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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot
Click the Froggie. You know you want to!
Genre: Personal Musing
Word Count: 100
IMPASSE
I stare at the photo prompt waiting for the fickle finger of fate to zap me between the eyes with inspiration. Do I hear dust moving?
To help jumpstart my brain I tap out, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” My mother taught me the silly phrase when she taught me to type. It’s a sentence that incorporates every letter of the alphabet. I promise. I’m not making it up.
Are you singing the Alphabet Song to check out my claim?
I cover my eyes. Nothing. No story this week.
Sometimes the magic works. Sometimes it doesn’t.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
You? Even you get stumped? There’s hope for us all
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Dear Neil,
What a lovely comment. Thank you. (Yes, it happens to all of us.)
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love this, it’s great and so true. As a matter of fact, I looked at this prompt picture and my brain just said, “No.” For some reason, it didn’t like it. But maybe in a day or so I’ll try again.
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Sometimes the muse doesn’t want to play. I think every writer can relate. I do like learning new tricks for such blockages 😀.
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Dear Tanille,
it’s tough when your imaginary friends won’t let you play with their toys, isn’t it. 😉 Thank you for your understanding.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s rather rude of them 😀
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I think we have all been here, m’lady.
But few of us can express it so eloquently.
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Dear CE,
Your comment gives me cause for a smile. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You writer’s block unblocks the writer in me, dear Rochelle.
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What a lovely thing to say, Neel. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A great play with words, I found a new one whilst struggling with this prompt: ambe
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Thank you, Michael.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Michael
What meaning did you get for AMBE, please? I can’t seem to find it as a word in English.
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I couldn’t find the word anywhere either. Michael?
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You’ve managed to write a story about not having one, Rochelle. That’s great. I loved that scene in the movie–I think it was “Little Big Man”–where the old chief doesn’t die and has to get back up because it’s raining. Hilarious. I loved that actor. It was one of the few times in those days Hollywood used a real Native American for the part of one. Well done. 😀 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
if memory serves, Little Big Man was the first movie to use Native Americans in Native American roles. It was a stunning film to boot. My brother’s fond of the quote, “Sometimes the magic works. Sometimes it doesn’t.” It seemed to fit here. 😉 Thank you for your kind words re my non-story.
Shalom,
Rochelle 😀
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lol, yep, some weeks are like that.. Love the Little Big Man clip.
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Dear Trent,
Some weeks are definitely like that. But you can only get away with writing this kind of story once in a while. 😉 Little Big Man was an incredible movie. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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There you go again. You write a story out of nothing. Make sense? I thought not. You make lemonade out of lemons? Nope. You make…..aw forget it. You done good.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts, m’luv. 😉
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I agree – it was a difficult week to write – the inspiration did not flow as easily.
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Like Chief Dan George said so well, “Sometimes the magic works…”
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But an incredible title all the same. I’ve been heading back to the short story and pen and ink. Watching that black ink flow onto the creamy paper does something to my brain that a computer or typewriter just can’t mimic.
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Dear Josh,
I’m just the opposite,. To me there’s something cathartic about typing. If the juices don’t flow a good swim helps, too. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s reassuring to know even the best of us struggle sometimes! Here’s hoping your inspiration returns soon 🙂
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Dear Iain,
Inspiration does come from interesting places at times, doesn’t it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
An excellent non-story story! We all get writer’s block now and again, Love that clip.
Your funny bone is working just fine.
Shalom and lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
There are non stories and then there are non stories, eh? I had fun writing this one. Better than the backlash I might have incurred with the other story. 😉 Thank you, my friend.
Shalom and lotsa hugs,
Rochelle
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May the magical charm continue to charm all! 🙂
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Thank you, Anita.
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Sometimes non-stories are stories, too! 🙂
Here’s my sort of story … 😉
https://naamayehuda.com/2019/07/17/do-not-engage/
Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
I guess the magic worked. 😉 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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Nice one, Rochelle. Non stories are just as good.
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Dear Maria,
A non-story once in a while is good for the soul and massaging the muse. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You chose the damn photo – now I’ve got to try!
