WRITING PROMPT

Three Hundred Reasons to Smile?

I’ll know it when I reach my benchmark

As we entered the month of December, I prepared for the exciting “Let’s celebrate Karen” times. First came Chanukah, then my anniversary to Ed, and soon, I will celebrate becoming a grandmother for the second time and my sixtieth birthday. While these important dates come about every year, I welcome their festive qualities and propensity to bring about well-wishes and family celebrations.

Because of Ellie Jacobson ✍🏻’s prompt, December Wishes, I asked myself, what do I want for my birthday this year? In answer, I noticed the things I wish for most are intangible. For instance, I strive for greater moments of peace and mindfulness in my life and to further my writing success.

Currently, I sit at a count of two hundred and eighty-eight stories written since January 2021. I’ve since set a goal to reach three hundred published stories by the year’s end. This would seem an effortless task for many, but with a nearly full-time job, writing can be a stretch and popping out fresh articles during weekdays is difficult.

Reaching three hundred stories means I still have twelve articles to write in nineteen days. Despite loving the genre, I want to ensure the remaining stories aren’t all short forms. Indeed, I am grateful and appreciative of my daily entries at The Daily Cuppa in Midafternoon Musings and intermittent short forms for Shorties but Goodies and The Shortform. However, if I’m to continue challenging myself, I also need to write longer stories.

I am currently scheduled at The Daily Cuppa until December 26th, leaving me five more scheduled short forms to write there until the beginning of the new year. This means I will reach my coveted three hundred story goal.

How exciting is that? Yet, I still need to be challenged.

So, here’s my pledge.

Beginning today, on top of the short forms waiting in the queue, I pledge to write the twelve stories — six short forms and six long forms — by 11:59 P.M. on December 31st.

I believe my December wish to reach the three hundred published story benchmark is the perfect gift to me. To surpass this goal is divine. Then again, with grandchildren a welcomed distraction, this joyous season may not be as conducive to writing as past months.

Let the challenge begin.

Thank you, Ellie and Flint and Steel, for providing this prompt that encouraged me to reflect on what I want before the year ends. I have lots of work to do. I better get at it.