100 word essay nyt

• Real Estate

4S Ranch teen describes plight of her Ugandan tribe in 100 words

Joyce Orishaba is one of 13 winners in The New York Times 100-word Personal Narrative Contest

• Show more sharing options
• Copy Link URL Copied!

When Joyce Orishaba was 6, her life could not have been more different than it is now.

She was an orphan in Uganda, “sleeping with nothing but a banana leaf over my shoulders to keep me warm,” recalled Orishaba, now 17 and living in 4S Ranch.

Those memories, of her fear and uncertainty under the care of her 13-year-old aunt Loyce, are what Orishaba wrote about in “A river runs through me.” She entered the essay in The New York Times 100-word Personal Narrative Contest.

Out of 12,448 student essays from around the world, hers was among 13 selected as winners and published on Dec. 7. The essays by the winners can be read at tinyurl.com/NYTessays22 . They were among 82 finalists, also including 23 runners-up and 46 honorable mentions.

The students — all teenagers — wrote about big and small moments in their lives. Some were heartwarming. Others were funny. Orishaba said she decided to write about this moment to introduce people to her indigenous Batwa tribe, which was removed from its homeland in the rainforest to create a preserve for mountain gorillas.

“We are forgotten while the gorillas are celebrated. Lost to save the species,” she wrote.

The junior at Poway to Palomar Middle College in Rancho Bernardo — Poway Unified’s new program with Palomar College for high school juniors and seniors — said she was encouraged to enter the contest by her adoptive mother, Wendee Nicole.

“Mom found out and she encouraged me. Said I should do it,” Orishaba said. “I did not really want to because I am not a big fan of writing. But I like to tell stories.”

Writing about this moment in her life 11 years ago was a way to introduce herself and her people to a wider audience, she said. While in a desperate situation at that time, she was also hopeful.

“I will be the river for my people. I am the future,” she wrote to conclude her essay.

Narrowing down what she wanted to say to just 100 words was a challenge, Orishaba said. It took her a few days and many rewrites. She consulted with teachers, her mother and grandparents before the final version was completed a couple months ago.

Orishaba found out via email that she was a finalist last week, but not that she was among the 13 winners until the article was published.

“I was really excited ... I was very shocked,” Orishaba said upon learning she was a winner.

“I was over the moon, so excited,” Nicole said about learning her daughter had won.

Nicole said writing a short essay is much harder than writing a long one. She should know, being a professional science writer and editor herself.

“I know her past is not what most Americans go through,” Nicole said. “She has overcome a lot, including language barriers.”

“It’s my daughter’s beautiful personal story about how it is affecting an individual,” she added. “Even after moving to the U.S., she feels the weight of the world on her shoulders of responsibility that is both hers and not hers. It’s a heavy burden for a child to carry.”

According to Orishaba, the forest gorillas were dying in the 1980s and her tribe was held responsible by the Ugandan government.

“They were blaming my people, saying we were killing and eating them. But we do not eat gorilla,” she said.

Nicole described the tribe as hunter/gatherers who lived in the rainforest.

In 1991 Orishaba’s tribe was dispersed and placed in villages in Uganda, the Congo and Rwanda. Her home village is in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.

“The people in my village were the lowest of the poorest,” she said.

Tourism is big in the region, but that money doesn’t trickle down to the Batwa.

“None goes to my people,” she said. Instead, they earn money by dancing and sharing their stories with tourists. They also sell the baskets and carvings tribe members make.

An orphan since age 4 after the death of her biological parents, Orishaba was under the care of her aunt who was only a few years older than herself.

In 2017 Orishaba was adopted by Nicole, founder and director of the Redemption Song Foundation Uganda, an organization that has worked with the tribe to build permanent homes instead of tepees, on a clean water project and education for children. Her village has about 55 residents, with more than half of them children. The average lifespan is 27.

Nicole had first moved to Uganda in 2014 with a journalism grant and lived there for three years. But her desire for her new daughter to have access to a better education prompted her to return to the United States.

They moved to Texas, but have gone back for visits with Orishaba’s relatives a few times since then. The pandemic affected their annual trips, which have become less frequent since 2020.

“Everyone in my tribe looks up to me, I am a good role model for them,” Orishaba said.

The mother and daughter moved from Texas to 4S Ranch last March because Nicole has relatives in the area.

Orishaba spent the last few months of the 2021-22 school year at Del Norte High, but decided to enroll in the new program at Palomar College because she sees it as a way to earn college credits before graduation. That way she can return to Uganda for an extended stay before resuming her collegiate studies. Her current aspiration is to study international relations and eventually work for the United Nations.

She said she would like to go back to help her people.

“My people are smart, but have not had opportunities. So they are automatically dismissed, especially by those in Uganda,” Orishaba said.

Get the Pomerado News in your inbox weekly

Top headlines from Poway, Rancho Bernardo and 4S Ranch, every Thursday for free.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Pomerado News.

Support local journalism

At a time when local news is more important than ever, support from our readers is essential. If you are able to, please support the Pomerado News today.

More from this Author

Entertainment

Southern California Ballet to stage ‘Coppélia’ in two shows this weekend

April 16, 2024

Del Norte High junior advances to AAUW Speech Trek state finals

Viola, piano the focus at free concert at Rancho Bernardo Library

Oak Valley team brings home Poway Unified’s 12th CyberPatriot national championship

Join Our Test Series for Free!

• Competitions

Tiny Memoir Contest for Students by The New York Times [Write a 100-Word Personal Narrative; Ages 13-19; Chance to get Published]: Submit by Nov 1

• Priyanka Barik
• Sep 26, 2023

Submissions are invited for Tiny Memoir Contest for Students by The New York Times. The last date of submission is November 1, 2023.

