25 Comments
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Connie Timpson's avatar

Nice snapshot with a great pay off.

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Dorothy Dean Walton's avatar

Love this. Combination punch in the gut at the end and nostalgia.

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Giovanna Solimando's avatar

Aaaahh. Love it. I write micro-prose. So glad I came across your note earlier.

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Strawbridge's avatar

Very interesting concept.

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Katherine Kowalski's avatar

Oh, I love this idea so much. And... I'm so intrigued about the author of that example piece – it's the first time I've ever heard of anyone else being allergic to sunflower seeds!

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Jude Jones (they/them)'s avatar

Hi Katherine! I agree - I don’t think I’ve ever met someone else who’s allergic to sunflower seeds, either! Are you allergic to other seeds, too? I’m allergic to sesame as well.

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Katherine Kowalski's avatar

They're my only allergy. So weird. I used to scoff little packet of honey roasted sunflower seeds while out all day with the horses as a teenager, and then one day came home head to toe in hives and that was that. Maybe if I was to mainline other types of seed the way I did sunflowers I'd create another allergy for myself!

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Jude Jones (they/them)'s avatar

Oh, how interesting (and disappointing)! Mine seemed to form quickly, before I had the chance to enjoy them. Probably for the best.

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Katherine Kowalski's avatar

Yeah I am so glad for both of us that other salty snacks are available!

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Dr Vicki Connop's avatar

Love this idea so much, and already musing on what my tiny memoir might be ❤

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Liza Debevec's avatar

Thank you for sharing this example. I’ve been wondering about the tiny memoir what one could fit in two hundred words. Sorry to hear about your allergies. I used to eat a lot of roasted/salted sunflower seeds as a snack

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Chloe Edwards - Hope’s Kitchen's avatar

This is such a great idea! Plus it’s come I’m very grateful to find you today when the Salt Path revelations have been giving memoir a bit of a kicking. Thank you!

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Trevy Thomas's avatar

I hadn't heard of this scandal and looked it up after reading your note. Thanks for mentioning it! And I'm also looking forward to this new publication and to possibly contributing. Wonderful idea

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Chloe Edwards - Hope’s Kitchen's avatar

It’s an exciting concept isn’t it? Looking forward to reading what people contribute

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Jude Jones (they/them)'s avatar

Yes that’s rather portentous timing, isn’t it, but I’m glad this venture is helping restore your faith in memoir!

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Soham's avatar

I loved this piece and would love to read more. I see that you are looking for content readers. I am interested. What's the best way to reach out?

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Jude Jones (they/them)'s avatar

Please feel free to send me a Direct Message here on Substack!

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Ashley C. Shannon's avatar

Lovely! So much said!

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Jude Jones (they/them)'s avatar

Thank you so much for reading!

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Elly Marie (she/her)'s avatar

Love the idea of the tiny memoir. I struggle with building out a novel or even chapter length so this would be a perfect starting point to help hone my writing skills and feels doable given my chronic illnesses.

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Jude Jones (they/them)'s avatar

I’m so glad to hear this feels like an attractive challenge!

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Jul 5
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Jude Jones (they/them)'s avatar

What’s the article you were reading on psychiatric history, by the way? Because that sounds intriguing…

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Jul 6
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Jude Jones (they/them)'s avatar

Well, since I can’t comment on the article itself, I’ll have to share my feelings here with you! (Definitely didn’t need to be that long in my opinion…) Anyway, I relate to a lot of what she wrote, though I didn’t have intense psychiatric treatment as she did, I did end up with the same diagnosis eventually, which in retrospect wasn’t all that accurate.

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Jul 6
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Jude Jones (they/them)'s avatar

That is, indeed, quite long! But possibly fascinating enough to spend the time on. Too bad about the comments.

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Jul 5
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Jude Jones (they/them)'s avatar

I think you got it right the first time! But no worries about typos, in any case.

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