Writing THE DROP

Rereading THE DROP is a strange sensation.

I wrote this short story when I was in teacher’s college, training to become an employee in a career that I hoped (hoping, still) would help support my writing habit.

And yes, if that reads like an addiction, it should.

THE DROP is about many things: teenage life, both what I was seeing at the time of my placement, as well as my own high school experiences; the addictive pleasure in writing and telling stories; and finally, THE DROP is about social media, probably more so than anything else.

I have no aversion to social media. I feel like I need to preface this post by saying just that - at the moment, I’m steering clear of Instagram and Facebook to focus more on Twitter. It’s a purely selfish task, one that might seem silly to some, but entirely justified to others. I want to build a social media following by ignoring an established following I have elsewhere. Focusing on Twitter gives me the opportunity to become connected with you fine people - the Writing Community - that inhabits a particular app. It’s both personal and advantageous for me - but at the same time, I recognize the hypocrisy of it.

What we project onto social media is entirely constructed. Happy times are amplified by filtered photos of gorgeous and exciting experiences. Life events are declared to a following that either build you up through likes, or ignore your happiness with a simple scrolling finger. Some of us don’t mean to be mean - there’s just too much stuff out there to hone in on sometimes. 

I think it’s important to remember that social media can be used as a tool to stain, bully, and ridicule others with. That’s where THE DROP finds its horror. That’s where this story comes alive.

I wanted to imbue this story with the very dichotomy social media exhibits: on the one hand, social media connects us; ideas are shared instantaneously and therefore up for immediate discussion; on the other hand, social media comes ready made with a darkness that shades our intentions. Mental health becomes an incredible concern for parents, teachers, and peers. I’ve seen it firsthand: people have lost their livelihood to the negative effects of what’s projected through social media, let alone their mental wellbeing.

I recognize social media has its values, too: Twitter allows me to connect with a brilliant community of people that support mine and others writing to incredible effect. On an even larger scale, social media has accomplished life-changing things in the arena of basic civil and human rights. These things cannot be ignored. It’s downright euphoric. And when used properly, social media has so much to offer.

But THE DROP isn’t about those incredible moments, because it wasn’t written at a time when I was experiencing those things. Sure, my experiences throughout teacher’s college were great; I met some fantastic mentors and a strong, supportive cast of fellow teachers - but THE DROP highlights the debates surrounding social media and mental health more than anything because that’s where I found inspiration at the time.

Having these discussions about social media - about all that it has to offer, as well as the negative effects it can have on people, and especially on a teenage girl like Jaclyn at the center of this story - is extremely important. 

As an educator, I want these discussions to happen - as a storyteller, I want to have fun while doing it. So if the horror at the end of the story upsets you, or startles you to great effect, job well done; but I’m also hoping that it initiates debate about the pros and cons of what we share with others, and how we use these tools to share information with. 

Cory Maddalena

June 22nd, 2021