It’s almost Thanksgiving here in the US (for those non-US people: it’s a Big Deal with lots of travel and turkey and non-productivity).
So, in an effort to keep you writing but not overwhelm you, this week I’m assigning a Drabble, a 100 word story.
The Prompt
Write A 100 Word Story
Tips
- 100 word stories sound like they won’t take up much time but they will take more than you think.
- Remember that you don’t have much time/space to create your story. This stops you from including too much backstory, any rambling, or losing your way in the middle. Keep your mind firmly on the end.
- Do write more than 100 words if you need to, then trim.
- If you find yourself writing fewer than 100 words, look back and see if you can beef it up with pointed dialogue, expressive description or more of your main character’s emotions.
- You can make the theme of the story ‘Thanksgiving’, ‘gratitude’ (or lack thereof), or something completely different if inspiration strikes.
Go!
If only I could reread the age 20 journal entry of my first Thanksgiving as a married woman. I had joined the ranks of the mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. I was part of the elite martyrdom of the stars and victims of Thanksgiving. The day was a caricature of what I imagined was in store for my new life. It included the best and the worst of wifedom – the creative artistry of a “once a year” meal, the warmth of easy chatter at the table, the unspoken thoughts of disturbed observations, the dutiful completion of this yearly tribute (to whom?). Strangely enough, it seemed a metaphor for my strangled words that remained unspoken forever.
Oh Nancy, you captured that ambivalence of the newly-wed: grown up at last but not free to be who you want to be; along with the opposing pulls of the holiday season. I felt your character’s longings. Nicely done!
Thanksgiving seems to be a stressful holiday. While interesting, it is always accompanied by a family reunion with those weird relatives: The aunt who never really healed from her last divorce (the eighth one), the cousin who is trying to hide alcoholic behavior, and the rowdy and ridiculous kid who’s been four years old for the last six years. You grin and bear it, though, because there is a tight balance in play here: if you don’t hint at their problems, they won’t talk about yours, either. While sometimes tense, it’s what makes you family and brings you all together.
“If you don’t hint at their problems, they won’t talk about yours either”
What a great line, and well set up in this piece too.
Thanks for ‘playing’ and I hope your holiday was relatively peaceful 🙂