What’s a Tiny Memoir?

This forthcoming lit mag will feature tiny memoirs of 50-200 words. Here we share an example of one to show you what’s possible.

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Fitting In

by Jude Jones

In Moscow, we lived on the 3rd floor of an apartment building with an old-fashioned elevator that often got stuck between floors. The entryway stank of booze and piss from homeless veterans who would pass out inside the doors.

Our apartment building was one of many that surrounded a small square park with a pathetic playground. (Later, once car ownership spread to the lower-middle classes, this plot of land between the buildings was converted to a parking lot). Us kids hung out there from an early age, parents occasionally glancing from their windows, yelling at us to come in for dinner.

Sunflower seeds in a plastic baggie were a popular snack on the playground. Kids would chew on them and spit out the shells, and once I took a handful from another kid so that I didn't feel left out.

Vomiting my guts up from that snack is how I learned about my severe food allergies. There would be more trial and error along the way, nuts, sesame, and fish, but the sunflower seeds are the most memorable because I was punished for trying to fit in.

Word Count: 190

Photo of a Moscow suburb from Wikimedia

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We hope this example gives you a sense of what can be done within the limited word count. Submissions will officially open in September. In the meantime, we’re still looking for additional Content Readers, so if you’re interested, please get in touch.