The following photo is the PROMPT. Keep in mind that all photos are the property of the contributor, therefore copyrighted and require express permission to use for purposes other than Friday Fictioneers. Giving credit to whom credit is due is proper etiquette.
Please be considerate and make an effort to stay within the suggested word count.
PHOTO PROMPT – © Sandra Crook
Genre: Hysterical Non-Fiction
Word Count: 100
THE DIMENSION OF IMAGINATION
The hourglass photo prompt taunts me. “You call yourself an author?”
Bits of flotsam swirl through my mind. Or is it jetsam? I get them confused.
There’s always my go-to theme. “I’ll take historical fiction for a hundred, Alex.”
Surfing the internet for ‘history of clocks,’ my findings are less exciting than watching oatmeal simmer.
Jim Croce saved time in a bottle and Steve Miller sang, “Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future.”
Sand trickles through the witch’s hourglass.
“This, my little pretty, is how much time you have left and it isn’t long. Make every word count.”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
LOL, I like your approach! There is a story even when you think there is no story. Nicely done, Rochelle.
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Dear Loré,
I guess there’s always a story, even when there isn’t. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom
Rochelle
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Hard enough cramming the story into 100 words, can’t imagine having to do that with a time restraint too. And that witch’s voice still strikes fear into me, even today. Different response from you this week, Rochelle. You always manage to ring the changes.
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Dear Sandra,
I always have that time restraint hanging over my head. Of course the witch with the hourglass is the OCD inner me who insists on being posted by Wednesday at 02:30 CST.
Once I started this, the ideas and words flowed and I had a great time with it. It was time to lighten up, too. My last three were pretty heavy.
Thank you. Bien Viaje.
Shalom
Rochelle
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Thanks for the ‘timely’ reminder, Rochelle – I think! That video is a 29 second nightmare.
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Aw. A nightmare, Liz? Well it is kind of creepy, I guess. It just seemed to fit at the end. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Enchantingly created from nothing but imagination.
Quite splendid, m’dear!
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Dear CE,
Perhaps time constraints, travel and impending novels are truly the mothers of invention. I had a great time writing it. Glad you liked. I like “splendid.”
Thank you, kind sir.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great piece of staring at a blank page and then coming out the other side with something worth reading. Love the witch’s accent.
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Dear Patrick,
I really did have a good time with this one. I’m glad you liked it. 😀 Some week’s a person needs to lighten up. 😉 This was mine.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love this.
Really enjoyed reading it.
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Dear Chioma,
I had fun writing this one so I’m glad you enjoyed it, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I really enjoyed reading your take on the prompt! Although it was non-fiction, it felt like I was reading a story!
The prompt is very tempting this time 🙂
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Dear Rashmi,
No need to resist temptation. 😉 The list will be open until Tuesday.
I’m pleased that you enjoyed my story. I had a good time with it.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle! I will get working on a story and post something by Tuesday 🙂
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Good story, Rochelle. Sometimes if a writer can get started ideas begin to flow. It worked well for you. Well-written as always. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
There’s not a writer I know who doesn’t face Writer’s Block from time to time. This was one of those where I looked at the photo and wondered what possessed me to choose it. I will admit that I had a good time with it once I started and it took on a life of its own.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love this, Rochelle. We’ve all been there, but of course the rest of us don’t have to write something every week.
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Dear Claire,
Maybe I just have enough OCD to apply pressure to myself every week. If memory serves, there were times when Madison didn’t post a story and Friday Fictioneers didn’t come to a halt. At any rate, I’m glad you liked my ‘un-story.’ Once it was underway, I had fun with it. After my last three heavyweights it was a nice change.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Although “Time” is a measuring stick to events from the past to the current and into the future, you always seem to twist it to meet your needs for the stories you craft. Whether Historical Fiction or, as this one suggests, Hysterical Non-Fiction, you always come through in the nick of time. Great story. Great effort.
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Thank you, m’love. ❤
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Oh that’s just the way my mind feels today but as if by magic, words appear.
