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.