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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
Genre: Histrionic Friction
Word Count: 100
UN-A-MUSED
A blank computer screen mocks me. I type, “It was a dark and stormy night.” I backspace over it. Frustration reigns supreme. “He was a stormy, dark knight.”
Screw it.
Backspace.
My mind’s as gray as the sky outside. Whoever heard of a sky inside?
Oy.
Maybe it’s all the binge watching on Netflix that has my empty mind swimming in circles.
That’s it! I’ll write about swimming. “Sloshing, stroking, flipping. Blissfully skimming.”
Backspace.
How many odes have I written to my inner mermaid?
“Dear Muse, where are you?”
The words flash across the monitor.
“Moved. Left no forwarding address.”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
A delightful spin on the Muse theme, Rochelle. It brightened my foggy morning
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Dear Neil,
And your comment brightens my dark morning. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s reassuring to know even the best have their blank days! A well deserved rest for the muse, I’m sure it will return soon enough.
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Dear Iain,
What a sweet thing to say. I’m hoping the muse returns. I think she’s on the beach somewhere in the Virgin Islands. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lucky her!!
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Might be in that brown box below the mailboxes 🙂
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Dear Reena,
She’s definitely playing hide-and-seek. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂🙂
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As the young people say, “Bummer”. That’s really disappointing when even your muse moves away with no address given. An amusing story, Rochelle. 🙂 Suzanne
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Even the muse requires a little sunshine some times, may the sun shine for you.
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Thank you, Michael. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Suzanne,
She’s changed her address several times lately, only returning for a short conversations. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Glad to know somebody else’s Muse is playiing hard to get! But I’m sure she’ll not be able to stop herself coming back! Thanks for the refreshing take on that.
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Dear Jenne,
I’m hoping she’ll make a full comeback soon. I’m tired of playing peekaboo with her. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Those pesky muses seem to cause a lot of issues on FF. Hope you figure out where yours went as you create the Great American Novel about the stormy knight rescuing the mermaid trapped in the indoor sea under that strange indoor sky…. Hmm, actually, I think she needs to come back to rescue from that fate!
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Dear Trent,
Perhaps I should sue her for non-support. 😉 Thank you for your amusing comments. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I threatened my muse with a lawsuit and her response was a simple “You’re welcome,” no sarcasm, irony or anything. I wonder what she meant by that? 😉
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Thank the universe for the backspace! I stared at the screen a bit this week. Even The Muse didn’t feel like insulting me. Great take.
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Dear Tanille,
Backspace is better than white-out, isn’t it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You have that right. Easier to shape a story. 😀
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Some days are like that. Gotta push on through, I say.
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Dear Josh,
I’ve had a slew of days like that lately. Sigh.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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We all have days like this, m’lady.
But most of us can’t express it quite so eloquently.
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Dear CE,
What a lovely compliment. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
That darn muse… she can be such a witch with a capital “B”, can’t she? Excellent take on a don’t know what to write post!
Shalom and lotsa loving words sent your way!
Dale
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Dear Dale,
And Now I’m behind on replying to my comments. Oy. Thank you for weighing in on the muse. Damn her eyes.
Shalom and lotsa hugs,
Rochelle
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No worries, dear friend! 🙂
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Thanks for brightening my day. And sharing that how elusive inspiration sometimes is. The ending made me laugh. Although I hope the muse gets in touch soon.
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Dear RC,
Your comment brightened my day. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Somehow you’ve been inspired by a lack of inspiration, so well done. We’ve all been there with the blank screen. She’ll be back when she realises she has to quarantine to get anywhere!
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Dear Jen,
She visits for short spurts. At least I have that. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I let my muse have Mondays and Tuesdays off. It works great!
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Dear Keith,
Hmmm…perhaps my muse is on strike at that.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Unkind of your Muse to bug out on you! But I suspect you have been given lots of musing in relation to your art. Have a beautiful week
Shalom,
Ronda
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Dear Ronda,
Ya think maybe there’s some muse envy going on between my art and writing muses? A lovely week to you, too, my friend.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The muse, or any fairy godmother.ish, does as it pleases.
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Right you are, Larry.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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She’ll be back!
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I hope so, Liz. I’m keeping a light in the window for her. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hoo boy, I surely can identify with this one!
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Dear Linda,
I think we all can relate. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Been there too. My muse and I have a relationship that’s “complicated.” Lately, she’s been pushing me to write more, which can be difficult when I need to make a grocery run. Other days, she’s like, “Do I know you?” Like I said, it’s complicated. Fun Stuff, Rochelle! You gave me a laugh.