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Dear Louise,
There’s something about just starting that’s magic, isn’t there. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautifully constructed moment in time! From your turmoil in trying to find something to write about in the time left, to songs, to this hourglass, to that video, it’s very compelling, haunting.
I like your “genre” — reminds me of some of the oddly constructed genres I created in some of my other FF stories (since I didn’t know where to plug those stories)!
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Dear Vijaya,
I’ve noticed your cleverly named ‘genres.’ I could call this plain non-fiction but where’s the fun in that?
I’m really delighted that you like my unstory. Once the words started flowing I had a great time. I love the video and it seemed to be the exclamation point for my story.
Thank you and shalom,
Rochelle YFBM
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That made me smile. I think we can all relate.
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Happy to make you smile, Dawn. No one can prevent writer’s block. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ha! This made me laugh. Thanks Rochelle. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one….Tick tock tick tock…hopefully, the story will appear soon.
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Dear Amy,
It happens to all of us at some point or another. For me, this week is sandwiched between two busy weekends…my aunt’s 100th birthday last weekend in Minneapolis and Ozarks Writers League conference in Branson, MO. (I’m such a gad-about, eh). Not to mention the impending third novel in my trilogy…and a coffee table book to go with them. Marketing is the most daunting part of all. Okay…enough of my whine.
At any rate, thank you. I’m glad my unstory made you laugh.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a great approach to the subject.. it was for sure a hard prompt… but I find the stories of clocks fascinating, especially the problems of the longitudes and the competition to make a perfect clock… (but I did not go that way)
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The story of John Harrison is pretty fascinating actually.
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Dear Björn,
I guess i didn’t dig deep enough to find Mr. Harrison. Another clock or hourglass prompt perhaps. 😉 This was pretty much what my feeble brain came up with this week.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As a physicist I had read about it… and the longitudinal prize has always fascinated me.
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I liked the way you tackled this weeks picture. Yet I love watching oatmeal simmering, it reminds me of magma.
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Dear Michael,
Um…fascinating. The next time I simmer oatmeal I’ll be watching with a different eye. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This was great! Like an episode on Seinfeld! Start with “nothing” and go from there..
Wish I’d thought of it… 😉
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Dear Dale,
One thing led to another and, before I knew it, I had something. Maybe not a story–but something. 😉 I’m anxiously awaiting your entry.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Working on it…😉
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“Make every word count” is a great motto for live in general. So, does this mean you had trouble coming up with a story for this particular prompt? I’m sure we’ve all thought that opening line of yours.
I find these days that stories are much harder to come up with than before, since I’m much more hard on myself, not wanting to repeat themes, and trying to come up with something “good”. Some stories come easier than others. I don’t know if you noticed but I finally missed a FF story a few weeks ago. Ah well, c’est la vie.
Cheers,
David
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Dear David,
You’ve pretty much spoken my mind. Going into my fourth year of Friday Fictioneers I have the same thoughts. When I wrote this one I thought of other similar stories I’ve written when I couldn’t come up with anything else.
My dance card’s filling up since I’ve “retired.” With two novels to market and a third one underway, it’s sometimes hard to wrap my head around Friday Fictioneers. So when it comes time to choose a prompt and come up with a story for it I feel like the kid who waits until the night before to study for the big exam.
I did miss you when you missed. You’re a strong presence among us.
Thank you and shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle. That means a lot. Congratulations on all your writing success and good luck for the future. 🙂
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Haha! Yeah, that is how it goes sometimes. Occasionally there’s pounding the head on the table. Hair-pulling in not uncommon. 😉 Fun one, Rochelle! 🙂
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Dear Eric,
No true writer could contest the accuracy of my un-story. 😉 I had fun with it, glad you did, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think we’ve all been there, probably more often than we’d like to admit. Way to put that feeling into words!
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Thank you, Adam. Some weeks are easier than others, aren’t they?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Loved the melding of your story and the video; it put a certain momentum into both… very entertaining.
I didn’t read your story until I’d arranged mine. Not surprisingly there are certain similarities of theme; though, mine is somewhat heavy. Loved the playful way you embraced the image.
