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.
Genre: Fiction
Word Count: 100
TRUE GRIT
“‘Wanting to be a writer and not wanting to be rejected is like wanting to be a boxer and not wanting to get punched.’” Elise types, continuing with, “Ray Bradbury said, ‘You have to know how to accept rejection and reject acceptance.’
“Harper Lee suggested the writer ‘develop a thick hide.’
Elise’s muse taunts her. “Hackneyed quotes from successful authors.”
Elise backspaces and taps out, “The author gropes fragile branches keeping her head above muddy waters of despair. That’s depth. Golden verbiage. Pulitzer material.”
“You sure about that?” The muse snorts.
Elise rereads her words. “Ugh.” Control-A-Delete. “I’m going swimming.”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Very good, I like this.
Every good writer knows that words are meaningless without faith and emotion.
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Dear James,
We also know that too many adjectives and adverbs slow a piece to a crawl. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Just what you don’t need: a snarky muse
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Dear Neil,
I wonder where that snark comes from? 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beseeching authors?
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Perhaps.
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Such is the life of a writer. Even the muse is a critic!
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True story, Tannille. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So true.
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I think it was good writing!
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Thank you, Sadje. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re welcome Rochelle
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Can identify 🙂
No matter what- we do not have to give up & just keep writing 🙂
And of course, swimming is a great idea.
“Just keep swimming”- Finding Nemo.
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Dear Anita,
Swimming helps everything. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That is one hell of a starting line………how true….and truer words never spoken throughout.
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Dear Ain,
As writers we can all relate. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
You sure this is fiction? And that first line is a sucker punch, isn’t it?
Excellent use of this lovely photo!
Shalom and lotsa inspired love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Well you know about that Elise chick. 😉 I can’t claim originality for the first line, but it sure is true, isn’t it? Thanks for your encouraging words…on and off the grid.
Shalom and lotsa a-muse-ing hugs,
Rochelle
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Well dang it. It’s still grand. And yes, I know about that Elise chick!
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Good piece on being a writer, well done, Rochelle.
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Thanks so much, Mason.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re welcome.
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I love how you used the photo. Shows how good you are at pulling stories out of nowhere. What does your muse know anyway? Life is full of mountains and valleys. Just remember, when you are in the valleys, that’s where the water flows. And water makes you happy because you can swim. Good story.
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Dear Jan,
What a great comment. 😀 Thank you, m’luv. ❤
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A useful reminder of why I never read Pulitzer stuff. I hope this story is purely fictional, except the bit about swimming!
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Dear Jen,
I wish I could say that this is pure fiction. Some Pulitzer material isn’t worth reading, is it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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According to (Jack Klugman’s version of )…Oscar Madison, Dorothy Parker said it best for all writers. She hated writing but loved having written
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Dear Larry,
I actually do enjoy the process of writing, although lately… 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m glad the muse rescued her before she drowned in the muddy waters of her prose. Fun story, gave me a good laugh.
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Dear Gabi,
I’m glad it made you laugh. One can drown in the waters of adverb and adjective, can’t she? 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That doesn’t sound like fiction to me. That’s my everyday internal dialogue.
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Dear Nobbin,
I confess. It’s more fact than fiction. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Good story. If only there were a magical formula…
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Dear Lisa,
A magic formula would be nice. Take to tablets and write an best seller in the morning. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are most welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Lovely picture to work with.
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Thank you, Di.
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Loved your take on the prompt, Rochelle! So ingenious to write it into the text your struggling MC produces.
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Dear Penny,
My MC has been struggling with her muse these days. 😉 A little rattled and shaken by recent events. Thank you for your encouraging words. And for the lovely photo.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Smiled my way through this story. Surely some successful writer somewhere said SOMETHING about shoving the keyboard off the desk, taking a break, and coming back all the more refreshed to a more congenial muse?! :>)
Shalom,
Dora
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Dear Dora,
I think every writer at some point feels like shoving that keyboard somewhere. 😉 Your smiles make me happy. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Good Advice beyond Writing! Hope you are well Rochelle ☺️
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Thank you, Roy.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I am well. 😉
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Sometimes… maybe even many times, our muse needs a good “Gibbs head slap.” Then there are times our muse goes MIA – like mine at the moment. She’s not allowed to visit because of the Covid lockdown (8 weeks and counting.) Peace dear Rochelle.
