It’s been an entire year since I assumed the role of administrator for 100 Word Challenge. (Thank you, Jennifer. I am honored to be part of this amazing community of writers.)
Prior to my tenure as moderator, I first starting writing for the 100 Word Challenge in 2010. Spanning two websites, all together I estimate that’s more than 270 words… with only a few rare repeats.
That’s a lot of vocabulary.
Aside from the expansion of my lexicon, and increased ability to find one word that can replace two or three, while engaged in this writing exercise, I have benefitted most from the community of people that has built up around it.
Our 100 Word friends are supportive, encouraging, and when necessary our best proofreaders, editors, and critics.
We’ve had poets and lyricists, horror writers and historians enter the challenge. We’ve been joined by humorists and memoirists, folklore tellers, and fairytale weavers.
We’ve had political satire, testaments of faith, treatises against social injustice, confessions of wrongdoing, and heartbreaking accounts of abuse and assault, all brilliantly told in a mere 100 Words.
Some of the participants have been my online friends for years. I can honestly say that if I didn’t know the name of the author of a piece, I could tell by their writing style.
Whenever a new writer joins, I get a little thrill. New words, new stories, new experiences are like a gift. When a writer leaves the fold, they are sorely missed.
I hope to carry on with the 100 Word Challenge for as long as there are words to share.
“There are few joys to compare with the telling of a well-told tale.” ~ Charles de Lint
This week’s word is:
Telling
What to do:
Using “WORD” for inspiration, write 100 Words – 100 exactly – no more, no less. You can either use the word – or any form of the word – as one of your 100, or it can be implied. Include a link in your post back here, and add your story to the Mister Linky list. If you don’t have a blog, you can leave your submission in the comment section, or as a Facebook status post. Remember to keep spreading the love with supportive comments for your fellow Wordsters.
Thin spiral notebook 
Sorry am a bit late but here goes!
You are alight with anticipation. Your face is framed with tousled curls, your lips and cheeks flushed, your eyes sparkling. You hum without realising and dance me round in time to your excited heartbeat. With your brightest smile, wearing your best dress and prettiest shoes, you wait for his arrival.
‘Don’t build your hopes up,’ I say.
‘You don’t understand,’ you say.
There is no telling you. He is not good enough for anyone.You don’t believe there are other girls. There always will be. He will break your heart.
What you don’t realise, is that he once broke mine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for keeping the challenge going, Tara.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a lot of fun with it, and as a bonus I get to read some amazing stories.
LikeLike
Here is my challenge writing for this week.
Telling a Secret
My sister said, “I’’ll tell you a secret. You must promise never to tell anyone I was the one who told you especially Mommy! Promise?” I thought about it for about a half minute. My older sister usually knew good stuff. “Okay, I promise.”
She leaned in close to me and whispered, “Santa Claus isn’t a real person. He is all make believe. Mommy and Daddy are the ones who set up the Christmas tree and get the presents. Daddy sets up the trains around the tree.”
Just like that by telling me her secret she destroyed my world!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh… ouch! I feel your excitement and naughtiness in hearing a secret; but then, oh.. what a devastation… Nice job Ninnanh
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading and commenting on my post. Childhood experiences really do shape us!
LikeLike
Pat,
I loved your writing. With the words… I was raised Catholic you stirred up so many memories. ‘she had 3 months left, and I thought “so do I”.’ Wow. Those words packed a punch. Thank you for sharing such a powerful story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How was I to know that “telling” could have changed my life? I was raised Catholic. “For better or worse” vows were to be kept “until death do us part”. Mom was dying of cancer; the doctors told her she had 3 months left, and I thought “so do I”. I believed that I would disgrace Mom if I divorced after 30+ years of marriage. Shortly after she died, and my marriage came to a final end, someone told me that Mom said I could do better than him. I wish I would have known so I could have told her.
LikeLiked by 3 people
A sad, but an all too familiar tale.
LikeLiked by 2 people