In our Wednesday Writers’ Group, we have been refining our techniques by learning to be economical with our words. It’s so easy to slip into unnecessary repetition and belabouring our points. The 100-word challenge helps us writers to prune our words to the absolute minimum and make each word count.

In doing this exercise myself recently, I was forced to examine what facts were necessary, and how much I can rely on the readers’ intelligence to “get” the story. Often, we underestimate our readers and thus repeat and go into minute detail that bogs down the story, causing our readers to become bored and not turn the page.

So, here’s my 100-word challenge, fresh from my memoir collection. It may not be perfect, but it is 100-words.

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[Intro: Rick, my brother, loved resurrecting car wrecks. The backyard shed became his workshop, and the local wreckers his go-to.]

The “Yota”

A fossick in the car-graveyard yielded the broken shell of a Toyota. Rick revived it. He spray-painted it green.

‘Can’t miss the frog-car,’ I’d say.

One Sunday morning, Mum and Dad needed a car to drive to church.

Without permission, they drove the roaring ‘Yota down the driveway.

I slept in.

Minutes later, the ‘Yota roared back up the drive.

Doors slammed.

Mum cussed.

I scrambled out of bed. Mum never swears.

‘What happened?’ I asked.

‘The police picked us up and defected the car,’ Dad said.

‘That’s what happens for taking the car without permission,’ I replied.

(100 words)

© Lee-Anne Marie Kling 2026

Feature Photo: Our family backyard (what’s left of it) © L. M. Kling 2026

Why don’t you try the 100-word challenge? Send us your stories through our comment section, and we’d be happy to share them.