Thrifty Words Microfiction

Calamity

Theme Challenge #5

I live with depression and lately, it has been kicking my ass. I have been counting things like getting dressed before going back to bed as a major victory. I don’t think well when depression is raging, so I spend my days streaming television shows on Netflix. The more seasons the better.

I discovered Grey’s Anatomy, a medical soap opera created by Shonda Rhimes and aired on ABC beginning in 2005 and continuing through 2020. I don’t usually do soap operas. They are cheesy and silly, unrealistic, and fantastical. I’m hooked.

This week’s (Thrifty Words) Theme Challenge (#5): Calamity is based on a quote by the main character, Meredith Grey. As a writer, I felt this quote down in my bones. I know you will, too.

Smooth rides make for boring stories. A little calamity is what’s needed to keep life interesting.

Just imagine how boring life would be if every single thing went smoothly. Every writer would be out of a job. Life, however, is anything but smooth. It is often filled with calamity after calamity.

Calamity is defined as an event causing great and often sudden distress, a disaster.

Here are The Bad Influence submission guidelines for Microfiction.

Remember, in order to be considered for the challenge, you need to write exactly fifty words (contractions such as ‘you’ll’ and ‘y’all’ count as one, as do articles ‘a’ and ‘the’ ‘and all 23 auxiliary verbs ‘am’ ‘is’ ‘are’ etc.

Please use ‘Theme Challenge #5 Calamity’ as your subtitle and submit by 12 pm EST / 5 pm BST on Friday 2 October; my selected top 10 will be released the following morning at 6 am EST / 11 am BST.

(Please note: if you submit a thrifty word story outside the challenge times, it won’t be judged but it will still be published.)

What are you waiting for?

Calamity 50 words, Go!