The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Tell me where it takes you in a hundred words or less.
PHOTO PROMPT – © Kent Bonham
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100
BACK OUT ON THE STREET
“I wandered aimlessly down the deserted street as I had hundreds of times before. Everything was the same but it would never be the same again.”
After reading the two sentences aloud twice, Rose back-spaced them into oblivion and said, “This isn’t a story, it’s a cliché fest.”
She shut off the computer. The manuscript would have to wait.
Although she tried to sleep, Rose’s cluttered mind spun with deadlines, debts, disillusion and broken promises. She threw off the covers and put on her clothes.
“Damn you, Jeff. Why now?”
She wandered aimlessly down the deserted street…everything was the same…
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Sometimes life and relationships come close to being described as a cliche. Well done as always, Rochelle.
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Dear Sandra,
And some things are cliche for a reason, aren’t they?
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Cliches are not always bad. Comfort, like a pair of old shoes, and everyone on the same page.
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Dear Mick,
Cliches are cliches for a reason. In writing they should be sprinkled sparingly if used at all. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Cliches are cliches because they are true, but that doesn’t give us permission. Black as ink, cold as ice, blue as the sky….there are better ways to say these things. Nicely done.
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Dear J Hardy,
I’m a firm believer that cliches should only be used in dialogue and then sparingly.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Preachin’ to the choir! 😉
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Isn’t life itself a cliché sometimes?.. Maybe life itself is too mundane to put in words.. or maybe we need to use Shklovskij’s concept of Defamiliarization to blow some life into the cliches 🙂
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Dear Björn,
In Rose’s case, she’s feeling quite the cliche in her relationships and life general.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I hope she finds the inspiration she needs from her walk… 🙂
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Dear Vinay,
It might help. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Clichés may be “uncreative,” but so often they’re just true.
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Dear Adam,
Hence, that’s why they’re cliches. 😉 Truth is truth. .
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Life imitates art imitates life.
AnElephant loves a cyclic tale.
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Dear Elephant,
This author is happy you caught the cyclical nature of this tale.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I find myself, unfortunately, falling back on clichés, or simply substituting words.
A good write on the cliché of life.
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Dear Phylor,
It’s hard to avoid the clichés, isn’t it?
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Moral of the story: There’s no way to avoid an cliche when it comes to life 🙂 Nice one Rochelle.
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Dear Ansumani,
Bingo! You hit the nail on the head. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Life mimics art… or… art mimics. Sometimes one must express what one experiences. Nicely done!
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Dear Caerlynn,
That was truly the message of this story. I’m truly pleased you picked up on it.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely circularity. “…backspaced them into oblivion…” Isn’t that the truth!
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Dear Kimberly,
Without the backspace key I’d be a total mess. And then there’s my other friend “copy and paste.” 😉
Thank you for your lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A Rose by any other name would….probably backspace her cliches into oblivion tomorrow too 😉 Great take on the prompt.
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Dear Karen,
Rose would always backspace clichés no matter how well they describe her life. 😉
Thank you for such a delightful comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
This was a strangely fun story for me. You see, *I had to kiss more than one [cliche] before I found my prince. Hopefully, she will get over him and life will continue nicely.
I think I identified a bit to closely with the character in this one. Eh?
Shalom,
Lynda
*Uh-oh, that was certainly a cliche. Yup, it was. 😉
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Dear Lynda,
It seems you get the basic gist of my little tale. 😉
Thank you and Shalom,
Rochelle
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When there is a “cliché fest” there is nothing much to do. Good that she went for a walk. Well written, as always, Rochelle. 🙂
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Dear Norma,
Sometimes going out for a walk is the best solution.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I agree, if nothing else it will at least get you to sleep easily. 🙂
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Well done!
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Thank you, Mama Zen. Happy you took the time to read and even happier you left a nice comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As others have said, there’s a reason cliches exist, but they are a dangerous place for a writer to go. You, though, have wielded them with skill this week, kudos.
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Dear Jennifer,
Clichés are the bane to writers. Sometimes it’s a challenge to come up with anything else. I’m pleased my story worked.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Enjoyed your story. I use cliches sparingly but I do like them sometime.:)
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Dear Susan,
I try to use clichés as little as possible. Sometimes they’re unavoidable, particularly with dialogue.
