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The Book Signing

Dabbling in Drabbles No. 5

By Rachel DeemingPublished 11 months ago 1 min read
The Book Signing
Photo by Art Lasovsky on Unsplash

She was sitting. That was all she was doing.

A table, a pen, her books - they were her only companions. She had been so excited about today. This is my moment, she thought as she bustled about. In a couple of hours, she'd be able to bask in the validation that she would receive.

Once sat, she'd patted the pile of her books perched invitingly, straightened her pen, preened her hair and prepared a smile.

But no-one came.

The only time a book was lifted was when she gazed at her hopeful, stupid face on the inside book jacket.

Microfiction

About the Creator

Rachel Deeming

Storyteller. Poet. Reviewer. Traveller.

I love to write. Check me out in the many places where I pop up:

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Reader insights

Nice work

Very well written. Keep up the good work!

Top insights

  1. Easy to read and follow

    Well-structured & engaging content

  2. Excellent storytelling

    Original narrative & well developed characters

  3. Heartfelt and relatable

    The story invoked strong personal emotions

  1. On-point and relevant

    Writing reflected the title & theme

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Comments (21)

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  • Test11 months ago

    Yay Rachel!! Back to say congrats on third most discussed story this week! Way to go!!

  • Wooohooooo congratulations on your Leaderboard placement! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊

  • JBaz11 months ago

    I agree with Lana this is so sad. Now I wish to go purchase her book. Congratulations on Leaderboard

  • Lana V Lynx11 months ago

    Aww, that’s so sad. A writer’s worst nightmare, that no one would want to read their book. Now you need to follow up with a story of how her book went viral, Rachel. Don’t leave the author hanging, change her program.

  • Painfully real, Rachel. All too painfully real.

  • Katarzyna Popiel11 months ago

    Oh, no. It's the stuff of nightmares.

  • Omgggg, I would cry my eyes out if I were her. I feel all of us have this fear inside us to a certain extent. Loved your story and your comment thread with Jason 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

  • Calvin London11 months ago

    If I wrote a book that would probably be what would happen to me. Imagine how disenchanted you would be.

  • Test11 months ago

    Well shit... that was so exciting and inspiring, until it wasn't! Ouch!! Great work Rachel, I loved the twist/ shock!!

  • Caroline Craven11 months ago

    Oh damn - that would be so awful. Gosh if ever I publish a book, i am going to hire my family to stand around and look excited!! Again - I can't believe you've got so much into 100 words!

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  • Test11 months ago

    This is a heartbreakingly poignant snapshot of disappointment and loneliness. "The only time a book was lifted was when she gazed at her hopeful, stupid face on the inside book jacket." -- That line is devastatingly effective. The simplicity of the scene amplifies the profound emotional impact, leaving a lasting impression.🌞🩶🤎

  • D.K. Shepard11 months ago

    This is really good, Rachel, but man did it hit like a ton of bricks. I cringed so hard at that final line. Just ouch! Also reminded me of those couple micros you did a while back on the writer and the reviewer. Not that it's the same in any way, I just remembered some similar empathetic feels for disappointment in writing endeavors

  • A. J. Schoenfeld11 months ago

    Well, you certainly captured every author's worst nightmare! Judging from the plethora of comments and likes your stories always garner, I doubt this would ever be your fate. Nicely written.

  • Oh, yes, we know how that might feel. Agree with Cathy 100%.

  • Cathy holmes11 months ago

    Ugh. That poor author. 😢

  • Paul Stewart11 months ago

    Ach, this is all kinds of sad and it sums up, like others have said, those frustrations of being a writer. The highs and the lows. The dreams and the extermination of those dreams. Brilliant drabble, Chum. Sorry it's based on a friend's experience (actually, not sure if it was a friend...but read some other comments) Feeling it after an HM...which sounds a bit ungrateful...and maybe it is...but still feeling it. Have other reasons too because I think one of the entries that got Runner up in the letters challenge has a spelling mistake in the title. lol. Anyway, enough ranting! I shall check out more of your drabbling... autocorrect, hilariously kept correcting it to dribbling! You're not a dribbler are you, chum?

  • Shirley Belk11 months ago

    Made me feel so bad for the author, but you told a vivid story!

  • Grz Colm11 months ago

    I don’t know of it’s your intention but I mean I guess it is, as it’s kinda irony right? But the last lines are quite blackly amusing!

  • Md Mirajul Islam11 months ago

    Very well written. If you want, you can visit my profile, take a look at my writings and tell me how it is

  • John Cox11 months ago

    Oh, this is a crusher, Rachel! And the day after another deflating Challenge results announcement too. Ouch!

  • Sean A.11 months ago

    So many author’s dreams and nightmares spelled out in such wonderfully heartbreaking prose.

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