The Fifteen Minute Novel is an attempt to take a single prompt and use the last sentence written each day as a start for the next day. This year I had several prompts circling around a similar story, so I have combined them. However, the story starts the same way each day, with the last line from the day before and a timer set for fifteen minutes. The hope is to end up with a complete, if very rough draft by the end of the year. Some stories are better than others, but I always learn a whole lot about my own writing when I do this so for me it is not only a nice way to work out a story, but it is a tool for helping my writing get better. And so, we continue this story for 2024 with…
Day 78: She concentrated on finishing up the dressing gown she was working on for the rest of the night and didn’t think of the office until she returned the next morning.
She concentrated on finishing up the dressing gown she was working on for the rest of the night and didn’t think of the office until she returned the next morning. Then of course, all of her questions came flooding back. Kristen was in a funk and barely glanced at her as she passed, let alone managed anything approximating a good morning.
Sophie settled in for her day and heard the others arrive. “I can’t believe we are all still on probation,” Carrie said as she stopped by Kristen’s desk on her way in.
“I can’t believe we can’t get any extensions when the project takes too long.” Kristen said. “Who actually expects us to get all this done?”
“I don’t know but I think I may have to stay late to finish,” Carrie said.
“I can’t believe we are being punished,” Kristen said. She huffed and Carrie went off to her desk. Ryan too was in no better a mood when he arrived.
“I had to cancel my plans tonight since I can’t get an extension,” he moaned as he passed. “This sucks.”
“It s so not fair,” Kristen said.
Sophie rolled her eyes as she tucked her bag under her desk and logged onto her computer. ‘I wonder how many days staying late it will take before anyone realizes that they could just not take the extra long lunches.’
Sophie didn’t think it would be too long. Letting thoughts of them go, Sophie turned on her podcast and began her day. She now reached a stage where she could listen to the Italian fashion podcast without needing to jot down more than three or four words a day. With her comprehension she was starting to really enjoy the presenter of this particular podcast. She worked through the morning and when lunch time rolled around she paid a visit to one of her favorite food trucks.
While there she ran into Kevin. “So has the madness subsided or threatened to consume you?” he asked when he saw her.
“Jury is still out,” she explained. “It looks like it might be stable, but you never know.” As she talked to Kevan she saw the others as they moved into a line for another of the food trucks. She saw Kristen look ove and then dismiss her. Kevin looked over and lifted an eyebrow before turning back to her.
“You know her?” he asked.
“She works in my office,” Sophie said.
“Friends?” he asked.
“We don’t really get along,” she told him.
“Ah, the source of the madness?” Kevin asked with a smile.
Ten til Midnight 