Postcard Exercise

Write a story short enough to fit on your postcard; you will send it to an actual friend.

The story should have nothing to do with your friend or with the fact that you are writing it on a postcard. Decide on the friend before you start writing the story—who you write to should influence the story itself—a story to your mother is going to be different than a story to your best friend or lover.

You may want to write down the story first and make some edits or compressions before putting your story on the postcard. (Remember that you need to leave room for the address and stamp.) If you write small, you may be able to fit 300 words, but your story will likely be around 150 words, a small story indeed. Write to fill the whole space, left, right, top, and bottom. As you come close to the end of the space, remember to wrap up your story. Don’t waste any space introducing yourself or your story to the friend; just jump right in.

Bring the postcard to me with a stamp and address when it’s done. I will drop them in the mail.