• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • San Diego Momma
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
San Diego Momma

San Diego Momma

Sharing some humor, a bit of writing and way too much information

Home / PROMPTuesdays / PROMPTuesday #166: The Unreliable Narrator

PROMPTuesday #166: The Unreliable Narrator

PROMPTuesdays

Do you know those people who seem too good to be true? Or who are so extraordinary, you find yourself thinking “really?” As in “Really? You cured cancer while climbing Mt. Everest with prosthetic legs and a homeless Sherpa strapped to your back?” “Really?”

 

So right, I know those people, and many of them ARE good and “really”-inducing in all the right ways, but some are quite frankly, full of it.

 

To boot, one of my friends and a wonderful writer recently wrote me about a colleague with a website that recounts the most amazing feats. Such as “at the age of 21 she wrote a book accounting her world travels; married a Nepalese prince, piloted DC-3s over the Himalayas and out of the Congo, was imprisoned and tortured by the Greek secret police, singlehandedly saved Irish traditional crafts and arts, turned down an executive position at the UN, pioneered computer graphic arts, translated an Italian opera for the stage, spearheaded historic preservation efforts, and aided the FBI in the capture of a most-wanted criminal.”

 

REALLY?

 

As my friend, Aunt Snow, further emailed, “If you wrote this lady as a fictional character, editors would find it too over the top. I’m trying to figure out in my own mind WHY I can’t believe her, and I think finally I’ve got it. It’s the “unreliable narrator” concept. Everything is related in such a way to spotlight her, to overblow her achievement, to showcase her virtue, her high principles, her skills and her impact. She is never a “fly on the wall” or a mere observer; she is always in the center, the catalyst, the most important person.”

 

And…”so I began to wonder what REALLY happened. Was the legendary romance just a mild flirtation? Was her “assignment as a foreign correspondent” simply a freelance tourist trip? Were her brushes with cold-war intrigue simply a matter of in the wrong place at the wrong time? ”

 

Then…”I started wondering – What would MY life sound like if I wrote about it the way she writes about hers?”

 

So here’s today’s PROMPT, courtesy of Aunt Snow: Write in the style of an unreliable narrator. Take an unremarkable incident or phase in your life and turn it into something BIG, something over the top, something EXTRAORDINARY.

 

That’s right.

 

Lie your asses off.

 

Let’s go!

 

First time to PROMPTuesday? Read a bit about it here. Want to see what’s been written in the past? Catch up on the PROMPTuesdays archive here.

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

October 4, 2011 · 4 Comments

Sure I’d love to see you again

Previous Post: « Weekend Wiki
Next Post: Raise Money for Your SoCal Elementary School: A Diatribe »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Aunt Snow says

    October 4, 2011 at 10:23 am

    Whoops! now I got my work cut out for me!

    Reply
  2. Aunt Snow says

    October 4, 2011 at 12:13 pm

    OK, now mine is up!!

    http://doves2day.blogspot.com/

    this was fun, Deb! Thanks for using the prompt.

    Reply
  3. Jen says

    October 4, 2011 at 2:14 pm

    So fun! Here’s mine… http://jen-rantsraves.blogspot.com/2011/10/you-never-know-what-dollar-aisle-will.html

    Reply
  4. Maegan (@ByndTheBandaids) says

    October 4, 2011 at 8:39 pm

    I loved this – Must tune in each Tuesday now!!
    Thanks!!

    http://www.beyondthebandaids.com/2011/10/oysters-and-millionaires-oh-my.html

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

I love words. Every one, every time. (Except “moist.” That word can go.) …read more

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Sure. I’d love to see you again.

Categories

Archives

Blogroll

  • Blog This Mom
  • Da Goddess
  • Dirt and Noise
  • Discover San Diego
  • Foolery
  • Juggling Life
  • Mama Mary Show
  • Mel, A Dramatic Mommy
  • Mom Zombie
  • Mommy’s Martini
  • Motherhood is Not for Wimps
San Diego Momma

Footer

Archives

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Categories

Christmas carols for dad... Through the nursing ho Christmas carols for dad...
Through the nursing home window...
❤️
Mama’s mid-century vibes and dad’s suit swagge Mama’s mid-century vibes and dad’s suit swagger...
Walked a 5K for Wounded Warriors last night and de Walked a 5K for Wounded Warriors last night and despite my phone being stolen right before this pic, I couldn’t deny there are still good things in the world like red sunsets. Even if thieves and bad people muck stuff up every now and again.
Well. One of us takes her time to carve things rig Well. One of us takes her time to carve things right....No. I don’t know what it is. (It was supposed to be Chucky but she carved the wrong parts.) (I still admire the attention to detail.)
#OneDayHH — 8:23PM — Felt like the right time #OneDayHH — 8:23PM —
Felt like the right time to try Schitt’s Creek again. I couldn’t get into it last I tried.
But non-football-watching wives of football watchers do as they must do. And they must do it alone.
#OneDayHH — 6PM — Early evening still life. #OneDayHH — 6PM — 
Early evening still life. 
Husband working/watching football.
Outdoor cushions sheltered from possible rain showers tonight.
Buddha watching over all.
#OneDayHH — 3:50PM — Pulled my old diary out y #OneDayHH — 3:50PM — Pulled my old diary out yesterday for a work something...
About to put it back and this earnestness catches my eye from adolescent Debbie...
😳
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Hello Chicky

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.