Microfiction Challenge #23 – Dragon Egg

varnadragons

Photo ©Grantscharoff

Jane Dougherty has a wonderful knack of choosing interesting image prompts for her poetry and fiction challenges. I couldn’t resist these two dragons holding an egg, and here is my response:

‘It’s not very big, is it.’

‘I can assure you sir, it’s the accessory of the season. All the most stylish dragons–’

‘But is it shiny enough? I don’t know. She already has so many shiny things.’

‘Honestly, sir. We have a waiting list for these. It’s only because you’re one of our most valued customers–’

‘Does it come in any other colour? Like a ruby red?’

‘No. Just the gold, sir. It’s a limited edition–’

‘But what does it do, exactly?’

‘Well, it’s for keeping things in. You simply untwist it, like so, then you can put, well, whatever you like inside. Human snacks, jewels, smaller eggs, fireproof mascara – really, the choice is yours. And feel how heavy it is, and how smooth.’

‘Well, I suppose it is rather nice-‘

‘See how well it fits into the claw, sir. It’s been perfectly weighted, just so. I assure you, she’ll be very happy­–’

‘I’m still not sure–’

‘And if you buy one today, sir, we’ll throw in a lovely silk bag to keep it in, fire retardant, of course. Plus free giftwrapping, and one of these rather nice cards to go with it.’

‘Really? For no extra charge?’

‘Really. Shall I wrap it up then, sir?’

‘And it doesn’t come in the red?’

‘I can assure you it does not, sir. Gold is the colour of the season, sir. Now, shall I put that on your account, sir?’

‘I’ll take two.’


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Plus check out my latest release, A Thousand Rooms, now available on Amazon.

Jack Of All Trades

IMG_0893I was thinking, the other day, about all the different jobs I’ve had. Apart from four months off after having a baby and a couple of months after university when I moved cross-country, I’ve worked pretty much continuously since I was fifteen.

So here, in no particular order, are all the different paying jobs I’ve had:

McDonald’s server

Strawberry Picker (a low point)

Retail Sales: Clothing, high-end shoes, leather goods

Visual Merchandiser – Full time and freelance

Fashion/Promotions Model

Admin Manager

Design Studio Manager

Golf Course Social Club Manager

Accounts Receivable

Signage Designer

Banquet Server/Bartender

Barista

Martial Arts Instructor

Hair Salon Assistant Manager

Print Production Manager

Talent booker

Art Buyer for an Ad Agency

Photography Producer

Gallery Assistant

Receptionist

Freelance Artist

Hmmm. That’s quite a long list. I am *ahem* a bit older than fifteen now, and I have moved around a bit, but I think it’s safe to say that I’ve tried my fair share of different jobs. However, none of them ever ‘took’.

Until now.

For the past ten years or so I have had the same job: writer. And I love it. I love the challenge of working with words, of finding the correct tone for each piece, wrestling the pieces into place so that I speak with my own voice, or that of my client. I love writing stories and sharing them, and consider myself incredibly fortunate to be able to do so. Sometimes it pays quite well, and at other times I can work weeks for a pittance – but I enjoy all of it.

I don’t know that there’s much of a point to this post, other than the fact that I tried lots of different things until I found what it was that I really wanted to do. And, the thing is, I was doing it all along. One of my best friends from university, when I told her I was writing a book, said, ‘but you’ve always been a writer.’ Funny that she could see what I could not. So I look back on each of my different roles as learning experiences. Sometimes the only thing I learned was that I never wanted to do that job/work with that person again, but it was a lesson, nonetheless.

Perhaps we only come to things when we are ready for them. I know all the jobs I’ve had gave me different skills and made me the person I am now. They also gave me life experience to draw upon when writing stories, and taught me what I didn’t want from my life. It was one of my former employers who first took a chance on me, asking me to write something for them. And for that, I’m eternally grateful.

So how about you? What unusual, awful or wonderful jobs have you had?

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You can find me on Twitter @AuthorHelenJ, plus check our my Facebook Page, Instagram and Pinterest Page for book info, photos, blogs and more…