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Yes, Liz. I did choose the damn photo. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi, Rochelle! That’s called a pangram…a sentence that incorporates all letters of the alphabet. No, I wasn’t singing the abc song in my head. That one about the fox has been used to test typewriters since at least the late 1800s. Did you know that, my little history buff?
Shalom,
Ronda
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Dear Ronda,
I actually did know the history but not the word for it. Pangram. I’ll try to remember that. I actually was singing the abc’s in my head. 😉 Thanks for coming by to read and being thoughtful enough to leave a comment. Pet the Diva for me.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ve had a few instances like that recently. Went for a topical bit of humour this week.
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Dear Di,
I think we all have those moments. I find that writing silliness helps the muse wake up. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’d agree with that!
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Cover my eyes–what a “meta” story you have written today!
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Thank you, Andrea! 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I liked the part about covering your eyes. Your non story turned out to be one that many of us can relate to.
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Dear Deborah,
That’s the beauty of such stories. Who hasn’t butted their writing head against the old block? 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So, are we graded on a curve this time? If our fearless leader is blocked, what hope is there for the rest of us? Oh, wait… I have an idea. Ooh, I have another one. There is hope. I can’t promise either will be any good, but there is hope. Sometimes the muses can be more cruel with their plants than they are with their blocks. “Ooh, I have an idea.” Type, type, type, type, type… “Ah, that’s horrible. Where did I get that idea?”
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Dear Nobbin,
The muse is a capricious b—-, isn’t she? I love it when a plan comes together. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Did you just throw an A-Team quote at me? Rochelle, you are the coolest.
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A-Team indeed. 😉 Thank you. 😀
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Hi Rochelle! You still write something worth reading. I also learned that while learning to type.
Shalom.
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Dear Indira,
What a lovely thing to say. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love your story. I must admit when I first saw the picture my mind went blank. At first, I couldn’t figure out the statue. Then pieces began to fall together. Your non-story made me laugh! Thank you.
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Dear Lish,
If’ I’ve made you laugh, my mission has been accomplished. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I really liked this. I too was stumped when I saw the prompt.
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Dear Adele,
I don’t always have a story in mind when I choose a photo. I pick one that challenges and hope I can come up with something. That’s what makes this so much fun. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think you captured the big white thing in the photo perfectly, Rochelle. I’m thinking pretzels.
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Thank you, Ted. Always go for the pretzels. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Then I saw the hot dogs.
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Writer’s Block… happens to all of us. Been there for a few weeks myself. Just can’t seem to catch the mojo. I’m blaming the heat and humidity. Then again, your story did kinda capture the moment quite well, even so. Now, seeing the pretzels, I’m hungry for one.
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Dear Bear,
Sometimes a non-story really is a story. 😉 That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. A soft pretzel with lots of salt does sound good. Pass the mustard, my friend.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Here’s some good homemade dijon for your tasting! Oops, sorry, I didn’t mean to spill it. heheh! Somehow, since you posted this, I’m starting to find my mojo again. I’ve got a story in my brain, just beyond my reach and it’s driving me nuts!
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I thought (No you didn’t! Don’t lie like that) that the sentence was “The quick red fox jumped over the lazy brown dog.” Then I read your post closely, and realized that the verb must be jumps , because that’s the only letter S in the pangram. 🙄
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Dear Archon,
Glad I didn’t let you down. 😉 Would I lie?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sometimes the muse sleeps, i get that all the time, but you encapsulated how we all feel once in a while!
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Dear Shrawley,
Sometimes the muse needs a kick in a strategic area, doesn’t she? 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My mind is full of NANOWRIMO and this gives me a break as I have been skipping almost all of prompts due to that. I have 25,000 words on there so far. My brain is tired.
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I love that movie and I love that scene from it. Your magic worked this time, Rochelle.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Dear Lisa,
Your comment gives me a smile. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, so happy to have given you a smile. You are very welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Writers block, is it!