About the Organization

The New York Times (NYT) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2022 to comprise 740,000 paid print subscribers, and 8.6 million paid digital subscribers. 

Contest Details

Can you tell a meaningful and interesting true story from your life in just 100 words? That’s the challenge they posed to teenagers last fall with our first-ever 100-Word Personal Narrative Contest, a storytelling form popularized by Modern Love’s Tiny Love Stories series.

Your tiny memoir should be a short, powerful, true story about a meaningful experience from your own life. It must be 100 words or fewer, not including the title. You must be a student ages 13 to 19 in middle school or high school to participate, and all students must have parent or guardian permission to enter. The work should be fundamentally your own — it should not be plagiarized, written by someone else or generated by artificial intelligence.

What is a personal narrative?

A personal narrative is an essay about an experience from your life. It is a type of nonfiction writing, which means that whatever you choose to write about should be true. And keep in mind the “personal” in personal narrative; you should tell your own story, not someone else’s.

Eligibility

This contest is open to students ages 13 to 19 who are in middle school or high school around the world. College students cannot submit an entry.

Having your work published on The Learning Network and being eligible to be chosen to have your work published in the print editions of The New York Times.

How to Submit?

Interested participants can submit online via this link .

Submission Deadline

The last date of submission is November 1, 2023.

Email: LNFeedback[at]nytimes[dot]com

Click here to view the official notification of Tiny Memoir Contest for Students by The New York Times.

Join our competitions whatsapp channel, get daily updates, join our competitions telegram group.

Get relevant opportunities in your inbox every day!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

For submitting a Post

• +91 63936 71382
• [email protected]

For banner ads & admission campaigns

• +91 90235 43927
• [email protected]
• Hours: 11 AM - 7 PM (Mon-Fri)

Useful Links

• Submit a Post

© 2024 – NoticeBard | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service

Enter your email

Log in using your NoticeBard account. If you do not have an account, you will be prompted to create one.

Parents, Teachers, School Students: Subscribe for your Youngster Career

Competitions, scholarships, olympiads, and jobs for your growth & development, for 1 month, for 3 months, for 6 months.

+1 (603) 932 7897

[email protected].

New York Times Tiny Memoir Contest

Competition Overview

Students ages 13 to 19 around the world, october 4, 2023 to november 1, 2023, january 17, 2024, competition details.

1. Eligibility This contest is open to students ages 13 to 19 in middle school or high school worldwide (high school postgraduate students who haven’t enrolled in a college can apply). Students attending their first year of a two-year CEGEP in Quebec Province can also participate.  If students are directly related to New York Times employees or live in the same household as those employees are not eligible to enter this contest. 

2. Competition Topic Can you tell a meaningful and interesting true story from your life in just 100 words?

3. Results The results will be announced on January 17, 2024

4. Prizes Having your work published on The Learning Network and being eligible to be chosen to have your work published in the print editions of The New York Times.

How Will Your Work Be Judged?

The narrative tells a short but memorable story about a life experience and communicates some larger meaning or universal message.

The narrative uses vivid details and images to make the story come alive for the reader. The writing avoids clichés.

The narrative demonstrates a unique personal voice, style, and point of view. The story is fresh and original. 

The narrative presents a clear conflict, an obstacle, problem, or tension that is resolved in some way.

Entry follows all contest rules and guidelines. 

• Student Awards

Submission Details

All entries must be submitted by November 1, 2023 at 11:59pm

1. Word Limit 100 words (not counting title). 

2. Individual/Group Submission Students must work alone and submit one entry per student. 

3. Submission Requirement As part of your submission, you must also submit an “artist’s statement” that describes your process. Students are asked to reflect on what they did and why, what was difficult in order for the team to improve their contests and the curriculum to support students. 

Class Recommendation

Related News

Join our competition prep classes now!

Aralia Education is an innovative online education platform for ambitious middle and high school students worldwide. Aralia’s instructors propel students forward by helping them build a strong foundation in traditional academic courses. They also actively engage and guide students in exploring personal interests beyond their school curriculum. With this holistic approach, Aralia ensures its students are well-prepared for college and equipped for success in their future careers.

• College Accelerator Program
• Comprehensive Introduction to High School
• Academic Empowerment Program
• Test Preparation Bootcamp
• Private Lessons
• Competitions

Give us a call: +1 (603) 932 7897

Email us: [email protected]

Add us on WhatsApp:

Improve your writing in one of the largest and most successful writing groups online

Join our writing group!

Writing the 100-Word Memoir

by Fija Callaghan

With more and more life-changing memoirs hitting the shelves, emerging writers are feeling themselves increasingly drawn to the creative nonfiction genre. But embarking on any book-length project can be intimidating… even when the subject is your own life.

To warm up your writer’s muscles and get some practice crafting a narrative, why not try challenging yourself with a 100-word memoir? These snapshot stories may not take up much space on the page, but they can pack a substantial punch.

We’ll take you through everything you need to know to start writing your own miniature masterpieces.

What is a memoir?

First, let’s clarify: what exactly is a memoir? And is that the same as an autobiography or personal essay?

A memoir is an exploration of a memory or series of memories—often the ones that shaped the person you are today. Unlike an autobiography or biography, it isn’t a landscape of your entire life. Instead, a memoir will usually just focus on a period of a few years.

Some memoirs combine other types of nonfiction, too. For example, many cookbooks are hybrid memoirs—they feature recipes alongside anecdotes about the writer’s personal experiences. Our lives are rich in engaging stories, and these moments can make traditional nonfiction feel more accessible.

