Positive Feedback

My story was work shopped in my fiction class today. I was surprised at the amount of positive feedback that I received. People seemed to like the characterization in my story. I guess the amount of details used helped to create a tone that I didn’t even know was there.
The criticism was pretty much accepted. No-one really liked the ending, it felt unresolved. I’ve had a few helpful suggestions to change it. One way might be make Scott’s realization of his wifes leaving him more of a scene. Also, I could write another chapter to show what happens after his wife leaves him.
Todays workshop was fun, everyone had pretty good stories. I think that we are all learning more from each other as a class, I know I am anyways. This is the first time that I’ve ever felt confident in my fiction capabilities. I am just taking the class because it’s required for my major, but I’m starting to really enjoy writing fiction.
Now I need to think about what my next story is going to be about. I’m tempted to write about a similar theme, of desperation and hope in a small impoverished town. I am not sure if I should try something new at te chance of being slammed for doing the same thing though. There are so many possibilities with that theme though, and if it’s something that I can write about than why not?
We’ll see how it goes. I was in group E, which is the last group so my next story is not due until May. If other writers stick to themes that they are comfortable writing about, than I will be in the clear.