640 Things to Write About: Sniveling Jenny

Go to the Merriam-Webster Word of the Day website and write a story based on that word. 

Snivel: verb

1

: to run at the nose

2

: to snuff mucus up the nose audibly : snuffle

3

: to cry or whine with snuffling

4

: to speak or act in a whining, sniffling, tearful, or weakly emotional manner

Jenny, Fiona, and their boss, Elaine, had spent the entire morning in the office, slaving over their next big design project. Elaine had grandiose plans to roll out their plans for production at the end of the week, and because of this she was relying heavily on the editing eyes of Jenny and Fiona. 

Jenny, while the most traditionally education, also happened to be the least creative. Additionally, she suffered from an irrationally large ego, and above everything - including proving her worth in the workforce - she wanted to be acknowledged.

In hopes of winning kudos from her boss, Jenny never shared her actual feelings regarding any of Elaine's designs. It was always a simple, "I like it." or a "I wouldn't change a thing." or even a "It's very pretty."

Elaine would smile at these comments of affirmation, and then turn to Fiona, who would jump in a offer up changes in color or style (to which Elaine would offer more praise than Jenny had ever received). 

Things were no different that morning. Elaine showed a sketch, Jenny affirmed it, Fiona offered feedback, Elaine praised Fiona. Jenny received nothing.

Jenny had had enough. With an annoyed sigh, but without a single word, she stood up, left the office, and drove straight to her mother's house.

"I'm tired of living in Fiona's shadow. It's Fiona this and Fiona that, and oooh look at the ideas Fiona has!" she whined.

Her mom shot her an exasperated look. She was all too familiar with Jenny's antics.

"You want all of the credit, but you're too afraid to put yourself out there. I don't know what you think will come of you leaving the office to vent to me about it. Stop sniveling about how mistreated you are, and go back to work." her mother offered.

Jenny opened her mouth to complain once more, but her mother silenced her with a single, raised hand.

On that, Jenny turned around, and headed back towards the office. 

To Fern: 641 Things To Write About

A houseplant is dying. Tell it why it needs to live.

Dear Fern,

Please do not give up.
I need you to live so that you can filter the putrid air in my home into fine, clean oxygen for my breathing pleasure.

I know what you're thinking - where's the justice?
I can tell in the way you shiver your fronds when I steal your babies for the same calling.

Is it unfair for me to say...this is what you were made for?
So please, open your little fronds to the sunlight, have some water and
just breathe...

Nikki

642 Things To Write About

So, I bought this funny book a year ago. It's full of writing prompts (because I'm a huge nerd and would buy something like that). I've only done...like...7 since I bought it...and now I've made it a goal to do every.single.one.

And here is the first:
What can happen in a second?

In the second you've just spent reading this,
someone has wrecked their car,                    
someone has just taken their last breath,
or had their last thought,
and
someone has just given birth,
and someone has just taken their first breath -
life and death are happening simultaneously
right this
second.

In the second it took me to write the this letter,
someone has sent a text (which unfortunately they can't un-send),
and someone else has told a joke, which has just taken
a terrible turn,
and has ended up as and unintended insult.
Ouch.

In a single second you can:
choke,
push the button on a microwave,
smack your bubblegum,
trip,
make eye contact with someone,
burn yourself,
find a dollar,
burp,
say yes
or no...
and in one second, with just the click of a mouse -
or the enter key -
you can spend all the money in your bank account.

So I'm fairly convinced that not just anything can happen in a second,
but everything.