Classifieds: Tiny Ads, Big Stories
Let's Write Classifieds – Week 1
There was a time when newspaper ink stained our fingers, and our hearts.
Among all the serious news, my favorite was always the classifieds.
A small world in small words, yet full of stories.
So here's my little tribute to that magical corner of the page...
Don’t Be Confused: Just Dive In!
I want to say how much I truly appreciate the amazing initiative by @joslud. I’ve enjoyed his microfiction before, and I can honestly say he is such a great teacher and an incredible source of inspiration. The way he captures nuances and subtle details is something truly admirable. This man knows his craft!
So here’s the deal:
Write these three kinds of classified ads as part of the challenge — and trust me, you’re going to enjoy the process. It’s fun, creative, and will definitely sharpen your writing skills.
Ready to give it a try? Let’s go!
1. WANTED – To Buy a Bit of Sanity
WANTED: A bit of sanity. Preferably unused.
Needed urgently for a household of five where the voices are louder than reason.
Must be durable and family-sized.
Contact: Tired Mom on the Edge
درکار ہے: تھوڑی سی عقل، استعمال شدہ نہ ہو تو بہتر ہے۔
پانچ افراد کے شور شرابے والے گھر کے لیے فوری ضرورت ہے۔
پائیدار ہو، اور پورے خاندان کا بوجھ سہار سکے۔
رابطہ: تھکی ہوئی ماں، صبر کی آخری حد پر
2. FOR SALE – Peace Over War
FOR SALE – Peace Over War
FOR SALE: Peace, gently used.
Swapping it out after years of silent treatment.
Comes with folded letters, withheld words, and an expired ceasefire.
Contact: A worried mom, still shaken
برائے فروخت – جنگ کے بدلے امن
برائے فروخت: امن، ہلکا پھلکا استعمال شدہ۔
برسوں کی خاموشیوں کے بعد اب اس اشتعال انگیزی سے نجات چاہتے ہیں۔
ساتھ میں چند تہہ شدہ خطوط، رکے ہوئے جملے، اور ایک پرانی، غیر مؤثر صلح بھی دی جائے گی۔
رابطہ: ایک پریشان ماں، جو اب بھی دل سے لرزاں ہے۔
3. TRADE OFFER – Goods for Goodness
TRADE OFFER: Goods for goodness.
I’ll give you unopened gifts, school shoes, and three jars of imported jam in exchange for one act of kindness without an audience.
Contact: A wounded child
تبادلہ کریں: سامان کے بدلے انسانیت۔
میرے پاس بند تحفے، سکول کے جوتے اور درآمد شدہ جام کے تین مرتبان ہیں۔
صرف ایک بےغرض مہربانی کے بدلے۔
رابطہ: : زخمی بچہ
Here’s to the lost art of small stories, and to the voices behind the classifieds: quiet, messy, real, and always worth hearing.
May peace prevail, today and always...
Genial. Todas tus microhistorias cuentan situaciones que nos pueden llevar al colapso emocional. Pero creo que la esperanza habita dentro de nosotros mismos. Solo que hay gente que la guarda tanto que a veces no la consigue. Un abrazo.
Great. All your microstories describe situations that can lead us to emotional collapse. But I believe hope resides within us. It's just that some people hold onto it so tightly that sometimes they don't get it. Hugs.
Aha my teacher!
Thank you for stopping by :)))
Indeed, those moments can feel overwhelming, like the heart might break, yet hope quietly lives within us all. Sometimes it hides, held too tightly or just out of sight, but it’s always there, waiting to be found again. Your kindness means a lot; sending warm, gentle hugs your way too...
Sé que todo lo malo pasará, y que la esperanza gritará: ¡Aquí estoy! Ya no se refugiará en el silencio, sino que se hará escuchar por toda la casa y dentro de ti. Un abrazo inmenso.
Thank you for opening the community to these experiments. 🙏
📝 soulfuldreamer: Three perspectives on the consequences of the lack of peace, a war of voices seeking to impose themselves on others, children whose childhood and most basic rights are being taken away from them. A peace that seems impossible to achieve due to a lack of sanity, of common sense. A beautiful way to express her positions.
---
Hug! For each of the adverts. I hope you find the right interested parties!
Yeah!
The interested buyers and sellers for these commodities are hard to find...
But of course, hope exists.
Hugs and love right back to you.
Maan yaar ap ka adds pardh k mujy Faraz yad a gaey
یہ سوچ کر کہ غم کے خریدار آ گئے
ھم خواب بیچنے سرِ بازار آ گئے
آواز دے کے چھپ گئی ھر بار زندگی
ھم ایسے سادہ دل تھے کہ ھر بار آ گئے
I allowed myself to translate these beautiful words. 🙏
Ah, alright..… your version just hit the right note. But I want to tweak the third line a bit — instead of life noise....I’d say .....life like a mischievous kid, knocked at the door and then hid. That’s what Ahmad Faraz, the renowned poet really meant to say.( Metaphors in poetry are difficult to translate exactly... that's why I skipped ;- )
مہوش یار، کیا ہی خوبصورت بات کہہ دی۔ دل چھو لیا میرا تم نے۔ اور صحیح صحیح ترجمانی کی میرے جذبات کی۔۔۔
Thank you ao much for stopping by. I have read these lines over and over... Touched me!
خرید و فروخت کے کھیل میں عقل کیوں جائے ضائع،
سود کے دھندے میں سب کچھ ہوتا ہے اے خریدار۔
What you say is very true; those small ads offering something in very few words had a story behind them.
The stories in your classifieds are touching. The first one is quite mundane and sad. Perhaps a modulator of the decibels at which people speak and a little intentional listening will help in that case, since I don't know where sanity can be bought.
The other stories behind your classifieds are unspeakable. The ceasefire shouldn't have an expiration date.
Peace and good
Es muy cierto lo que dices, aquellos pequeños anuncios ofertando algo en muy pocas palabras tenían una historia detrás.
Las historias de tus clasificados son conmovedoras, la primera es bastante cotidiana y triste, quizás un modulador de los decibeles con que se habla y un poco de intención de escuchar sirva en ese caso ya que no sé dónde se compra la cordura.
Las otras historias detrás de tus clasificados son indecibles. El alto al fuego no debería tener fecha de vencimiento.
Paz y bien
Thank you for your thoughtful response. I'm glad the stories resonated with you. You're right, sometimes a little listening can go a long way, and as for sanity, if only it could be found on sale.
I agree, some silences should never be broken, and some ceasefires should indeed last forever...
I guess you spoke the mind of most mothers here. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.
We, the moms... Sometime being dramatic. We love drama ❤️
We are the super heroes! 💪
Yes we are
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