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Dear Lyn,
I laughed at the Gibbs head slap. Not a bad idea. I think mine is swimming in the river pictured. Raising her head to offer a suggestion on occasions. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A dilema to ponder. I realised I’ve mastered the ‘rejecting acceptance’ bit but have made little headway so far on the juxtaposition. I sense where you are, and I know it will pass. Though not from personal experience, sadly.
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Dear Sandra,
I’m still waiting for it to pass. 😉 May we both be able to move out of our “stuckedness” soon. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Interesting 🙂
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I think Elise’s muse must hang out with mine as they have similar levels of snark. Of course, mine is usually off on a spa vacation in Patagonia these days. Sigh. Wish I could exchange places with my muse.
You have written a very relatable tale. And, oh dear, guess I better start dumping adverbs and adjectives . . . lol
And, I agree — pulitzer prize material can be unreadable. Your Friday Fictioneer tales are always VERY readable. Ooops is that an adjective or an adverb? Dang.
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Dear Lorraine,
Not too long ago I read a Pulitzer winner and couldn’t believe how much porn was in it. If that’s what it takes to win a Pulitzer, no thanks. But then I’m not in too much danger there.
Thank you for your generous comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An opinionated muse can sometimes be a little irritating. I hope for your sake she doesn’t know how to swim!
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Dear Keith,
Actually she does swim. That’s where she often speaks to me. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ahhhh, the struggles of an author who strives to be true to the words they record. Great story, and oh so very true. Got to hate it when you argue with your muse, dontcha… LOL!
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Dear Bear,
I think every author can relate. Afraid my muse and I are swimming in stagnant waters. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Aw, I reckon Elise was onto something there 🙂
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Dear Ali,
Not sure if Elise was grasping at reeds or onto something. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Querida Rochelle,
Who hasn’t felt these writing pains?
Well said … love the first line.
Be Safe … Abrazos y Carino,
Isadora 😎
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Querida Isadora,
Creo que es la verdad para la mayoria de los autores. (heaves heavy sigh) Gracias para sus palabras amables.
Shalom y abrazos,
Rochelle
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swimming in the ocean can be beautiful, as can words flowing on to paper. Do keep swimming and writing Rochelle
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Dear Michael,
Doing my best although, at times, I feel I’m treading water. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ack, so familiar!
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Right? Thank you for commiserating, Athling.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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like they say, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going after some rest. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
So they say. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sometimes words are just splashes in the pan – deadpanned or perhaps, dead in the water. Best to let the muse snicker then, I should think, and change the mindset by setting out to do something else. Well done and clever ending Rochelle. Shalom!
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Dear Wild Child,
For me, when the words don’t come, I turn to my painting. 😉 Thank you for your encouraging comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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changing directions when stuck helps unblock – expending energies in different directions, even a walk outside, or definitely something creative like painting, often offers the path to “solving” things …. definitely a very wise choice for you to have another outlet in which to create and play …. and find comfort too! Shalom!
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Hmm… Elise sounds extremely familiar. 😉 Love your humor, El… I mean… Rochelle. 😊
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Dear Mags,
Familiar? Busted! Thank you.
Shalom,
Elise (It’s my middle name 😉 )
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Love the way the inner characters argue with each other, very clever, very recognisable.
One writing teacher I met said she turned her laptop font to white while she wrote, so she couldn’t read the words as she went along !
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Dear Francine,
if I turned my font to white the typos would be unending. 😉 I think most writers relate. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This!
I feel every word of this, Rochelle.
Beautifully put.
The trauma of doubt. I think I’ll go for a walk.
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Dear Laurie,
Thank you for such an encouraging comment. Enjoy your walk. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Every single word is so true and relatable. Ah! the birth pangs of being a writer! Reliving the pain over and over! A fabulous first line, Rochelle.
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Dear Neel,
It never ends, does it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I like that muse, to a degree. The degree being the snark. If you’re down though, that muse might just keep you down. 😦
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Dear Sascha,
My muse and I are still arm wrestling. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I hope you get your mojo back. Mine comes in bits and spurts. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. 🤞
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Thank you, Sascha.
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