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Dear Carolyn,
Before I took over as facilitator, i made it a point never to read anyone’s story before writing my own so i understand. The reason i don’t post my actual title in my subject line is so people won’t be influenced by that either. 😉
Thank you for your kind comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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… and by the time you’ve finished musing on your story, it’s written! Nice one 🙂
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Dear Ali,
it’s funny how it worked its way into being story. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is totally the way my brain functions when I’m trying to write a story. Such a perfect representation of the writing process when your brain gets in the way. 😀
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Dear Melony,
I think many of us have similar processes. i’m glad you related to my unstory and took the time to say so.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s always good to try something different, and this stream of consciousness glimpse into your head is a nice example of that. I think we can all relate to the pressure of having to write something when nothing springs to mind.
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Dear Jen,
A friend of mine once said that he thought my head would be a scary place to be. 😉 Thank you for appreciating it. It is fun to try something new, isn’t it? I went to a conference this past weekend and attended a Haiku workshop. That was fun. Perhaps, one of these days, I’ll try my hand at haibun.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is so much fun, made me laugh. 😀 And there I thought you schedule these posts ahead of time to make them always appear so punctual…
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Dear Gabriele,
I actually do schedule the posts ahead of time. This one was only the day before which made me feel pressed for time. At one point last year I had six posted ahead which was a great thing since my agent emailed and asked for my sequel which needed work. However I’ve yet to be that far ahead these days.
As I did in my early days when I was just another Friday Fictioneer, I would spend two days on some of my stories before posting. I still do that most of the time, it’s just two days ahead of everyone else. 😉
I’m glad my story made you laugh. It was time for me to lighten up a bit.
Thank you and shalom,
Rochelle
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I love the musing. So well done.
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Thank you, Emmy 😀 ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Loved your write, Rochelle. It was a wonderful prompt this week. Time is slipping…indeed! 🙂
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Dear Jelli,
These days I seem to slippin’ a lot. 😉
Thank you and shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
If other commitments keep me novel-writing, I start to panic that when I start on my next project, I’ll stare at a blank page or screen and my mind will stay empty of ideas … forever.
Friday Fictioneers allays my panic. There’s something about picture prompts that really work, which is probably why they used this approach as an exercise in a writing workshop I attended.
I love your take on Sandra’s hour-glass picture. Time can be such a bully at times and such a trigger to writerly anxiety.
Am back again this week. Just off to post my offering on a Thursday for once, instead of a Friday, as it’s my daughter’s birthday tomorrow (big baby of 34), so no computer for me!
All best wishes
Sarah
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Dear Sarah,
Lately time is being quite the task master. Wasn’t I supposed to have more of it when i retired from the full time job? I’m busier now than ever.
Here it is Tuesday and I’m finally finishing the list and answering comments. But I did have a great time at a wonderful conference.
I’m feeling the pinch of an impending novel that’s already been announced as coming out this year. Not that I mind, but it’s still a bit of pressure.
Always happy to see you here.
Thank you and Shalom,
Rochelle
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Flotsam and jetsam are always together. Otherwise you’d have to toehooandbohoo.😉
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Thank you for that info, Stephen. I’ll tuck it away for future reference with my pushmepullyou. 😛
Shalom,
Rochelle
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LOVE IT!!!! Ah the ticking lock… time never stops… though we might perceive it does depending on the event. A great take on the prompt Rochelle
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Dear Laurie,
What happened to all the time I was going to have when I ‘retired?’ I did have fun writing this one. Glad you liked it and took the time to say so. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very clever–a non-story story!
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Thank you, Jan. 😀
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Dear Rochelle! Whatever you write I find it enchanting. It’s a good read. Clever approach indeed. Shalom.
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Dear Indira,
And you always say the sweetest things. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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No one can keep a writer from writing…”like watching oatmeal simmer” is funny and clever.
The un-story is cool.
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Dear Ansumani,
This is being one of those months. I’ve put so much into my next novel that sometimes it’s hard to wrap my head around a flash fiction. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Slippery Elm,
I really enjoyed your post today. You don’t know how excited I am to learn that there’s another person out there who loves to watch oatmeal simmer. What’s your favorite part? Is it the rhythmic popping of the bubbles as they play their happy tune?