I’m glad you liked my story. Thank you for taking the time to say so.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Brilliant as usual. Ooohhh… everyone is so hard on the poor clichés! 😉
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Dear Dale,
And they didn’t get to be clichés for no reason. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Life is a cliche…I know someone probably already said that but doesn’t that prove my point? 😉
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Dear Dawn,
It does indeed prove your point. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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oopps! what a coincidence. i have jeff in my story as well.
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Different Jeffs I think….although I’m not so sure.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, this is wonderful and I love how her problems keep going over and over in her mind and she repeats herself – very clever of you and it mimics real life!
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Dear Nan,
I’ve had so many nights like that myself lately. These are times I wish there was a switch I could flip to stop those swirling thoughts. I’m glad you caught the cycle repeating in real life.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love that structure and how it works to bring out her state of mind and state of life.
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Dear Patrick,
What goes around does come around, doesn’t it?
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nicely circled back round. Not only are cliches true for a reason, but this one’s true for her life as well, it seems.
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Dear Ali,
Clichés do tend to be true and it does seem that Rose is caught in a cycle.
Thank you for the nice comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Cliches are a part of life. Nice job with the Groundhog Day post!
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Dear Liz,
Cliches are indeed a part of life. Writing them in a more creative way…aye, there’s the rub. My story does have a Groundhog Day feel to it, doesn’t it. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, life imitating art… 😉
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Yes, indeed, Lorna. 😉
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I have a question, Rochelle. Do you select the genre for our stories each week or when you state the genre, is it only for your story and are we free to select any genre we want?
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Dear Lorna,
I simply choose the photo. Genre is up to the individual writer.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That makes sense. I was following your lead and then I saw that others were doing their own thing. 😉
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Life is a cliche, and song writers love them. As a writer, I do try to avoid them, but they seem to grow exponentially! In dialogue they work, we all use them, and it’s why it’s so hard not to write them. Thank goodness folks love pointing them out, and even the grammar checker will point some of them out. But Google cliches – and you’ll be shocked by the sheer number. Your post highly influenced my own.
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Dear Yolanda Renee,
Clichés seen to work better in songs than literature. It is hard not to write them because they’re part of our everyday speech patterns, aren’t they?
Thank you for such nice comments, you make me smile.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That seemingly never ending cycle, it is difficult to break sometimes. Also, damn you clichés.
I try to avoid them too.
Great story and true to life as usual!
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Dear Francesca,
I agree. It’s tough to break both habits–repeating the same cycles and using clichés.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
The repetition you use here captures many moments within my own mind as I compose new material in my head or edit over and over to make sure something is “just right.” As to those cliches–well, they do pop up now and then, don’t they? My poet friends often talk about using cliches in unique ways, thereby turning them into something else altogether. Yeah, leave it to the poets to be that abstruse, eh?
Peace,
Marie Gail
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Dear Marie Gail,
Ah those crazy poets. 😉
One of my writing group leaders referred to me as an obsessive perfectionist. C’est moi? And clichés in writing is a bit like playing whack-a-mole. They just want to pop up and dare us to to use them. That’s when it’s time to shut down the computer before clicking Ctrl-A and Delete. And haven’t we all been close to that?
Thank you for your affirming and intuitive comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love that the end of the story loops back to the beginning. Well done!
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I guess I’m anonymous tonight😄
Shalom,
Jan
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Dear Anonymous Jan,
Glad you like my loopy story. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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She needs some new inspiration. I’m sure her walk will lift her out of her writing doldrums. Very nice story.
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Dear Margaret,
If I were Rose I’d go for a long swim. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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If someone’s making her life a cliché, and giving her writer’s block, she needs to have a serious talk with them. It may only get worse. Good story as always, Rochelle. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
I’m not sure talking to Jeff will help. Although, in my mind, he’s left her so she’ll soon be back in the groove. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely, the first and last lines so perfect.Excellent use of a cliche: giving it a fresh use at the same time as acknowledging that you are using it.
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Dear Samantha,
Thank you for going where I wanted you to go. 😉 Glad you enjoyed the journey.
Thank you for such a nice comment, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Cliche or not it was good. Her work acting as a mirror. Dam Jeff.
