Melissa Jornd is based in Illinois, where she was born and raised. During work hours you can find her mumbling to herself while writing toy marketing copy; otherwise, she spends her time starting—but rarely finishing—art and home projects, enjoying nature, trying to pet all the dogs, and forcing her two cats, Charlie and Minnie, to cuddle.
After a brief 10-year hiatus from writing, Instagram magically targeted her with a 250-word writing competition ad. Intrigued with the micro format, Melissa signed up and was immediately thrust into a whirlwind of different contests and submissions. Her writing naturally tends towards drama is most commonly labeled ‘evocative,’ but she enjoys writing humor every now and then to mix it up. Her micro stories have appeared in Microfiction Monday Magazine and 101 Words, and she has placed in contests from NYCMidnight and Writer’s Weekly.
After a brief 10-year hiatus from writing, Instagram magically targeted her with a 250-word writing competition ad. Intrigued with the micro format, Melissa signed up and was immediately thrust into a whirlwind of different contests and submissions. Her writing naturally tends towards drama is most commonly labeled ‘evocative,’ but she enjoys writing humor every now and then to mix it up. Her micro stories have appeared in Microfiction Monday Magazine and 101 Words, and she has placed in contests from NYCMidnight and Writer’s Weekly.
Interview with Melissa Jornd
about her story "Daisy, Maybe"
Gold Winner in The Scribes Prize
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What inspired this piece?
In large part, it came from my aunt’s mother-in-law. When she passed, my aunt was reminiscing and mentioned there were times her mother-in-law didn’t know her, but was still more calm than when she was with caretakers. It intrigued me and my brain tucked it away until there was a prompt of “breadcrumbs” in a contest. From there, Daisy was born.
What draws you to the micro-fiction format?
It might sound cliché or obvious, but I love that in micro, every word counts. In real life I’m a long-winded, rambling person, so having to whittle down my ideas into crisp micro stories is always a challenge (but a fun one!).
Who are some authors that inspire you?
I tend to gravitate towards YA. Maggie Stiefvater, Scott Westerfeld, Marissa Meyer, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Orson Scott Card, and Charlie M. Holmberg are some of my favorites—the characters and worlds they create are so believable and engaging, you can’t help but get attached.
In large part, it came from my aunt’s mother-in-law. When she passed, my aunt was reminiscing and mentioned there were times her mother-in-law didn’t know her, but was still more calm than when she was with caretakers. It intrigued me and my brain tucked it away until there was a prompt of “breadcrumbs” in a contest. From there, Daisy was born.
What draws you to the micro-fiction format?
It might sound cliché or obvious, but I love that in micro, every word counts. In real life I’m a long-winded, rambling person, so having to whittle down my ideas into crisp micro stories is always a challenge (but a fun one!).
Who are some authors that inspire you?
I tend to gravitate towards YA. Maggie Stiefvater, Scott Westerfeld, Marissa Meyer, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Orson Scott Card, and Charlie M. Holmberg are some of my favorites—the characters and worlds they create are so believable and engaging, you can’t help but get attached.