Third Campaigner Challenge of the Author Platform Builder

Sunrise over beach at ocean

Growing Up is Hard to Do.

As a woman and their mother, I had always held the prerogative when it came to decisions about the boys. Their father hadn’t the energy or cared to give them much attention. Now, standing on the beach, I was bored with it. Tears spilled over and crashed down my cheeks telling me I had reached the depths of despair. I had hoped that by now they wouldn’t need all that synbatec, wastopaneer and tacise. How long would the pain go on? The swamp behind me smelled bad, like a carcass had died and rotted. I started walking along the beach, thinking. The ocean had always been a place where I felt close to God. The sun and sky, bigger than life, reminded me of how insignificant I was.

The dawn, brilliant pink and orange rays shining across the sky, made the bitter taste of my medicine almost sweet. The magnificence of the sunrise made me realize I was indispensable. I started to feel some comfort in the scene before me. I almost swallowed the last of the water in my bottle and sat down in the sand, feeling the cool water of the ocean with my hands as I heard the waves crash on the surf. The salt spray smelled fresh and clean. I remembered other visits to the beach when the boys were younger and needed me even more. I thought about how soon they’d be on their own and wouldn’t need me at all. I remembered toddlers running and giggling, eager smiling faces looking into mine. The sun peeked out. At the last minute I spit the bitter medicine out as I realized that I wanted to live.

That is the end of my story. Here is what Rachael Harrie of the author platform building campaign said.

Now for the Challenge (and please note the word count change!):

Write a blog post in 300 words or less, excluding the title. The post can be in any format, whether flash fiction, non-fiction, humorous blog musings, poem, etc. The blog post shouldshow:

• that it’s morning, 

• that a man or a woman (or both) is at the beach

• that the MC (main character) is bored

• that something stinks behind where he/she is sitting

• that something surprising happens.

Just for fun, see if you can involve all five senses AND include these random words: “synbatec,” “wastopaneer,” and “tacise.”   (NB. these words are completely made up and are not intended to have any meaning other than the one you give them).

I gave the imaginary words connotations to mean time, love, consideration, compassion, understanding and all other characteristics needed for a good mother that provides for the needs of her children. It has 286 words and involves all the five senses as she suggested. 

Related articles

• Campaigner’s Second Challenge: Imago, the Goal (clarbojahn.wordpress.com)
• The First Campaigner Challenge (clarbojahn.wordpress.com)