One of my writer workshop members has a charming, entertaining essay that she wants to send to a contest.  The essay, as originally written, involves her solo trip across the desert.  The story sould  appeal to anyone who has ever set out across the desert and needed a rest stop. (HAVEN'T WE ALL?) 

The contest to which she wants to send this is requesting "family stories."  As a loner-essay her story probably would not be a winner.  Well, "there's more than one trail to the top of the writing mountain," says Willma;  My advice to her is this:  Make it an important  trip to benefit a close relative who will  be overjoyed to see her–and her sister.  Take the sister along (even if she has to be imagined).  Much of the entertaining dialogue that tells the story can  be an exchange between the sisters and the inevitable differences of opinion that arise among close relatives.  

Adding the sister to the story will increase the length to the minimum 1000 words required; and it will make the surprise ending even more powerful because it affects the two sisters, not just one, and offers the opportunity to resolve a few family disagreements along the way.  Lots of different ways  to tweak our writing.  

No blog tomorrow–Last, I hope trip to the surgeon in Flagstaff.   Willma