Cheers Irene
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Dear Irene,
All I can say to such a lovely compliment is thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’d say clichés become cliché for a reason. The same reason we never get tired of retelling fairy tales. Some things are timeless, and they ring true in our lives, no matter what the age.
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Dear Tiffany,
Very right you are.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
A very neat and well-put story.
My ambition is to write something profoundly original that later becomes a cliché because so many people end up using it.
Isn’t dialogue wonderful? Writers can break all the grammatical rules under the sun within speech marks, all in the name of authentic characterisation. One of my fictional characters isn’t as posh as he pretends to be and keeps on splitting infinitives all the time.
I may not have time to contribute a story this week, as I’m impossibly busy over the next four days, which means that I have to sign out and do some of my weekend jobs during what’s left of Friday. But I was determined to read your story before disappearing off.
All best wishes
Sarah
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Dear Sarah,
I’m truly honored that you took the time to read my story in the midst of all of your busy-ness.
I do love writing dialogue, too. It helps flesh out a character and bring him or her to life. A friend called me on Fruma Ya’el’s seemingly flowery/folksy speech patterns to which I said, that’s who she is, deal with it. The trick is to not use so much dialect that it’s distracting. 😉
Great ambition for clichés. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I don’t want to repeat what others said, true as it is. But I always say, better a cliché than nothing on that blank page that wants to be filled. Great story.
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Dear GAH,
We all have to start somewhere, don’t we? In one writer’s group we were told to just “vomit it out on the page” you can go back and edit later. 😉 Pleasant thought, eh?
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Cliches didn’t become cliche without good reason. Sometimes we can’t help living them.
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Dear Alice,
You speak the truth.
Thanks for dropping by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As painful as cliches can be, some people have mastered them (Quentin Tarantino’s films are usually exploitative cliches, but they are my favorites!) Good story!
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Dear Jorbi,
Quentin Taratino has not only mastered clichés but has made a rather nice living off them. 😉
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Cliches get a bad rap – they are cliches because they are popular and become overused, like a song that’s heard too often. And like these songs, it never hurts to throw it one in a mix every now and then 🙂
Your story was good – other’s have spoken of circularity/repetition – I agree, Youve used it very effectively. As for our narrator, it can be tough to be creative when life throws up a challenge, and youve done a great job of capturing that feeling.
Cheers
KT
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Dear KT,
I appreciate your comments. Clichés are great for dialogue. Used sparingly I think they can add, but used too often they distract and bore.
Thank you for such nice compliments on my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m familiar with those cliches, Rochelle. Great spin here at the end. Sometimes nothing says it better than a cliche. Yet at the same time, as a writer, I agree you want to avoid the cliche like the plague. A cliche fest would not be very interesting, but I love that line in your story!
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Dear Amy,
Writing is like making a stew. Too much of one seasoning and it’s unpalatable. Just enough of one or two, a gourmet delight. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I disagree with Amy. Here at FFF, we could make a contest out of cliche fest (who could get the most, or in my case, the most ridiculous, within the 100 word limit).
Now, let’s talk about Rose. Sounds like she’s got problems. Unfortunately, dwelling on them, or blaming Jeff, is not going fix the situation. After she gets this out of her system, let’s hope she pulls up her big-girl panties and comes up with a plan to pull out of this funk.
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Dear Russell,
I think you could win, hands down. Not sure we can all go the distance. But then it would be water under the bridge. 😉
You’re right about Rose. I’ll see if I can’t talk to her.
I hope California fame hasn’t spoiled you for the rest of us.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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She needs to concentrate on her writing but that is easier said than done. If wishes were horses, all beggars would ride. Things will change its just a game of mind over matter. I must confess I put my entry off till the very end this time.
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Dear Subroto,
Sometimes when life deals a person a swift kick to the gut, it’s tough to concentrate, isn’t it? I think she’ll overcome and be back on top soon.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I guess cliches exist for a reason, since they’re the ruts of human experience. I love the line “back-spaced into oblivion”. Great story.
-David
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Dear David,
Glad you liked that line, I do to. 😉 Clichés and stereotypes have a lot in common for the same reasons.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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left me a bit confused
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How can I help with that confusion, IB?
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Fantastic story, the way it completed itself. Very clever!
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Dear OnChi,
I’m pleased you picked up on the cyclical nature of my story.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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