Why write a 100-word story?
Consider the impact of three small words–“I hate you.” Or “I love you.” Then imagine 33 1/3 times more words and you can create a plethora of experiences and emotions. Select those words carefully and you have more than enough to draw the unsuspecting reader into your story web.
Wield the scalpel with precision. Cut to the chase. Dazzle us.
Going For the Gold
Life had always been horses and jumping. Those arduous, endless hours not doing “what the cool kids do” were her soul food. The recognition earned as a major contender for an Olympic medal parlayed into an investment in her future. Being the human half of a jumping team? That was pure love.
The gold vanished, snatched by a massive oxer not quite cleared. In the months following the Games, she dealt with the aftermath, gradually re-dreaming her dreams.
Class time. Smiling at the sign, Olympic School of Therapeutic Riding, she propelled her wheelchair toward the ring, greeting students and instructors.
This, that and the other thing 
Goosebumps and love. Great post.
Thanks very much! You gave a lovely boost to the start of my day. So glad you liked it.
janet
Dear Janet,
What a masterful tale. I was taken by surprise by the ending and then again when I considered her positive outlook on life and the way she elected to give and grow instead of wither and die. Cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this story. People would do well to read this many times when the going in their arena gets rough. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
Doug, what a lovely surprise to hear from you so early in the FF process! I’m pleased you enjoyed this and glad I could surprise even a wily writer such as you. 🙂 Horses are an integral part of my life but provided only the jumping-off point (so to speak) for this story. I always pray that withering and dying are not options, no matter what happens, whether in my life or that of others.
Blessings on your day,
janet
Wow that was a touching story – I was a little bit puzzled as I read the last sentence :o) That’s a great post- THANKS!!!
Puzzled by the therapeutic riding or by something else? Our daughters have a friend who worked in that area for awhile and I think it must highly rewarding and a wonderful way to work with the disabled. Here’s a link if you or anyone else would like to read a bit more about it: http://www.pathintl.org/resources-education/resources/eaat/198-learn-about-therapeutic-riding. So glad you enjoyed it!
janet
About the punch line… Thanks for the link – this people do a great job! I read it takes years to train the horses and suitable horses are hard to find. I think therapeutic riding can be so important for disabled people, specially for kids. I saw a riding lesson with an autistic boy and I will never forget his eyes and his face. I think for this hour he was really happy.
What a beautiful Heart warming story. I truly enjoyed it.
Thanks. I’m glad you did. 🙂
janet
that was a bitter, sweet, bitter, sweet ending. first, we’re sad that she didn’t win, then there’s the return to class, so we’re hopeful. then, the wheelchair – ugh. but then she’s re-purposed herself to help others, and we can be sweet again. well done.
Good morning, Rich,and thanks for reading, liking, and commenting. Yes, there were lots of twists but hopefully they didn’t feel contrived as they weren’t meant to be–they just unfolded that way. You know me. I’m almost always hopeful.
Blessings on your day,
janet
not contrived. unexpected.
I think we have some stables in our area devoted to therapeutic riding. I know that many differently abled folks, one of our friends’s sons, severely autistic benefited from such classes.
Thanks for your visit.
And thanks to you for yours. 🙂
Beautifully written Janet. 🙂
Thanks, Penny!
janet
Ouuuuu, love the ending there!
Thanks.
janet
That was very good Janet, and a great ending. I don’t know how you managed to make it flow so well and it seemed like so many more words than just 100. Very descriptive. 🙂
Thanks. I sometimes read my stories out loud to see how well they flow and don’t publish them until I think they’re just right, but it’s always good to know it works for the reader.
janet
beautiful..a lesson for life..a moving tale
Appreciate that. Someone just told me this morning that I forgot to link my story, so I’m glad you made it over. Needless to say, I’ve remedied that!! Must have had some sort of mini-mental breakdown yesterday Wednesday morning! 🙂
janet
Dear Janet,
I’m in awe of this one. Love the line “gradually re-dreaming her dreams.” So much story-past, present and future-packaged into a 100 words and tied up with a blue ribbon. I applaud your MC’s courage and outlook. Layers of back-story. Beautifully written. Love it!