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Dear Abhijit,
Writers block it is.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i think i’d been there more times than i could remember. but the muse does come back, doesn’t she? 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
My muse does tend to make the rounds. At times she takes a break only to return with a vengeance. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A story about having no story 🙂 Nice one!
Weird how different prompts speak to different people. I immediately saw the three monkeys and wrote my story in a little under four minutes. Then sometimes other people come up with great ideas and I’m still completely stuck 🙂
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Dear Ali,
Confession. I did have a story that went with this prompt. However, at the last moment, I decided that it could be hurtful to someone in particular who might read. Hence, I did some mighty fast backpedaling. Glad it worked and glad you unstuck yourself. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You and your prompts struggling and coming to an impasse, brilliant. I admire you anyway, you always posta story with the prompt.
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Dear Gabi,
Sometimes the story comes more easily than others. 😉 No one’s immune to writer’s block are they? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I agree with Ali, enjoyed a story about not having a story! And, feel a bit better about the times when my brain is blocked. How you have a lovely weekend!
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Dear Brenda,
Every so often I write a story like this. I think it speaks of the process we all go through. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s a terrifying sensation, isn’t it? The more you stare at the photo, the blanker your mind becomes. You side-stepped the paralysis very neatly!
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Dear Penny,
The trouble with writing this kind of story is that you can only get away with it on occasion. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Querida Rochelle,
The story is the non-story which is the story of being stuck. ~~~~ : )
YIKES … what will become of us if you start having a blank mind. ~~~ : – 0
In my tale, I harkened back to the days of childhood games but with a twist … of course.
Perhaps, a swim might be the perfect solution. Come on in … the water’s refreshing.
Decansa mi amiga, gracias por sus obras.
Abrazos
Isadora 😎
ps – no ‘Like’ button function yet. It seems WP does not wish for me to ‘Like’ anything. : (
I’ve been banned to the Island of Non-Likers … LOL
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Querida Isadora,
No entiendo la problema con Word Press.
I don’t think any one of us is above getting stuck from time to time. Gracias para sus palabras amables, mi amiga.
Shalom y cariño. (Feliz cumpleaños.)
Rochelle
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Excellent. This happens to me a lot especially when I start thinking: novel…..
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Dear Sascha,
I understand. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle. I feel privileged to find you at a loss. I am sure it doesn’t happen often. My internet access is limited to an hour a day right now, so please forgive my inability to read and comment on every post. Thanks fr being here!!
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Dear Violet,
I think I post one of these kinds of stories a year. But yes, it happens to all of us. The truth is that I had another story for this prompt but felt that it had the potential for serious backlash, thought better of it and backpedaled. 😉 Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my story. It means a lot.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Reblogged this on All About Writing and more.
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Thank you for the reblog, Henrietta.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle,
Creative prompt despite the lack of inspiration.
Blessings,
Phyllis
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Thank you, Phyllis.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well, that was a real dust storm.
You’ve probably had some great ideas since you wrote that. Or is this the end?
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Dear Patrick,
I might have had an inspiration or two since then. 😉 It’s definitely not the end!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It did indeed take some time for the story to click this week. Thanks for hosting, Rochelle.
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Dear Jo,
Some weeks are like that. 😉 Thank you for participating.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Always a pleasure, Rochelle.
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I was just posting my latest 100 word story to the Frog and saw your profile photo. You are spending Way too much time around Russell. Super cute though.
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Dear Ted,
Actually, Russell gave me the red nose. 😉 And since he didn’t show up this week, someone had to play the clown. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yep, the night shift saps your energy.
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Dear James,
This heat wave we’re having over here is doing it’s part in sapping my energy. Thank you for stopping by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Who else can write about the muse’s utter refusal to cooperate in such a eloquent fashion? Love the phrase “fickle finger of fate”.
Shalom,
Mags
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Thank you for such a lovely compliment, Mags. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure, Rochelle.
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I think this one works beautifully. 😊
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Thank you, Laurie. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hahaha, I loved your tale, Rochelle. Thanks for an intriguing prompt this week.
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Dear Kitty,
I’m glad you enjoyed my silliness this week…and the prompt. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Welcome, Rochelle. My pleasure 🙂
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