To learn more, you can check out the link to our detailed lesson on memoirs and autobiographies here .

Why write a 100-word memoir?

Writing a 100-word memoir—or a series of them—is fantastic training for emerging writers and students at any stage of their journey. It forces you to focus on your word choice and figurative language in a precise, crystalline way; it develops your ability to create a big impact through small moments in time—a good thing even in longer works of writing.

Through the writing process, you’ll learn to make every single word fight for its place on the page. These are skills that you can take with you into other types of writing—whether it’s a longer short story, a personal essay, a poem, an academic paper, a teaching lesson, or your breakout debut novel.

Does your memoir need to be exactly 100 words?

Really, any short story should be as minuscule or as sprawling as it needs to be—whether that’s 50 words or 5,000. But consider your 100-word memoir as a personal challenge, or an exercise for the mind. If your memoir ends up being 103 words, which of those three words can you live without? If it’s 80 words, which moment can you give a bit more depth?

Your mini-memoir doesn’t need to be exactly 100 words, but you’ll find the practice more beneficial for your journey as a writer if you push yourself to hit your target dead centre. Plus, publication outlets often set strict word limits and won’t accept submissions that are too short or too long.

We’ll look closer at ways to send your 100-word memoir out into the world below.

Micro-memoir examples

To get an idea of how to create small stories of your life, take a look at these excerpts from honest, thought-provoking literature.

Reasons to Stay Alive , by Matt Haig

My mum and dad were at the airport. They stood there looking tired and happy and worried all at once. We hugged. We drove back. Mum turned around in the passenger seat and looked at me and smiled and the smile had a slightly crumpled quality, her eyes glazed with tears. I felt it. The weight of Mum. The weight of being a son that had gone wrong. The weight of being loved. The weight of being a disappointment. The weight of being a hope that hadn’t happened the way it should have.

This example, an excerpt from a longer memoir and guide to understanding mental illness, creates a big picture in a very small space. It doesn’t waste time setting up the writer’s challenges, but instead lets them come through naturally in the actions of the characters.

This snapshot makes a point of focusing closely on one small moment in time, and the experience of the narrator as they struggle to understand what they’re feeling.

The Bell Jar , by Sylvia Plath

My grandfather and I had a standing joke. He was the head waiter at a country club near my hometown, and every Sunday my grandmother drove in to bring him home for his Monday off. My brother and I alternated going with her, and my grandfather always served Sunday super to my grandmother and whichever of us was along as if we were regular club guests. He loved introducing me to special titbits, and by the age of nine I had developed a passionate taste for cold vichyssoise and caviar and anchovy paste.

Sylvia Plath’s iconic work of autofiction takes this moment to reach back into the protagonist’s life and visit a happier time. This vignette creates a clear relationship between the narrator and their grandfather, as well as framing the person the narrator goes on to become.

With only a few words the reader can see an entire childhood.

“Crush,” by Brenda Miller

Years ago, on the island of Santorini, I walked the village at sunrise, gazing at vineyards that grow differently there—close to the ground, like mounded beans, rather than the upright regiments I knew in California. In Greece, the grapes sprawl in leisure, indifferent to the future. Or not indifferent, but plump with it, glad to be turned to a greater purpose. I always want to be there, in that village at dawn; I want to be those grapes beholden to the wine, born to a pleasure that comes only after the crush.

Unlike the first two examples from larger works, this piece of flash fiction stands alone as it takes the reader to a Grecian island through the eyes of someone seeing it for the first time. The author uses figurative language and personification to bring the setting, and their experience with it, to life.

Art Matters , by Neil Gaiman

I was lucky. I had an excellent library growing up, and met the kind of librarians who did not mind a small, unaccompanied boy heading back into the children’s library every morning and working his way through the card catalogue, looking for books with ghosts or magic or rockets in them, looking for vampires or detectives or witches or wonders. They were good librarians. They would help me find other books. They would help. They treated me with respect. I was not used to being treated with respect as an eight-year-old.

This excerpt from Neil Gaiman’s novella-length memoir shows how a storyteller was born in a short, standalone story from the writer’s childhood.

Childhood memories are excellent short story fodder, especially since we can understand their effects on us better in retrospect (we’ll look at more at ideas for 100-word memoirs below).

Conversations With Friends , by Sally Rooney

Bobbi and I often performed at spoken word events and open mic nights. When we were outside smoking and male performers tried to talk to us, Bobbi would always pointedly exhale and say nothing, so I had to act as our representative. This meant a lot of smiling and remembering details about their work. I enjoyed playing this kind of character, the smiling girl who remembered things. Bobbi told me she thought I didn’t have a “real personality,” but she said she meant it as a compliment.

Although this example is from a work of fiction, the first-person narrative effectively illustrates how evocative a mini-memoir can be. In this excerpt, the narrator focuses on a singular memory in order to explore her relationship with her best friend and co-performer.

Tips for crafting your own 100-word memoir

Now that we know what these micro-memoirs look like in practice, here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin the writing process of crafting your own story.

Choose a small moment in time

As you can see from these examples, the most effective way to create a 100-word memoir is to zoom in on a specific moment or memory and crystallise it for the reader. Instead of trying to tell your entire life story, focus on a pivotal moment that would go on to have a larger impact and shape your onward journey.

This might be something like an eye-opening first date, a family event, the moment you discovered a small fortune behind your house, or a childhood summer memory that stayed with you all your life.

Our existence is a series of these small, interconnected moments; your job is to choose one and show the reader why it made an impact on the person you are now.

Moments that might inspire your memoir:

Here are some more ideas to spark your creativity.

