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.
Every writer has those days when their imaginary friends won’t come out to play. This has been my week. 😉
Genre: Hysterical Friction
100 Useless Words
DRAWING BLANKS
“I’m drawing blanks.” I stare at David’s photo. “I’m the leader. I can’t just post a photo prompt without my own story.”
“Drawing blanks is a good title,” says my good friend and nemesis Harvey Wingnut. “As an artist you should be quite adept at that.”
“You’re so funny I forgot to laugh.”
I beg my muse for an idea.
“Sorry, chick. You’re on your own,” she whispers. “I’m vacationing in the Bahamas.”
You get the picture.
I study the shadowy prompt and wonder who’ll be buried under that shed this week.
“You win, Harvey. ‘Drawing Blanks’ it is.”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Oh I love hysterical fiction and 100 useless words. What fun story 😜😂
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Glad you enjoyed, Sadje. Thank you for taking the time to say so. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure Rochelle 😍😂
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It’s reassuring to know it happens even to you, Rochelle
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Dear Neil,
Some days the magic works and some days it doesn’t. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
It works for me!
Lotsa fill-in-the-blank love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I hate it when the muse goes on strike. Glad it worked. 😉
Shalom and lotsa confounded hugs,
Rochelle
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If she’s gonna go on strike, this is the way to go about it!
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After being away for a few weeks and I come back to a photo that draws blanks from the leader of the pack? Oh no! lol, I guess I like the challenge….
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Dear Trent,
August has been a crazy busy month. I had no idea what to write for this prompt. Since it’s been a while I gave myself permission to write one of “those” stoies. 😉 Good to see you back.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think we have all been there… Thanks.
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Chuckles. I could actually picture that conversation in real life. The pic does lend itself to a good crime story! Love it!
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Dear Bear,
Some of it was actually a real life conversation. 😉 Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That makes it even funnier. About like hubby and I conversing… we always say “If family heard us, they’d roll their eyes in incomprehension”. Sometimes, we don’t even need to finish a sentence to understand what’s said. Sometimes it’s just a look.
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I promise. I didn’t bury anyone or thing under the shed. Now, turn off that light. I have work to do. lol. We all have blanks from time to time. Mine started about #@$& years ago.
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Dear Jan,
As I’ve said before…quoting Chief Dan George, “Some days the magic works…” Thanks M’luv.
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But I still love it and it has everything it needs.
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Thank you, Chioma. You’re very encouraging.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sometimes you’ve just got to go with a bit of fun. Love it 🙂
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Dear Lynn,
The trouble with this kind of story is that you can’t write them too often. 😉 Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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I saw a ‘back to the future’ film in this picture, moving away from that was challenging. You did well, it was fun to read.
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Dear Michael,
Perhaps the Delorian is in that shed. 😉 Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sometimes it’s good to have a break and a piece of silliness. I’m sure the muse will return from vacation refreshed!
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Dear Iain,
I certainly hope she does. 😉 Thank you for your encouraging words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you speak for a lot of us. It took me a bit to come up with something. At first I thought “X-Files” as I’m revisiting that old series currently. Then the other story sparked and I went with it. You did good!
Shalom,
Lisa
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Dear Rochelle,
Puns are so handy! A delight to read 🤗
Aleichem shalom,
Dora
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Kind of suspected it was Russell 🙂 No real story here, but lots of fun 🙂
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Dear Linda,
This really did spring from a conversation with Russell. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That was a fun read, like walking through a funhouse, not telling what’s around the next word!
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Dear Clare,
I love the analogy. Glad you enjoyed the read. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Haha, we’ve all been there, Rochelle! For my part, I would forgive you the occasional ‘just a picture’ post, but I enjoyed this little musing (or lack thereof) all the same!
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Dear Jen,
One time I forgot to post the photo and the first few writers made up their own story about the missing photo. Brilliant, I thought. Pobody’s Nerfect. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m with you Rochelle, I’m drawing blanks too. The more I look at it, I’m hoping my Muse will pop up, but she’s run away too. I thought the black lines were shadows from a tree or a pole…but that doesn’t make sense. The light seems to be from headlights maybe? But you did very well with your story!
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Dear Fleur,
You’d think when I post a prompt I’d have some idea. Not always the case. 😉 Thank you and I’m glad you did come up with a story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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One of the most relatable stories today 🙂
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Thank you, Berandette. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nothing like a dead body under the shed, Rochelle. Sorry you were abandoned by the muse this week. I’ve had quite the opposite as I write up about our trip to Bathurst and I’m finding inspiration at every turn and loads of research warrens to get lost in. However, research doesn’t necessarily translate into writing.
Hopefully, the muse will be back next week.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Dear Rowena,
It’s that research that keeps our writing authentic. I always learn so much from it. I think the muse is back from her holiday this week. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Okay, Rochelle,
Each Wednesday morning I say, “What am I going to do with that?” Then a series of muse-orchestrated ‘connect the dots’ happens in my brain. Sometimes I give up and go back to bed.
This week I heard the song ‘Stagger Lee’ (an old version), I read up on it (wow) and listened to several renditions as my brain says ‘the Brits are already at it.’ I wrote a story and started reworking it.
I ended up with a totally different, somewhat dystopian story using a completely different song (Hotel CA). After trimming off about 50 words and more reworking, I gave it to my editor. I worked up a post (with intro).
It is usually after noon before I am ready to click publish and am wondering if I will go swim and where. I was the 17th square this week.
You do a wonderful job. Thank you for it all. And thanks to your muse, as well.
Peace,
Bill
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Dear Bill,
And still those voices keep calling from far away. At least that was the very faint voice of my recalcitrant muse with this prompt. The dots not only refused to connect but were doing figure eights besides. The upside is I did swim more. Perhaps it’s the stress of age. 😉
Thank you for your encouraging words. I’m so glad you joined us in Purpleville. I look forward to your stories, intros and comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle,
And Happy Labor Day. I wish for you a wonderful week, in or out of the pool.
Peace,
Bill
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Even muses deserve a holiday! Fun 🙂
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Dear Ali,
The muse should have fun on her own time. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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you did well in my book. well done. 🙂
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Thanks for such an encouraging comment, Plaridel. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful story,
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Thank you, Neel.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My “voice” hasn’t been speaking to me much at all lately…drawing blanks or whatever, so I very much empathize. At least you created a fun story from it!
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Dear Sascha,
One can only write this type of story so often. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So even without an idea you knock it out of the park with a short 100 words ! Well done 🤣
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Thank you so much, Laurie. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Are you suggesting my photo stumped the great Rochelle, queen of the 100-word story? That is high praise indeed. Seriously though, thanks for using my photo and I totally understand. Many weeks I look at a picture and none of the ideas really click. I like your take on your blank.
Have a good long weekend,
David
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Dear David,
Some days the magic works and some days it doesn’t. Thank you for the photo even though it caused me much duress. 😉 And thank you for enouragin comments. Great? Hm…not so sure about that.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sometimes, the process can seem to be the story. Which is always fun.
Glad to read this!
-Miles
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Thank you for the encouraging words, Miles.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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