Crab Apple Jelly: A 3-Minute Story

Here’s an example of how our 3-minute stories are written! I wrote this at Nortenos during a Storied Seniors event in November 2024. It only took me 15 minutes to write!  

Here’s how the writing process works:

We use 15-minute blocks to get you started on your short story - basically a mini-memoir! Some even think about these sessions as rocket fuel to launch a goal of writing a memoir, while some just enjoy the process of writing a single story.

You'll be given some writing prompts to help you shape those memories. Here's a few samples:

• A special time spent with a grandparent was...

• I have a special bond with an animal named..

• If I designed a t-shirt, it would have a slogan on it such as...

• I got my nickname because...

In my case, I decided to write about a memory of my mom, Sis. There is SO much more I could say about the apple tree and the memories of my mom making a gazillion jars of jelly!  What else could you do with crab apples?!  I would illustrate this story with a photo of my mom under the shade of the apple tree.  And a photo or sketch of a jar of jelly.

Crab Apple Jelly

By Nancy Angus 

Why didn’t I pay more attention to my mom when she was making jellies in her kitchen? She didn’t need to go to the Internet every minute to learn what a hot water bath for canning was or why we don’t use paraffin was anymore. 

I really hate the crab apple tree in our back yard.  It’s a mess when the apples fall but my husband stretches a net out so that’s an easier way to capture them.  They ARE messy – and I’ve been tempted to take the tree down but the birds love it and the shade is nice in summer.  

Because of the apples we can make lots of Christmas presents for people.  I got my Christmas shopping done in September.  Everyone will get a jar of crabapple jelly this year!  And as Martha Stewart and my mom Sis said, “That’s a good thing!”