A life-changing minute during a summer holiday

An early memory with your mother or father

A conversation overheard on a bus ride

A moment with your friends that still makes you laugh

A stranger who taught you an unexpected lesson

The moment you met your husband/wife/partner

One of the many adventures you had as a child

The time you learned the truth about a childhood belief

If you’re looking for more ideas, follow this link to some writing prompts to get your creativity flowing!

Consider your theme

Even though you’re only taking up a small amount of space on the page, your 100-word memoir should resonate emotionally with the reader—and you accomplish this by giving it a message.

Think about what you want your short story to convey. Hope for a better future? The importance of intergenerational storytelling? Stranger danger? What key lesson do you want the reader to listen to as they read your story? See if you can condense your 100-word memoir into a single, clear idea.

Themes to explore in your 100-word memoir:

When writing about events in our lives, we want to extend a powerful message to the reader. Here are some more core themes you can touch upon in your short memoirs.

Self respect is worth more than an easy payout

Real friendship means always having your back

Always keep learning, no matter your age

Money can’t buy happiness

Lived experience is the best education

Mean people are mean because they’re afraid

When something seems too good to be true, it probably is

Life is too short for regrets

You don’t have to travel far to find adventures

Teaching is the best way to learn

Found family is more important than blood family

These are just a few ideas. A good way to find your theme is to look at the moment you’re writing about and ask yourself, “What lesson did I learn from this?” “What new perspective did I gain?” “How did this moment in time change me?” Your answer will reveal the story’s true theme.

Embrace specificity

Instead of wasting valuable words on sprawling description, focus on just a few key details and bring them to life. If your 100-word memoir is about a love affair gone wrong, how can you hint at the broad scope of the story in the space of only a few moments? How can certain elements hint at the past and future of the characters? Consider sight, smell, sound, mood, objects and their meaning.

A great example is this poem by Katie Wilson , which uses the smell of burning to ground a pivotal memory about the writer’s mother.

See if there’s a way you can condense a big story into a single sensory detail—using targeted word choice to convey an entire life in the same amount of space as a few minutes of lived experience.

Tips for specificity in your micro story:

In prose writing, we’re often told to use all the senses. Because you’re working in such a small space, you may find it more effective to describe just one or two. You can zoom in on something you hear, like the sound of someone’s voice as they tell you some bad news; something you smell, like Katie Wilson’s burning toast; or something you feel, like the sensation of sand caught in a bathing suit.

The more close and detailed you can get to a particular sense or sensation, the more your memoir will come to life for the reader.

It also helps to avoid sprawling across time too much. Instead of writing about an entire music lesson, write about the moment you hit the right note. Instead of writing about the two years you spent in therapy, choose a few minutes in which the therapist said something that opened your eyes.

Limit your characters

While it can be tempting to introduce all your friends and family into your 100-word memoir, you’ll find that your story will be more powerful if you focus on just a couple of people—two or three at most.

Remember, specificity is your secret weapon. 100 words is a small amount of space to get to know these people, so you’ll find the process less challenging if you allow fewer characters more real estate on the page.

Plus, with fewer characters you can focus on the ways these relationships affected you and your growth as a person. How did your experiences with your friend, partner, or parent shape the person you’ve become?

Stories are all about humanity, and the 100-word memoir is a good place to explore these relationships.

Ideas for characters to explore in your memoirs:

There’s no limit to the sort of people you can write about in your 100-word memoir. Your mother, father, sibling, husband, and squad are all rich in writing inspiration. But , consider reaching farther out and discovering people who have impacted you in small ways.

Here are a few ideas.

A stranger who helped you when you were in trouble.

The cashier who made you feel better when you were having a hard day.

An encouraging teacher who changed the course of your life.

Your first childhood crush

A kind stranger whose compliment made you smile for the rest of the week

A child who taught you an unexpected lesson

A writer who encouraged you when you were feeling lost

A tourist you met while on holiday

Use an objective voice

Because you’re expressing a small, precise moment, you may find it helpful to use the objective voice—letting the actions of the story speak for themselves, rather than using a lot of character emotion.

Instead of saying, “My parents hurt my feelings when they missed my graduation,” show the way you reacted and what you did to cope with those feelings (this, by the way, comes from the classic writing rule of “ Show, don’t tell ”).

When you use objectivity in your 100-word memoir, you don’t lose the emotional impact of your words—you make them even more powerful.

Your title is your last step

While you may want to choose a title at the very beginning, you might find that the right title becomes clearer after you’ve written your 100-word memoir and have a better idea of its core theme. The right title can make your reader laugh, or reveal more nuance in your story.

Next steps for your 100-word memoir

Now that you have an expertly crafted 100-word memoir—or a series of them—how can you get them into the hands of readers?

Unlike a novel, a 100-word memoir isn’t going to sit on the shelves of your local Barnes and Noble. But! There are a few ways you can send these words out into the world.

Seek out journals for miniature stories

There are a number of literary journals that specialize in 100-word stories including the OG 100 Word Story as well as Friday Flash Fiction , The Citron Review , The Drabble , Microfiction Monday , Splonk (through their 100-word branch SplonkMicros), and, for you genre fiction aficionados, Martian Magazine .

All of these journals focus on microfiction and nonfiction of 100 words or less! Plus, they’re a great source of inspiration for how other writers have flourished within the constraints of the 100-word story. (And if there’s one word you just can’t bear to part with, there’s a journal for that too— 101 Words .)

Gain international renown

There are also contests devoted to the short-short form, including the internationally respected Fish Flash Fiction Prize and the Bath Flash Fiction Award—both of these have upper limits of 300 words. The Bridport Flash Fiction Prize has a limit of 250 words.