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Dear Eric,
I find that the muse asserts herself at the most inconvenient times. When I was working full time it was even more difficult. Glad to give you laugh…which, in turn, gives me a smile. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love this story, Rochelle. Also loved that little sound you made at the end of your reading. Cute title also.
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Dear Lisa,
I’m pleased you liked my un-story and my reading. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are very welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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LOL. This story made me laugh on so many levels. If I had to pick one, my favorite phrase would have to be “stormy, dark knight.” Thinking Christian Bale thoughts! (Which lead to even better Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle thoughts!) Thanks for a much-needed mid-week stream-of-consciousness laugh!
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Dear Anne,
I’m glad to have provided some laughter. 😀 Thank you for your lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Teehee. That’s an excellent take on the prompt! I wonder whether you were channelling Snoopy? I’m sure the muse will be back soon!
Shalom
Penny
xx
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Dear Penny,
What writer doesn’t channel Snoopy? 😉 Keeping a light on in my window for the muse’s return. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The Dear Muse should have a little chat with Helen. 😉
This made me laugh …
Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
Mission accomplished. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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😀
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Well, at least you’ll still get her bills. I wonder what magazines a Muse would get? 🙂 Great piece, Rochelle and we’ve all been there. Mine tends to show up near the end of the week, but I’ve got a GPS tracker on it now, so we’ll see.
-David
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Dear David,
I just mark “return to sender” on her mail. If she doesn’t have the decency to tell me her whereabouts…;) She does show up from time to time when it isn’t convenient to stop and write.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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ha ha! Oh haven’t we all been there? I think you’ve touched on something there with binge-watching netflix and frying one’s brain – this might be my problem! Even without a muse, you’ve spun a really good story that resonated with us.
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Dear Fatima,
I have to admit I enjoy a good binge watch. 😉 The muse returns for small writings but nothing major brewing. Thank you for your affirming words. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A very invigorating feeling to know that one of the the best writers of historic fiction may also have those writerly blocks. Nice story, nevertheless to say, dear Rochelle!
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Dear Neel,
Such high praise. Yep we all have those blocks from time to time. Thank you. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great dialogue with your inner self. I’ve asked myself that question, “where are you?”, many times. Glad I’m not the only one. Made me smile!
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Dear Brenda,
You are most definitely NOT ALONE. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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well, it all worked out in the end. well done. 🙂
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Sort of. Thank you, Plaridel. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Entertaining to observe… discouraging to experience. Made me smile!
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Dear Susan,
I’m always happy to share a smile. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, that first line is like moving a massive boulder, but once shifted it trundles on down the hill and nothing will stop it.
“It was a dark and stormy night when the stars crashed out of the sky, the universe has changed course and I will never be the same again.”
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Dear James,
Oooh, I like what you did with that first line!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ooh noo! You’ll have to turn detective and track it down. Now there’s a story… 🙂
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Dear Ali
You might be onto a storyline at that. Hmmmm. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely piece Rochelle. Gave me a chuckle.
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Thank you, Shelley. Glad you to welcome you back with a chuckle.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, oh. Your muse has left the building.
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Dear Adele,
I’m hoping she’ll be back soon. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, I know this feeling oh-so-well lately. Thanks for the chuckle!
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Dear Sascha,
I’m feeling the need and desire to write something longer than 100 words. But the inspirations is escaping me. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Tsk, tsk, poor Shelley draws a blank. I suppose your next painting will be a white cow in a snow storm with her eyes closed. I anticipate it will sell millions if you market it correctly.
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Dear Detective Lowry,
Snooping around, are you? I like the idea though. I’d put Liza Jane in the picture but her few spots would ruin the blank essence of the composition. Perhaps a few white mice with their eyes closed. Oh…and an invisible box in the foreground, hiding in plain sight. Thank you for your words of useless inspiration. 😉
Shalom,
Shelley
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You’re quite welcome. It’s just one of the many useless services I provide.
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🥸🤣😷👋🏻
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Hahahaha fabulous! I really enjoyed this one. 🤣
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Thank you, Laurie. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Your muse may have gone on holiday, but your wit hasn’t gone anywhere! My muse was away for a couple of months… I wonder if muses gather and talk about us. 🙂
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Dear Mags,
I can only imagine what the muses might be saying behind our backs. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Really relateble I just started my own travel blog and then covid hit and I could not travel anymore from my country. No travel planning for me at all 😦
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