Fiction & Literature

The Des Moines Writers Connection is a group of writers encompassing experienced published authors (both self- and traditionally-published) through members who are just "thinking" of writing. The 2020-21 Anthology is an exercise to engage the creativity of our group in a collaborative project.

Short story anthology by 8th grade class.

This is a 6x9, 120 page blank lined Notebook/Journal. Enjoy this Notebook/Journal for your school projects or for your personal use at home.

A Man’s Plight 1 is the start of the series with a young actor named Dwight who is an actor and he talks about how the media portrays men. His story delves into him becoming an actor, Hollywood and what’s on television these days and how much there needs to be major changes into men’s roles on television shows. The goal behind Dwight’s story is to make you think about what’s going on in the media today from men’s fashion to how roles are portrayed on television. Dwight talks about so much subject matter regarding men such as the emasculation of men, body image, how there were family structured television shows from the 1960s through the 1990s, and many other things. The question now ...

A Man’s Plight 2 is the story of George who talks about mental health and the struggles men deal with when it comes to that. We’re given conflicting things where it’s talk about our feelings but we question who cares and who’s willing to listen. George talks about alpha males and how the world tells men that’s what we should be striving for, being financially stable and the pressures of achieving that, relationships and marriage. There’s so many obstacles and things men face daily and it’s time to have conversations about these things. It’s about finding a common ground to find our comfort and happiness. Will George find that? Only time will tell if he’s able to find his own happiness in ...

Bernard highlights the series in A Man’s Plight 3 where he learns that he’s becoming a father. While he’s excited about having his first child, his manager at work isn’t too happy about him taking paternity leave for weeks at a time. While maternity leave is discussed at great length, paternity leave isn’t. The pressures of men to stay in the workplace after their significant other has a child is a growing concern. Statistically the majority of big corporations don’t offer paternity leave. Bernard deals with the emotional toll of work, having a child, taking time off and the impact it has on him with his career. This is the reality of so many men in today’s world. What happens with Berna ...

A Man’s Plight 4 focuses on Evan’s story and financial success. He delves deep into his struggles to find a career, achieve the financial success he wants but feels under constant pressure to get to where he wants to be. Evan delves deep into his life from going to college to struggling to find stability at a company. He’s at the golden age of 30 and that’s when the world expects you to have your life together. After spending his 20s chasing a paycheck, Evan finally decides to pursue his dreams and what he’s passionate about. It’s a story of what so many men deal with in their everyday lives and how men can’t fall into society’s expectations.

Ryan is just like any other man in the world. Hard-working, family man, raising two young kids in a home he worked to get for them and his wife. While life was great, he ran into some career financial changes within his company. While he tried to work through it, he would eventually tell his wife and divorced ensued. This doesn't happen all of the time in marriages but it does to a lot of men in the world.  Ryan's life drastically changed and his life spiraled into a place of depression and sadness. Financial struggles to get back on his feet, paying lawyers, child support, not seeing his children the way he wants, life became a struggle for him. It would take some life changing event ...