Other contests, like the Oxford Flash Fiction Prize, have higher word counts but welcome small, concise stories.

Use small moments to create a big picture

But sometimes, you may have several 100-word memoirs or stories that fit together to create a larger whole—a mosaic of your life. In this case, a long-form book might be the answer after all. You can link together a string of your 100-word memoirs so that they work to create a complete novella-length memoir. This novella-in-flash story format is becoming increasingly popular, and it’s a good way to reach an audience with your bite-size memories.

Explore your life through the 100-word short story

Our lives are made up of tiny moments—the beautiful, the challenging, the inspiring, and the defining. Using these experiences to create these mini memoirs is a great way to stretch your limitations as a writer, improve your mastery of language and word choice, and convey the story of your life in a fresh new way.

Get feedback on your writing today!

Scribophile is a community of hundreds of thousands of writers from all over the world. Meet beta readers, get feedback on your writing, and become a better writer!

Join now for free

Related articles

Sensory Language: What Is It, and How Can It Improve Your Writing?

What is Tone? Definition, with Examples

Story Writing Format: How to Format a Short Story + Examples and Templates

What is a Novella-In-Flash? With Ideas and Tips to Write Your Own

Short Story Submissions: How to Publish a Short Story or Poem

Memoir vs. Autobiography: What Are the Differences?

We connect YOU th writers to competition and publication opportunities. Find one today!

Competition

New York Times Personal Narrative Writing Contest

November 17, 2023.

High School

Description:

For this contest, we invite you to write a personal narrative of your own about a meaningful life experience. We’re not asking you to write to a particular theme or to use a specific structure or style, but we are looking for short, powerful stories about a particular moment or event in your life. We want to hear your story, told in your unique voice, and we hope you’ll experiment with style and form to tell a tale that matters to you, in a way you enjoy telling it.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/10/learning/our-3rd-annual-personal-narrative-writing-contest.html

Writing Type

Essay, Prose, Nonf𝔦ction

Publication

International

• Craft Essays
• Teaching Resources

Revising My Work One Hundred Words at a Time

Recently, I discovered a letter my late husband, Kevin, wrote to me but never delivered. I found it in a box of his things that I had avoided dealing with for a decade. In the letter, he admitted reading my journals but also said he missed the passionate writer who left so much emotion on the page. He wondered where she had gone. Kevin had written the letter ten years before he died. In the years after its writing, I too missed that woman and determined to earn an MFA. Finding Kevin’s letter now, ten years since his passing, was an emotional blow.

I processed this information as I often process difficult knowledge—by writing about it, this time in the most distilled way: crafting a one hundred-word piece for The New York Times’ Modern Love Tiny Love Stories . It was a demanding exercise to tell a story that took place twenty years earlier about a letter written by my husband now also gone many years. There was the letter’s content, my response, new grief, old pain, so much to delve into within such a minimal word count. Once finished, I became attached. This piece was therapy, release, discipline, and acceptance, perfectly wrapped in exactly one hundred words.

Ticket stubs, photos, foreign coins. Life’s ephemera tossed into a wooden box that sat atop his dresser. After my husband died, I packed it away, unopened, with other favorite things: running shoes, a silver pen, his comb. Now, years later, it was time. I didn’t expect to find a letter, never delivered, confessing he’d read my old journals; saying he missed the young, passionate woman who’d filled their pages. Wishing he had her back. My own realization of her absence still years away. A violation, yes. For which there’ll be no apology. Also, a reminder: he always knew me best.

Yet, after workshopping this draft with my writing group, the essay shifted considerably for such a short piece. The first suggestions helped me understand that I was too close and had overlooked the obvious. In an MFA workshop years ago for a different piece, the instructor asked, “Who’s missing in this?” The essay detailed how my marriage was bookended by three years of home renovations and three years of cancer. The answer to the instructor’s question was Kevin. As my writing group considered my new essay about Kevin’s letter, someone asked, “Where is he?” I hadn’t named Kevin or provided details about him. I was too close to see what was missing. Of course he’s there, I believed. But he wasn’t.

In version two, multiple writing group members voiced their misunderstanding of events and timing. When did Kevin write the letter? How long had he been gone? When did I have my own understanding of the need for writing in my life? Basic questions that I thought were insignificant. Indeed, reading the piece again, I found I liked the ambiguity of the timeline as its terseness highlighted the essay’s brevity. But my readers did not. Though we may write alone, publishing our writing means creating a pact with the reader. Our writing must be clear for them, or they’ll be turned off. I added dates.

The next question was about the list of items included with the box when I packed it away. Noting these other items, I felt, highlighted the importance of the box and set the scene. Readers, however, felt that it slowed the pace and prevented forward movement away from the real interest: my response and feelings about the letter. Although my purpose had been to show how difficult the situation was, action showed that better than description. Tight word choice forces us to weigh each word and the direction in which they take us. The list of Kevin’s belongings came out.

Next, a writer friend asked perhaps the most important question: What about this really hurt me? The journal violation, or what Kevin subsequently said about me in his letter? This, as workshopping often does, raised therapy-level questions resulting in significant shifts. Memoir writers tell what happened, what we feel about it, and what we learned. We hope our lessons are universal. We must always look beyond events to the layers below. I added that the letter contained both “an admission and a plea,” bringing complexity to the characters and the essay with five words. The best revisions reveal deeper truths.

One writer friend emailed a complete rewrite. What to do? Do I even read it? If it was fabulous, I’d be crushed. I certainly couldn’t submit it. Reading the entry, I saw how she brought her journalist’s eye to the story. It was streamlined, straightforward; it contained all five W’s. Balancing her skill at making things in the story more orderly, with my need to write creatively, I revised yet again. While I didn’t want to write a news story about the letter, reading her version showed me the benefit of creating a beginning, middle and end. I exchanged and rearranged for further clarity.