In the words of your favorite quote, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” I’m glad oatmeal can do that for you.
Cheerio,
Dr. Watson
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Dear Dr. Watson,
There might be something you missed about my unstory. Not to say that you’re as thick as oatmeal, but…
You made me laugh until the tears rolled down my leg.
Shalom,
Slippery Elm
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Admit it. You like that popping noise in my thought pattern makes that reminds people smashing bubble wrap.
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That I will admit. It’s the perils of heavy thinking. 😉
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Squeeze even has a song called Hourglass too
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And Hourglass has a song called Brandy. 😉 Oh wait, that’s Looking Glass.
Heee
Shalom,
Rochelle
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writer’s block? i don’t think so. i enjoyed it very much. thank you. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
I told a friend once that I’d had writers block and he said, “It was the worst twenty minutes of your life.” 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So funny to see your off the cuff struggle. Sorry to be laughing. I just thought only people like inept me did that kind of thing. LOL. 🙂
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PS…my go to is always a poem. I can always pull out a poem of some sort. 🙂
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Dear Susan,
Actually my struggle turned out to be one of my favorite flashes. Poems I’m not so great at.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great take on the prompt. “I’ll take historical fiction.” and then some!
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Thank you, Mary. 😀
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Dear Rochelle
You highlighted the pressure of having to write something when nothing comes to mind, brilliantly – that is me most weeks. Fascinating to learn of your self imposed time constraint on your posts, always something new from you.
In total admiration and awe
Dee 🙂
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Dear Dee,
I’d be dishonest if I didn’t put the same limits on myself that I impose on everyone else re Friday Fictioneers. I just do it a few days ahead. 😉 Lately a lot of things are happening at once. Good things, to be sure. But a lot.
Thank you and shalom,
Rochelle
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Very clever and witty. Usually when I am stumped by a post I let it go and skip it. I am trying to push myself out of my comfort zone and write something even when my muse is silent. This is a very genuine approach.
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Dear MTO,
The problem with this type of response to the prompt is you can’t do one every week. 😉 I’ve done a few, but I’ve spaced them out. I’m glad you liked this. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Landed here after reading Rashmi’s story. Just when I had thought of a short story in response to the prompt, I realise the genre in non-fiction! 😦
Next time, I guess 😀
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Dear Wandering Soul
I don’t set the genre, only the photo prompt. Genre is up to you. Jump in with any genre.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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YAY! I shall be right back with fiction 😀
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What a… um… TIMELY post. 🙂
Yeah, this one had me going around a bit, too.
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Dear Alice,
Full schedule + Lack of head space = This post.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Time, the most valuable of commodities, no one can hold it, steal it, hoard it. We squander it too readily then complain when we’ve run out of it.
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Dear Michael,
Time is a precious commodity and one that I keep running out of lately. I thought I’d have more of it once I “retired” but this is not the case.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Some prompts are like that. I enjoyed the view into your mind and how you process an idea. Inspiration can come from left field and take you to some unexpected destinations,
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Dear Erin,
This piece certainly took me to an unexpected place. 😉 What started with frustration ended in fun. I love it when that happens. Thank you for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Exceptional imagination.Jal
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Thank you, Jalal. 😀
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you welcome.
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That’s just what happened to me this week, I just went blank. It was horrible. I love how you’ve used that experience to write your story. You are clever.
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Dear Margaret,
Writers block is no joke, is it? I was happy when the block crumbled and this came through. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I am just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round. Some days the words align in just the way you want them to but on others it’s a hard job corralling dem varmint together.
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Dear Subroto,
Now I have John Lennon singing in my ear. Thanks for the apt description of what was going on in my head. It takes another writer to truly understand.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a clever piece. I love how your mind moved from thing to thing.
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Thank you so much, Lori. I’m glad you enjoyed.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure, Rochelle 🙂
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I love this story and way beyond my “simmering oatmeal” Thank you for sharing and being kind enough to keep both in the same category.
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