Can you believe we’re nearly ten percent through the 52 Week Story Challenge already? It’s going quick, am I right? Of course I’m right. I mean, this is my website after all. Everything I say here must be right or I wouldn’t write it. See what I did there? That’s a little writer’s pun. You probably got that because you’re smart. Of course you’re smart; you’re here!
This is the story I was going to write last week, but ended up going with Fairfield instead. I got all the way to Friday this week and nothing—zip, zilch, nada. Hadn’t written a single thing all week long. I was starting to get pretty worried about it too. I mean, my posting deadline was just three days away and I had nothing, only a vague idea of where the story was going. And I had only a few clear images in my head. What was I going to do?
We watched a Ted-x talk this week on YouTube. It was the one with JP Sears talking about embracing your inner weirdness. It was a great talk—only about twenty minutes or so—and I encourage everyone to go listen to it. But the turning point came after that talk, because there was another one by Lieutenant General Mark Hertling called “Obesity is a National Security Issue” and BAM! There it was. I had my story.
I didn’t go exactly where I wanted with the story. There was really a lot more to it that I wanted to capture, especially a lot of the emotional and psychological issues. However, I really wanted this one to be a flash fiction story, and I only had so much room to work with, which brings me to the bad news . . .
You don’t get to read this one. I know. I KNOW. And I’m really sorry. But if I post the story here, then I can’t submit it for first publication rights to magazine editors. BUT . . .
If this thing makes the rounds and several magazines end up not wanting it, I’ll bring it right back here and let you know, and then you’ll be able to read it. Does that sound fair? Of course it sounds fair. You’re probably thinking to yourself even now, Go, Morgan, go send the story. Go get it published. We’re all patient and we can totally wait.
Good for you. That’s the spirit.
Wish me luck! And if by some miracle it does get picked up somewhere and published, I’ll also post the link to the magazine so you can go read it.
Title: Constance Shepherd Used To Be Fat
Word count: 1,000
Synopsis: Constance Shepherd is not the woman she used to be, and she’s out to prove it. But the first one she’ll have to prove it to is herself.
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Completed: Week ending November 11, 2018
