This is Exercise #22 in the book, What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers by Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter.
This exercise is about writing a memory from your childhood(before age 7), and it should be written as a narrative from the perspective of a child. You are only allowed to use the vocabulary of a child and if you can’t remember a lot of detail, you can embellish only stay within the boundary of the memory. You are limited to 550 words. Please, either post your memory in the comments below or link to where you have posted it so I can see what you’ve done. I’d love to see what you come up with! Here is my attempt:
I got hurt at school today. See my arm? The doctor said this is a cast, and I’m not supposed to get it wet so I have to take baths for a while. I was playing on the monkey bars in my blue dress. Teacher said I looked pretty in my dress. My hands slipped on one of the bars. I was trying to make it across the inside part, and I was skipping bars. I missed one, but I swung back and grabbed it again. I slipped trying to grab it with my other hand. I landed on my feet but then, I fell down. I put my hands down as I fell so I didn’t hit my face. I didn’t want to break my glasses. Mom would be mad if I broke my glasses. She was frowning when she had to take me to the doctor for my arm. It didn’t hurt when I fell, I was just holding my writst in Music class so I couldn’t play my flute. Teacher made me go to the nurse after I showed her my hand and told her about falling. Nurse called Mom. Mom isn’t happy with me. Why do you want to sign my cast? Oh, I can? I’ll have my friends at school and Teacher sign it tomorrow.
See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!
Griffin's Nest 