"For I have known them all already, known them all"
The 100-Word Challenge: I send you a 100-word prompt, and you write 100 words of fiction.
Welcome to The 100-Word Challenge, in which I send you 100 words of writing inspiration, and you write 100 words of anything you want—a novel, or a story, or just a quick sketch.
And if you find you’re itching to keep going, you can write more than 100 words. If not, you can stop there and feel great about the fact that you’re building a writing habit.
Find all 100-Word Challenge prompts here.
January 30
“For I have known them all already, known them all:
Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons,
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons”
These lines from T. S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” always make me laugh. I feel so bad that the speaker’s life might be measured in something so trivial and quotidian.
At the same time, our lives rarely feel grand as we’re living through them. What part of our daily experience makes us who we are?
Finish this phrase from the POV of your characters: “I have measured out my life in…”
Feel free to share your 100 words in the comments.
Tomorrow is our final day! It's been amazing to see you still here and writing!
In a week or so, these 100-Word Challenge posts will go offline, so make sure you save your work somewhere. Thanks so much for joining in! Looking forward to reading your stories today and tomorrow.
[Continued...]
The train glissaded away from the platform. The humor in their shared smiles commuted into wistfulness, and Donna flung herself around Beatrice’s neck, shaking with primal sobs. Beatrice tenderly embraced her.
“Oh Bea, I’m sorry! The hurt I caused you! I was so wrong, and though I can’t ever make it up, believe me, I would’ve, somehow, no matter how long it would’ve taken.”
She pulled back, swiping away tears. Beatrice cupped her face with both hands, as if to say, I know.
Donna forced a smile. “I’ve measured out my life in murmurs and sighs. Yet here you are.”