By the last revisions, suggested by the Times editor, I had stepped back and began to feel the tone and implications shift. Embracing the story as being about my relationship with Kevin, I completed a journey from powerlessness against a past event to embracing my response today. I carefully considered who that person was who had set aside writing for her family. Though Kevin wrote the letter years ago, my realizations are present-day. At the editor’s suggestion, the essay ends with a verbalized, current statement: Thank you for always knowing me best. Finally, there was redemption, even if there couldn’t be resolution.

I published:

Ticket stubs, foreign coins. Life’s ephemera tossed into a box. After my husband, Kevin, died of cancer at 49, I packed it away on a shelf, unopened. Now, a decade later, it was time to look. I didn’t expect to find a letter, never delivered, from 2001, in which he admitted that he’d read my journals and said he missed that passionate writer. He wanted her back. An admission and a plea. If I could, I would tell him this: I missed that writer, too, and found her again with your help. Thank you, Kevin, for always knowing me best.

Once published, I delighted in seeing the essay out in the world. I assessed my sense of “possession.” I felt I had ninety-six percent ownership of this essay. Of the hundred words, four percent were offered by others or reworked at someone’s suggestion. Is that alright? Too much? Is there a right or wrong amount? What do we owe ourselves as writers, or reviewers, through revision? Understanding my own limitations, I released the story; it returned as a changed work. We share in groups because we believe something better will come from this reassembly. I now know certainly: As I revise, I learn.

Lori Tucker-Sullivan ’s writing has appeared in magazines and journals, including The New York Times , The Washington Post , The Manifest-Station , Motherwell , Now & Then , Passages North, The Sun , T he Cancer Poetry Project , Midwestern Gothic and others, as well as the anthologies Detroit Neighborhood Guidebook , 100 Words of Solitude: Writers on the Pandemic , and Red State Blues. Her essays “Detroit, 2015” and “Time, Touch and a Whale’s Grief” were nominated for a Pushcart Prize. “Detroit 2015” was listed as a Notable Essay of 2015 in Best American Essays . She holds an MFA in creative nonfiction from Spalding University. Her book, I Can’t Remember If I Cried: Rock Widows on Life, Love and Legacy, which profiles the widows of rock stars who died young and what they taught her about grief, is forthcoming from BMG Books in 2023.

14 comments

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

Click here to cancel reply.

© 2024 Brevity: A Journal of Concise Literary Nonfiction. All Rights Reserved!

Designed by WPSHOWER

Advertisement

Over 100 Arrested at Columbia After Pro-Palestinian Protest

The university called in the police to empty an encampment of demonstrators. But students have vowed to stay, no matter the consequences.

• Share full article

By Sharon Otterman and Alan Blinder

• April 18, 2024

More than 100 students were arrested on Thursday after Columbia University called in the police to empty an encampment of pro-Palestinian demonstrators, fulfilling a vow to Congress by the school’s president that she was prepared to punish people for unauthorized protests.

“I took this extraordinary step because these are extraordinary circumstances,” the president, Nemat Shafik, wrote in a campuswide email on Thursday afternoon.

The president’s decision swiftly sharpened tensions on campus, which has been battered for months by boisterous pro-Palestinian demonstrations that many Jewish people regarded as antisemitic. And it stood to become a milestone for the country, as campuses have been torn by the Israel-Hamas war and grappled with how to manage protests.

What was far less clear was whether the harsher tactics would form an updated playbook for officials struggling to calm restive campuses, or do little besides infuriate and inflame.

Protesters had already promised that any effort to dismantle the encampment would only embolden them.

Dr. Shafik’s message arrived as swarms of New York City police officers, clad in riot gear and bearing zip ties, marched on the encampment of about 50 tents that had sprung up earlier in the week. On Thursday, protesters clutched Palestinian flags, demonstrators sat huddled on the ground and a thicket of onlookers kept watch as officers bore down on tents in the zone that had styled itself as the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment.”

“Since you have refused to disperse, you will now be placed under arrest for trespassing,” a man repeatedly called through a loudspeaker. The protesters responded with their own repeated cry: “Columbia, Columbia, you will see — Palestine will be free!”

Mayor Eric Adams said on Thursday evening that while Columbia has a “proud history of protest,” students did not “have a right to violate university policies and disrupt learning.”

Less than an hour later, at least two buses were filled with arrested protesters, while other demonstrators thundered their displeasure toward officers. Among those arrested, according to police, was Isra Hirsi, the daughter of Representative Ilhan Omar, Democrat from Minnesota. Ms. Hirsi was issued a summons for trespassing.

“They can threaten us all they want with the police, but at the end of the day, it’s only going to lead to more mobilization,” Maryam Alwan, a senior and pro-Palestinian organizer on campus, had said before the arrests.

Barnard College, across the street from Columbia and so closely linked to the university that the two institutions share dining halls, said it had begun issuing interim suspensions against its students who participated in the encampment.

“Now and always, we prioritize our students’ learning and living in an inclusive environment free from harassment,” Barnard said in its own campus message. “Given the evolving circumstances at Columbia and in the area, we are working to ensure the safety and well-being of the entire Barnard community.”

The core of the turmoil, though, was at Columbia.

Etched into Columbia’s history is the brutal police crackdown that its administrators authorized in 1968 against student protesters who were occupying academic buildings. The fallout from the violence tarnished the school’s reputation and led it to adopt reforms in favor of student activism.

