. Elizabeth hopes to marry for love, but Mr. Darcy’s apparent conceit and selfish disdain for others, has her uninterested in him. 

In the novel, Mr. Bingley hosts a ball at Netherfield Hall. By this time, Mr. Darcy has become fond of Elizabeth, while Elizabeth has learned some new unflattering information about Mr. Darcy from his childhood companion, Mr. Wickham, which further decreases her opinion of him. 

The Story Reimagined 

Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth end their dance together with a bow. Elizabeth’s face is flush from not only the dance but the lively conversation. Once again, Mr. Darcy has shown himself as nothing more than a conceited gentleman who looks down on others below his own station. Elizabeth cannot get away quick enough. She needs a drink of punch and some air to clear her mind of Mr. Darcy. 

“Oh, Elizabeth, you are so very lucky to have danced with the most handsome man at Netherfield tonight!” 

With a crystal cup of punch in hand, Elizabeth turns to face Miss Anne Sterling, the beautiful young daughter of General Sterling, who is in town with the regiment at Merryton. Miss Sterling’s clear aquamarine eyes show just a hint of jealousy while her sweet smile and rosy cheeks show she is just a young girl of fifteen.   

“I would hardly call Mr. Darcy, the most handsome man at Netherfield. And even if he was, his personality does him no additional favor to make him agreeable. Handsome is not enough of a reason to spend time with another, Anne.”

“Oh but Miss Elizabeth, surely a handsome man who has the wealth of Mr. Darcy is much to be desired in a husband! And if not to marry, then at least to dance with once, at a ball such as this!”

Elizabeth smiles affectionately at her young companion. With just one comment, Anne Sterling has shown more resolve than her own younger, sillier, sisters.  

“Dance with as many good looking, wealthy men as you like, Anne. Just make sure they have a lively, intelligent personality you love before agreeing to wed them.” Elizabeth winks, and Anne smiles. 

As Elizabeth walks towards the doors that lead to the Netherfield garden, Anne looks around the room of eligible men, finding many handsome men she would consider dancing with but maybe not consider for marriage… at least, not yet. 

Read the original work of “Pride & Prejudice” by Jane Austen. *This is an affiliated link. I will receive a commission from your purchase at no additional cost to you.