Another 100-word story from a picture prompt. This picture warms my heart when I look at it. Thank you, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Strange how many of these I write in dialogue, and yet usually dialogue is the hardest thing for me to write!
“How long do you suppose she had this old thing?”
“I remember her typing on it before I was in school. Every night with a glass of wine. She said she was writing her own stories and offered to read them to me, but I never had time to listen.”
“Look! A drawer full of envelopes. They’re manuscripts. There a note attached to each one. ‘Thank you for your submission. It does not suit our needs at this time’. Look at the postmark on this one. It’s from forty years ago!”
“Are they all rejections?”
“Looks like it.”
“Oh, Grandma.”
As always, please click on the frog and share your own story!
Genie in a Box: Words and thoughts from Eugenia Parrish, Author 
Wouldn’t it be grand if her granddaughter had them published? Lovely story
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Thank you! It’s a great suggestion which leads maybe to another story, a longer one.
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Not sure if I answered this, but thanks for your comment!
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Sorry for grandma’s rejections. But we’ve all been there.
Randy
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Yes, we have! Thank you
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Rejected then perhaps to be published now by her granddaughter
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Yes, I’ve wondering if this could be expanded to a short story or even a novel. Thanks!
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I love Grandma’s perseverance. I wonder if my descendants will come across a similar collection someday 🙂
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I sometimes worry that mine will! Some of it wasn’t meant for the ears of grandchildren. Thanks for reading, your comments are always appreciated!
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I don’t even want my adult children to read a few things. I don’t want anyone to be hurt or disillusioned about family matters. If I ever decide to use them here, names and details will change!
And thank you Penny. You are a wonderful encourager and critic of the best kind 🙂
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That’s one of those findings that bring satisfaction but also sorrow. Good story.
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Thank you!
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You’re welcome 🙂
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I think most of us can relate to this to a certain degree, but we write because we have to, regardless.
Nicely done, I liked it
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That’s so true. And thank you!
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Not sure if I replied to this before — sometimes they get lost. But thanks for your comments!
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I trust grandma enjoyed herself when writing the stories and wasn’t too disappointed by the rejections. That’s the main thing
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I won’t say writers always enjoy writing, but it does give an incredible satisfaction. And you hope for good feedback. But every rejection is like watching your child get laughed at at their first recital.
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Thanks for reading my small effort!
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At least she got rejection letters… I have a collection of standard response e-mails! I bet she got a lot of pleasure from the writing though.
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I remember the days when we joked (sort of) about using rejections as wallpaper, there were enough of them. I believe she used her stories as friends when her grandchildren had no time for her.
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Nice one!
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Thank you!
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Dear Eugenia,
At least Grandma tried. The dialogue does pulse the story forward. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle. That means so much to me.
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I can relate. Good for grandma for never giving up.
I do a lot of these in dialogue, too. I think dialogue makes it easier to convey a story in the confines of the 100-word limit.
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Thanks for reading!
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Perhaps Grandma’s style has now come into vogue and they should all be submitted again
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I was thinking about that! But there wasn’t room in 100 words. So I’m thinking of expanding to what happens when the “kids” try sending them out again. What the heck, tastes change with time.
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Don’t have time to do the story, but my first impulse from the picture was along the lines of “The Yellow Wallpaper” — [typing] If I don’t get away from that damn wall hanging before long — damn his mother’s macrame! — Aaargh!!!
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I remember that!
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