Now, the university points proudly to that activism as one of the hallmarks of its culture, and markets it to prospective students. On Thursday, Dr. Shafik insisted that university officials “work hard to balance the rights of students to express political views with the need to protect other students from rhetoric that amounts to harassment and discrimination.”

In recent months, she and administrators across the country have felt that tension acutely, as the federal government opened investigations into the handling of bias claims at dozens of schools, Congress subpoenaed records and court dockets filled with lawsuits.

Columbia, with roughly 5,000 Jewish students and a vibrant strain of support for the Palestinian cause, has drawn particular attention, which led to the appearances by Dr. Shafik and three other Columbia leaders on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

During her testimony, Dr. Shafik said she had been frustrated “that Columbia’s policies and structures were sometimes unable to meet the moment,” and said the university had updated many of them. Some of those changes include limiting protests to certain times of day and to designated spots on campus.

Columbia’s tightened rules were being tested even as Dr. Shafik testified. By 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Columbia said, the university had issued a written warning to students in the encampment: They had 105 minutes to leave or they would face suspension.

Administrators also deployed intermediaries to try to defuse the showdown, only, they said, to have those entreaties rejected.

In a statement before the arrests, Apartheid Divest, a coalition of student groups, said that protesters planned to remain until the university acceded to its demands, including that the university cut its financial ties to Israel. And while Dr. Shafik’s decision drew immediate criticism from the protesters and their allies, others on and around Columbia’s campus had signaled that they would support a crackdown.

“They have guidelines and if they are violating them, I don’t see why this is a special circumstance,” said Ami Nelson, a student.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, administrators at Columbia had tried to calibrate their approaches to the demonstrations, balancing free-speech rights with the security of Jewish students.

But before the Republican-led House Committee on Education and the Workforce on Wednesday, Dr. Shafik and other Columbia leaders signaled a tougher approach. The co-chair of the university’s board, Claire Shipman, declared that there was “a moral crisis on our campus.” And Dr. Shafik went so far as to detail some of the disciplinary actions underway, including suspensions and firings.

That conciliatory approach toward House Republicans infuriated many on campus.

In New York, some students and faculty members complained that university leaders had largely kowtowed to a Congress whose insistent questioning helped fuel the recent resignations by the presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania.

There has been no indication that Dr. Shafik, who took office last July, has lost the confidence of Columbia’s board. Thursday’s tactics, though, showed how much more aggressive she has become in her campaign to quell protests.

Five days after the attack on Israel, hundreds of protesters gathered on the campus, and the university shut its gates — a step that has now become familiar as protests have flared. Weeks later, Columbia suspended a pair of student groups, Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace, in connection with an unauthorized student walkout.

The university rolled out a protest policy in February that was designed to curtail demonstrations, and this month, Dr. Shafik announced suspensions of students who had helped organize an event that included open expressions of support for Hamas.

“This is a challenging moment and these are steps that I deeply regret having to take,” Dr. Shafik wrote on Thursday.

Tents were removed later that day. But within hours, another protest had formed on the lawn and new tents were up.

Reporting was contributed by Olivia Bensimon , Anna Betts , Karla Marie Sanford, Stephanie Saul and Chelsia Rose Marcius

Sharon Otterman is a Times reporter covering higher education, public health and other issues facing New York City. More about Sharon Otterman

Alan Blinder is a national correspondent for The Times, covering education. More about Alan Blinder

100% NYT Crossword

We solved the clue '100%' which last appeared on August 14, 2022 in a N.Y.T crossword puzzle and had eight letters. The three solutions we have are shown below and sorted by the chronological order of appearance. The latest answer is shown on top of others and highlighted with a stronger color.

Similar Clues

These clues look similar.

• Privacy Policy
• generatepress
• What WD-40 has a lot of

Common Answers

The above clues share an answer the the current clue.

Recent Puzzles

The most recent puzzles.

Looking for older puzzles?

The Main Archive Page allows you review answers of old puzzles if you are feeling nostalgic and playing them at the moment.

Home — Free Essays — 100 Words — 100

100-Word Essay Examples

The importance of teamwork in 100 words.

‘Teamwork makes the dream work.’ In this teamwork essay of 100 words, I would like to share my thoughts about working in a team. In my opinion, teamwork is not just about working together, but it is also about complementing each other’s strengths and weaknesses….

About Eiffel Tower in 100 Words

This is an essay on Eiffel Tower in 100 words. The Eiffel Tower is an iconic symbol of Paris and one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World’s Fair, the tower stands at 324 meters tall and…

About Basketball in 100 Words

This is basketball essay in 100 words. Basketball is a sport that has captured the hearts of many people all over the world. It is a game that requires teamwork, speed, and agility. The objective of basketball is to shoot the ball through the opposing…

Discussion on Respect in 100 Words

This is a 100 word essay on respect. Respect is a fundamental concept that governs how individuals should treat others. It involves recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of every person, regardless of their background, beliefs, or status. Respect is essential in building healthy relationships, fostering trust,…

Get professional help in 5 minutes

Steve Harvey: My Role Model

To describe my role model in the essay in 100 words, I’ve chosen Steve Harvey, a well-known American comedian, television host, and author. He is my role model because of his incredible perseverance and determination to succeed. Despite facing numerous setbacks and challenges in his life, including being…

About My Passion in 100 Words

I want to write about my passion in an essay of 100 words. My passion is writing. I love to write about everything and anything. Whether it’s poetry, short stories, or essays, I find it cathartic to put my thoughts and feelings down on paper. Writing…

Harry Potter Book Review in 100 Words

This is a Harry Potter book review essay in 100 words. ‘Harry Potter’ is a book about a young orphaned wizard who lives with his abusive uncle. Harry learns he is a half-muggle wizard, whose parents were killed by the evil Voldemort. He enrolls in Hogwarts…

