Seeds of Generosity #flashfiction

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This week at the Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills challenged writers to In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that seeds generosity. Who is generous and why? Think of generosity as planting a future outcome. Go where the prompt leads!

As for many other qualities and values, I think the seeds of generosity are sown in early childhood. The rewards are reaped throughout life, both for the giver and the recipients of the generosity.

I expected it to be easy to write a story about generosity. However, as with every other prompt, it was a battle to find an idea that wanted to work. When I finally found one and wrote it down, it was over 300 words!

I don’t think I’ve ever written that many words when composing flash before. It’s usually only about 150 words I have to whittle down.

Writing flash fiction is like writing a picture book manuscript. You tell just the bare bones and leave the rest up to the illustrator. However, with flash fiction, there is no illustrator.

Slowly, through six revisions, I condensed the story to 99 words. I hope it still makes sense and that you can paint in the gaps.

The Racing Car

Jamie was spending his birthday money—a rose for Mum, gum for Dad, balloons for Baby and a racing car for himself.

Mr Green counted Jamie’s coins. “You’ve only enough for three.”

Jamie pushed the car aside. “These three, please.”

As Jamie left, Mr Green called, “Wait!” He held out the racing car. Jamie beamed.

Nearly home, Jamie saw a little boy crouched beside a drain. A car, just like Jamie’s, lay far below.

“Foolish boy,” said the mother. “I warned you.” She dragged the howling boy away.

“Wait,” called Jamie, holding out his racing car. The boy beamed.

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42 thoughts on “Seeds of Generosity #flashfiction”

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  7. Jacqui Murray

    What a great way to describe flash fiction–“Writing flash fiction is like writing a picture book manuscript. You tell just the bare bones and leave the rest up to the illustrator.” You did just that.

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  10. Pingback: Seeds of Generosity « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

  11. Charli Mills

    Norah, wow, you have found the ability to take a story with the emotion and message you want to impart to your reader and then reduce it to a word constraint. A picture book is such a constraint. This is not an easy feat to achieve. My writer’s cap is off to you! Well done.

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    1. Norah Post author

      Thank you for your encouragement, Charli. It was tough to reduce the words. There was so much of the backstory I wanted to tell. Bit by bit I had to cut some out. I’m pleased the essence remained.

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    1. Norah Post author

      Thank you, D. I was worried there wasn’t enough backstory. I knew it so well I couldn’t tell any more. I’m pleased you recognised his two acts of generosity. He’s a fine human being.

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