Friday Fiction from Jennie Inglis

Back in January, one of the bloggers over at ACRLog, Marc Meola, wrote a post about flash fiction. I took particular notice because last year I connected with Jennie Inglis, who had been writing about her experiences as a librarian using a similar format. I’ve run across a lot of definitions of flash fiction (and its variants, such as microfiction and nanofiction), most having to do with restrictions on word count, though some including characteristics related to plot. Inglis held herself to just one rule: the content had to fit on the back of a business card.

Here’s one of my favorites for a Friday. I hope it gives you a little chuckle!

Life Drawing

She posed naked in front of the class, head down and to the left, right hand across her thigh, towel in one hand. “What does this have to do with distance services?” she wondered. Opening a branch campus required that faculty take on new duties, but modeling for a life drawing class? She decided that this might prove to be a significant addition to her resume.

When I asked Jennie to send in a bio that I could include with this post, she obliged in the same style:

She took her M.S. in library science from the University of Illinois. Children’s librarian for a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia launched her 14-year career. Soon, it was adult subject reference and then supervisor for The Workplace, a job seekers resource center. Her entre to academic librarianship came at Piedmont College in her home state of Georgia. Assistant Director for Public Services evolved to Coordinator of Off-Campus Services. Flash fiction combines the professional and fantasy life of Jennie Inglis.

I’m happy to say that we’ll be posting a few more of Jennie’s pieces here on the Editions blog on upcoming Fridays. I hope that you’ll be inspired to use up some of your business cards in similar fashion. If you are, send your efforts my way (jfry [at] ala.org) with the subject line Friday Fiction.