About Global Integrity in 100 Words

This is an integrity essay in 100 words. Integrity is moral wholeness which means living consistently in moral wholeness. Opposite of integrity is corruption: the distortion, perversion, and deterioration of moral goodness, resulting in the exploitation of planet and people. Global integrity is living consistently…

Talking About Compassion in 100 Words

This is a compassion essay in 100 words. Compassion plays a significant role in making the world a better place. It is easier to be compassionate when we have experienced the same pain as others. For instance, we can comfort a friend who lost a grandparent…

Responsibility, Its Meaning and Importance (in 100 words)

This is a 100-word essay on responsibility. Responsibility is the ability to act in a way that fulfills one’s duties and obligations. It involves being accountable for one’s actions and their consequences. Taking responsibility requires a sense of maturity, honesty, and integrity. It also means being…

My Dream Job: English Teacher

My dream job essay in 100 words is about my aspiration to become a successful English teacher. I am currently studying to improve my language skills through various sources such as YouTube and other educational websites. My aim is to help students learn to speak and interact in English…

Narrative about My Best Holiday (in 100 Words)

My best holiday was a trip to Hawaii with my family. We spent a week soaking up the sun, exploring the beaches, and indulging in local cuisine. One of the highlights of the trip was a day spent snorkeling, where we saw a wide array…

Talking About Feminism in 100 Words

This is a feminism essay in 100 words. Feminism is a movement that seeks to achieve gender equality and challenge the patriarchal systems that exist in society. It recognizes that women and marginalized genders have been historically oppressed and seeks to create a more equitable future. Feminism is…

A Book Review of Pride and Prejudice in 100 Words

This is a book review of Pride and Prejudice in 100 words. Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is a literary masterpiece that stands the test of time. The characters are so intricately woven that they remain relatable and relevant even today. The novel’s commentary on social norms…

Review of I, Tonya Movie (in 100 Words)

This is a 100-word review of ‘I, Tonya’ film. ‘I, Tonya’ is a darkly comedic biographical film that challenges traditional gender roles and stereotypes. The film explores the gendered expectations placed on women in sports, particularly figure skating, as Tonya Harding is constantly judged for her appearance,…

The Importance of Forgiveness (in 100 Words)

In this paragraph I will talk on forgiveness in 100 words. Forgiveness is essential for physical, mental, and spiritual health, benefiting both the forgiver and the forgiven. It fosters love, acceptance, and harmony in families, communities, and nations. Many spiritual and religious leaders advocate forgiveness as a…

My Unforgettable Experience: a Trip to Europe

My unforgettable experience essay in 100 words is about a trip to Europe with my family. We visited several countries, including France, Italy, and Spain. It was my first time traveling outside of my home country, and I was amazed by the different cultures and lifestyles we…

Sushi – My Favourite Food

Sushi is the subject of my favourite food essay in 100 words. I love sushi for its simplicity, freshness, and unique flavours. The combination of perfectly cooked rice, fresh fish, and savory sauces makes every bite a delight to the senses. I also appreciate the artistry and…

Discussion on What is Dance (100 Words)

What is dance? This essay will answer in 100 words. Dance is an art that involves movement to a rhythmic count or music, often conveying a story to the audience. There are various styles of dance, such as contemporary, jazz, and tap. While contemporary dances are flowy and…

Talking About Music in 100 Words

This is an essay on music in 100 words. Music is a universal language that has the power to move and inspire people from all walks of life. It has been an essential part of human culture for centuries, serving as a means of communication, expression, and celebration….

What Is a 100-Word Essay?

A 100-word essay is a very short piece of writing that consists of approximately 100 words. It requires the writer to convey information or express an idea within a tight word limit.

How Many Paragraphs Should a 100-Word Essay Have?

In a 100-word essay, you can typically expect to have around 1 to 2 paragraphs. Each paragraph should focus on a specific point or aspect of the topic, ensuring that the content is concise and impactful.

How Long Is a 100-Word Essay?

A 100-word essay consists of approximately 100 words. In terms of length, it is typically very short, usually spanning about one to two paragraphs. The exact number of sentences or lines can vary depending on the formatting and spacing used. However, regardless of the layout, the essay's content should be concise, focused, and effectively convey the main idea or information within the limited word count. It's important to remember that a 100-word essay requires careful selection of words and prioritization of essential information to ensure the message is clear and impactful.

Where You Can Find an Example of 100-Word Essay?

You can find examples of 100-word essays in various places, including online resources, writing websites, academic databases and online writing communities. While looking for examples, ensure that you use them for reference or inspiration rather than plagiarizing or copying the content. Analyze the structure, style, and effectiveness of the examples to improve your own writing skills.

How You Can Make Your 100-Word Essay Effective?

To make your 100-word essay effective, prioritize clarity and coherence. Choose your words carefully and make every sentence count. Focus on conveying your main ideas concisely and providing relevant supporting evidence or arguments. Edit and revise your essay meticulously to ensure that it is polished and impactful within the limited word count.

Another Word Count

Popular topics.

• Comparative Analysis
• Minimum Wage
• Police Brutality
• Frida Kahlo
• Ocean Pollution
• Movie Summary
• Freedom Writers
• Life Changing Experience
• Penny Debate
• Natural Disasters
• Manifest Destiny
• Supply and Demand
• Child Abuse
• Space Exploration
• Domestic Violence
• Madam Cj Walker
• Art History
• Law of Life
• 12 Angry Men
• Critical Thinking
• Studying Abroad
• Drunk Driving
• Industrial Revolution
• Winter Break

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free