Good Men Are Hard To Find, So Relax And Let Them Find You

Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter — What if? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers prompts —

The Exercise —

Have a place in your writer's notebook where you play around with titles, making a list of your favorites. Or read through a story looking for a title to emerge from the story itself - a phrase, an image, etc.

The Objective

To sharpen your instincts for a good title and to understand how titles can lead you to stories.

Here are some famous titles: (From co-pilot search and Literary Hub)

"Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving

"The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe

"Bartleby, the Scrivener" by Herman Melville

"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson

"A Good Man is Hard to Find" by Flannery O'Connor

"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry

"The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka

"The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe

"The Open Window" by Saki (H.H. Munro).

"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" by James Thurber

"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell

"Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut

"The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant

"The Sniper" by Liam O'Flaherty.

These stories are not only famous for their compelling narratives but also for their cultural significance and frequent references in various media. They are often studied in literature classes and have inspired numerous adaptations in film and theater.

Picking one:

Author's Note: Of course, it is not a good idea to use the exact title for a short story here or anywhere, really. So I changed it a bit. I have been married three times, so I have some experience with this title. However, this is fiction, so that we will leave me out of this story.

Good Men Are Hard To Find.

Sarah went to church on Sunday and Wednesday, not because she wanted to get closer to God, but rather because Sarah was looking for a Good Man.

Her aunt Tiny told her that if she wanted to find a good man to go to church. I'm not sure she meant what Sarah thought she meant. She could have meant to pray to God for a good man to come into her life. Sarah didn't consider that.

Then someone mentioned how, when shopping for groceries late at night, there were always what looked like a lot of single men in the grocery store. So Sarah started shopping at night. She was out looking for a good man. She would look at what groceries they were buying to help her make this determination.

Her mother told her to write down a pros and cons list of the things she required and what she didn't want in a good man.

When speaking with a therapist friend, she found out about Feng Shui. She said, "You are to make room in your closet for another. Then make sure there is room on both sides of your bed for a partner. And finally, hang up photos of couples around your house."

Her therapist friend recommended it to a couple of attractive, intelligent young women who were wondering why they weren't able to find a good man. They were both very successful. The therapist told them both that sometimes men are afraid of strong women.

And finally, she would ask all of her friends for introductions to a few single good men that she may want to date. Her friends were happy to suggest friends, and she quickly turned them down for one reason or another. One was too big, the next was too short, and another was too poor.

After turning down one too many of her suggestions, a friend dared to tell Sarah that to find a good man, she needed to work on being a good woman. And another friend told Sarah that she really should pray for God's will in the matter.

Sarah felt defeated after trying everything suggested and decided to just give up and accept that there were no good men for her in the world. Then she met Henry. He was a good man! And they lived happily ever after, or at least until part two!