shalom,
Rochelle
Blue ribbon, not a medal. 🙂 Thanks, Rochelle. Your feedback is always important and appreciated.
janet
what more can i possibly say.. i feel like Doug just said it all! lol very beautiful story
🙂 Always makes me feel good to hear that. Thanks, kz.
janet
A nice reminiscing story. I like how it ends on a sad yet positive outlook on life.
I think often we have to re-dream dreams, hopefully not because something like this happened, but because life changes and we have to be able to change, too. Thanks for visiting.
janet
She may have lost the use of her legs but not her spirit–fine story, Janet.
Thanks, vb. Hope your Thursday’s off to a great start with spring weather!
janet
Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, or something like that. Lovely story Janet.
Thanks, Sandra. Just don’t send that coach with the black horses to my stable! 🙂
Enjoy Thursday,
janet
A very bitter sweet story Janet. Lovely.
Thank you, Claire.
janet
Hi Janet,
Great payoff at the end of this story. And you’re right, this and other kinds of riding can be quite dangerous. You mounted a good story! Ron
Glad you liked it. I’d hate to saddle you with a maverick story.
janet
I love when I find stories that run a gamut of emotions in a tiny space. You’ve done that here, and I feel like I should print this and put it on my fridge. This is all about motivation and overcoming. Just great.
Atiya, I’m thrilled the story touched you so much and thanks for letting me know. Feel free to print it off and put it on the fridge with all the magnets and pictures. 🙂 I’d be honored.
janet
Great story, Janet, and one to inspire hope in us all. Just one question – in the intro do you mean 33 1/3 *times* more, rather than just 33 1/3 more?
I did and it’s corrected. Thanks for the catch. Another example of seeing what you think you wrote rather than what’s really there. 🙂 Glad you liked the story, too, of course.
janet
A wonderfully uplifting story, Janet. There were so many well crafted lines in it, I’m amazed you got them all in such a short space.
Thank you, kind sir. Humbled that you liked it so much.
janet
Nice story — a surprise ending, and real hope. Well done!
made me put my hand over my heart at the end. beautiful work Janet.
Aww, thanks. 🙂
janet
Very good descriptive detail.
Thanks, Tony.
janet
Ah! Coming from where I do in this old world, that story had me nearly in tears.
Beautifully done.
Scott
Mine: http://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2013/03/21/friday-fictioneers-march-22-2013-genre-humorous/
Thank you, Scott. Good tears, I hope, and hope for the future. I’ll be doing more reading tomorrow so I’ll see you then.
Sleep well, my friend,
janet
Yes, good tears.
Tear jerker. Well done.
Thanks. But it ended happily.
janet
Hoo, boy. What a story. I didn’t expect it Shades of. Christopher Reeves and the dedication of a soul to using an ill-fate to their best advantage. But still what a cost, and amount of suffering, to have to go through. Sad. You handled it masterly.
Oddly enough, the Reeves story didn’t even occur to me until you mentioned it now. Now everyone will think I re-wrote his store. Gee, thanks! (Just kidding. I’m happy you loved the story so much.)
janet
Ooh I can feel the disappointment in her heart. Yet she is overcoming her impediments as she continues her love for the horses ans shares her passion with others who share her condition. Such a wonderful addition Janet!
Thanks, Joe. You got it as I intended.
Have a wonderful weekend!
janet
Nicely done – a sad but inspirational tale I think. An interesting take on the prompt 🙂
“Interesting” covers such a multitude of possibilities . 🙂 Glad you liked it and hope you have a wonderful weekend.
janet
Relax – I meant ‘interesting’ as in it really interested me, not interesting as a euphemism for a pile of horsepats 😀 Have a wonderful weekend too! see you next Friday 🙂
Just yanking your string a little. 🙂 Always look forward to reading your stories.
janet
I love the idea of re-dreaming your dreams. Sounds so much more positive than having your hopes dashed. There are definitely lots of other reasons why dreams might change, but you did a great job of giving your MC a new dream that worked for her.
