On the fourth Thursday of each month, I share memoirs that create an impact and teach us about writing.
Today’s special: three, not just one, unique micro-memoirs.
We look at Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs by Beth Ann Fennelly, Places We Left Behind: A Memoir-in-Miniature by Jennifer Lang, and Allegiance by Darien Hsu Gee for powerful, concise stories.
Then, try your hand at writing short by drafting a fifty-word (50-word) piece about an animal encounter–any kind of animal, any kind of encounter, ordinary or amazing.
Remember, all words count, even the little ones like a, an, the, in of, and such.
Share your piece and experience with writing micro-memoir in the comments section below. I’ll kick it off and share mine first.
Floating on ether having just been blessed as a healer. I scooped a beautiful iridescent dragonfly out of the pool… it did not move. I focused healing energy into cupped hands, opened them, and it flew away. It transcended death to life; my business was formed, Dragonfly Centre for Change. (50 words)
Camping Northern Minnesota on a Lake with my two young boys and husband. It’s dusk, we just finished fishing, I loaded myself up with lifejackets, fishing gear and headed to our campsite. Out of the bushes and onto the path pounced a black bear, he puffed, I froze, I dropped everything.
First love, fifty words:
I was four-years old only child, Imaginary friends, dog Spot, two-foot high, white, black spotted, furry ears, bushy tail, long wet tongue always licking my face and digging hole under fence. He and I escaped to explore our world.
Thor. Walking our three-year old medium-sized black lab, Gracie, we suddenly saw a massive lion-dog. What’s that? Gracie just froze. Thor’s a British Mastiff said his owner. Gracie tucked her tail between her legs and lay down on the grass. 6-month-old Thor decided that was his time to play. Fun-chaos! 50 words
forty-nine words. A fox encounter.
David, great story. I could actually see that fox, stop, flick its ears, look around and dash off. I especially like Jake, cuz was my name growing up and even now, and I, too, bark often and more than twice. Ha!
While snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean near the Big Island of Hawaii I was surrounded on all four sides by more than thirty wild dolphins. To the left, to the right, beneath and above. My bubbles joined with theirs as my heart overflowed with bliss and joy.
A special moment. thanks for sharing.
Ocean encounters are magical.
My animal encounter. 50 words.
Moments like that are what make motorcycling so superior to traveling by car.
Such majestic animals, when you get close.
Our son Jonah brought home a four-day-old chocolate lab on our wedding anniversary. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving. Watching this pup eat poop and survive became the highlight of our day. He earned his name, Mikey, from the boy on the cereal box who would eat everything. Keeping him out of the community pool was impossible. Thankfully, most of our neighbors knew him, as he would enthusiastically jump toward their heads if he saw you swimming. The screams coming from the pool led us to understand where Mikey was. Every time we opened the door before we… Read more »
Labs are like exuberant, two-year-old children. Nobody gets more joy from life than them. We are lucky dogs share their lives with us.
Whoops 50 words— I went with 300 or less.
Thanks for a great ending, the: ”Whoops” and Thank you for a great companion story, correction, a great love story. See you soon Holly. Keep on writing.
Called “Prince”, a majestic white stallion appears occasionally at the rim of the high mesa overlooking our desert home below. In 1954, the family home is a small motel standing in isolation on Route 66. Nodding approval, Prince retreats out of view to his secret life away from the ledge.
50 words
I hadn’t intended to use “rim” twice and missed it, so just a substitute of “ledge” for the second rim.
you chose your words well and conveyed a scene in fifty words.
Imagine the legendary Route 66, the 50’s, a motel and a white stallion ”could be mirage”, named Prince. What a setting for scenery. Bravo.
Thank you – one of my most vivid memories from when I was about 4 years old.
Called “Prince”, a majestic white stallion appears occasionally at the rim of the high mesa overlooking our desert home below. In 1954, the family home is a small motel standing in isolation on Route 66. Nodding approval, Prince retreats out of view to his secret life away from the rim.
50 words
This is like fantasy. The majestic white stallion seems to know something.
I was excited about the opportunity to see kittens. Arriving at the house, the blanket-covered basket with six tiny kittens cuddled together drew me in. Holding the black and white furballs, their meowing was constant. I quickly learned I was highly allergic to them as wheezing and coughing began. (49 words)
surprise ending. I thought you’d end up with one of them.
Bummer!
I know the feeling!
Great scene.
50 Word/animal encounter
You created a great picture, I saw you watching the hummingbird.
So poetic an image.
The hummingbirds appreciated your sugar water. They must have felt safe around you.
50 Words
Bald eagles I admire diving the Atlantic Ocean for many summers. One early morning I take a walk. Three miles into the thick forest, at the foot of a giant Pine, on the bed of pine needles, a sea flounder flaps its fins in desperation. A gigantic nest high above.
This is great. the use of the word desperation tells the story before you even mention the nest.
Walking in the woods my husband and I got buzzed by an eagle. I think there was a nest nearby.
Lunch.
Mini memoir writing has been a valuable tool in my writing toolkit for the best part of a century.
You started early.
It would be so cool if you still had the salt and pepper shakers.
Fun. Nice to see what you have written in your youth.
Distraught, I waded into the gulf, seeking peace. I spread my arms, lifted my legs, and let gentle waves rock my body. A pod of dolphins then encircled me. A mother, baby tucked in close, looked at me, and her soft, watery brown eye told me I’d be okay. (49 words)
I wonder if they caught your peaceful spirit. First distraught, then peaceful.
They brought their peace to me. Thanks for reading.
Such an unexpected blessing.
It meant the world to me and changed my life in many ways.
A calling for peacefulness indeed.
Indeed. Thanks, Thierry.
What a wonderful feeling.
Yes, it was an amazing moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
Love this Patricia. How special an encounter.
Thanks, Julie. It was really special.