Kia ora from Golden Bay,
How’s that story of yours coming along today? Even if it’s simply bubbling away inside you, having not yet been written. That’s still something. That still matters. And I hope one day you’ll share it with the world.
A few weeks ago I asked you for 100 words from your story, and two of you stepped up to the plate!
Here is story number one from Liz:
Those wonderful summer nights as a preschooler in the early 60s. The smell of the freshly cut grass as all of the kids in the street joined together to play on the front lawns. Looking back on photos from those nights adds the additional layer of visual memory to support the smell of the cut grass and the sounds of laughter from all of us playing together in such a safe environment. Happy times before life took a turn in the wrong direction.
What did her words evoke for you? I could smell the fresh cut grass, and relate to playing on the street with other kids in my neighbourhood. I wondered what happened when life took a turn in the wrong direction.
Here are Cathy’s 100 words:
I kicked open the door to the claustrophobic wooden, dunny, choked on the oppressive stench, kicked up the wooden dunny lid, downed trousers, and sat down only to notice, up above the doorway, dangling its head down from the crossbeam, a very large snake.
Yelling and screaming, jeans round my ankles I hurtled out of the long drop, fell flat on my face in the red dust, my lily-white bum on show to everyone who raced to my aid. “It’s a bloody python!” Mr Nunn was laughing as he dragged the snake out of the loo and hurled it across the paddock.
I felt laughter bubbling within me as I read this, and a jarring as she kicked open the door. I wondered: was she in a hurry? Angry? Or did she just need to kick open that door because it was jammed? I was also reminded of entering foul, stinky long drops and fearing what I’d find in there. What about you? What did you feel in response to Cathy’s words?
It’s interesting, you never know what effect your words will have on someone.
I hope these mini stories have inspired you in your writing journey. Each is different, and each is important.
I’d love to hear from you, if you have 100 words from your memoir, life story or family history to share with readers of this newsletter.
Write on,
Charlotte x
PS here are three ways we can work with you on your story:
Charlotte Squire 