Thanks, Anne. Sometimes the spin you put on something makes all the difference–in attitude and elsewhere. We all likely have dreams that could be re-dreamed. Glad you liked the story, too.
janet
In 100 words, her dream was realized then snatched away, only to rebuild in a whole new shape. Your scalpel was deft today. Well done.
Thanks, Erin. Glad you liked it. 🙂
janet
Very interesting story with a testament to the human spirit wholly unexpected. Don’t think I’d take it anywhere near as well as she did, but it’s an inspiration to see that spirit in action. Thanks!
You’re very welcome, Perry. Your comment’s a great start to my Saturday.
janet
Lovely story, with a message that unfolds with each little twist and turn. Beautifully crafted. 🙂
Much appreciated, Truday.
janet
Great story. 🙂 It takes a strong person to re-imagine their dreams like that.
Super Saturday to you, David. It does take strong person to do it, but the alternative is to wallow in the past, so she made the better choice.
janet
Neatly told tale.
Well done.
Thanks!
janet
I enjoy your story of triumph over tragedy. Like Rich said,sweet,bitter,sweet…A great Job making the words flow, easy to read and well written as always. Sorry it is taking me so long to get around to your blog. It is a busy weekend for me but finding the time to read you work is worth it. I would hate to miss out on your writings….always a pleasure.
Tom
Tom, I hope you’re having a great time with the girls and that’s always a perfectly acceptable reason (I won’t say “excuse”) for not reading. I’m always glad to see what you think about my writing and glad you liked this story.
Have a great weekend,
janet
Lovely story of doing what you love.
Thanks so much. Doing what you love is always best if you can manage it and I think it was particularly important for her.
janet
a beautiful short story to not let any obstacles keep us from our life passions. dazzled. ♥
Don’t know if I’ve dazzled anyone with a story before. Thanks!
janet
Very sweet story–it touched my heart.
I’m glad, Catherine. To touch the reader’s heart is success.
Blessings on your day,
janet
Wow this is one of the best stories this week. Very good and packed with emotions… I love it.
Bjorn, that’s quite a compliment and very much appreciated! Thanks.
Hope your Sunday’s going well.
janet
Beautiful story! The writing itself really drew me in, especially the first half.
Thanks!
janet
Love her positive attitude. Reminded me of Christopher Reeves who had the same healthy attitude and strength…right to the end.
Thanks, Lora. As I mentioned in one other comment, I didn’t even think of Christopher Reeves before, during, or after the story…until the first comment. But he was an excellent example of this same attitude.
janet
Great story; I’m glad it’s not written from first hand experience.
Me, too! 🙂
janet
First sad story I’ve read. Nice take on this prompt.
It is sad in some ways, but I feel it’s more a story of hope, overcoming, and triumph. Thanks for stopping, Shirley!
janet
Your story, for me, was about the best use of all we can make of the creatures under our ‘dominion’. Well done and thanks for the unexpected ending.
You’re welcome, Ann. Thanks for coming by to read and comment (and “like”) and I’m glad you liked the ending.
janet
🙂
Hi Janet
A lovely story of dreams almost fulfilled, then dashed, of courage, hope and the determination to rebuild.
I always like your stories, this one is a bit special
Dee
Dee, I thank you very much for that. I’m glad this one is special to you and certainly glad that you always like my stories. A writer dare not ask for more.
janet
Wow – so much packed into such a small tale! I liked it very much 🙂
Thanks, Ariadne! I appreciate you taking the time to come over, read it and comment. Looking forward to the new prompt tomorrow and another round of stories.
janet
me too!