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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
There are days and weeks when inspiration is a snap. The ideas flow and stories leap onto the page. Without boring you with the details, I’ll just say this hasn’t been one of those weeks. 
Genre: All too realistic and hysterical fiction
Count: 100 Uninspired Words
UNINSPIRED
Shelly typed a line from a familiar childhood story, “Run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me. I’m the gingerbread man.”
Outside her window, birds chirped, heralding the dawn.
“Nope, not the least bit inspiring.” She backspaced over the sentence and tapped out. “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”
“There. I’ve used every letter of the alphabet. Now what?”
Downing the last of her coffee, Shelly pressed the backspace key again and stared at the photo prompt.
She leaned back and pouted. “I hate it when my muse gives me the silent treatment.”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
While claiming to be uninspired, she has written what most writers go through.
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Dear Sadje,
And this writer is going through it right now. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re most welcome Rochelle.
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Sometimes you just have to go into the muse’s cave, sword in hand. Take care only to look at it in the mirror though
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Dear Neil,
I’ll keep my sword handy. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I do what you did here in similar situations. Just write down whatever comes to mind.
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Dear Reena,
Sometimes writing something.–anything–will knock the cobwebs loose. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I struggled a bit this week. Great job at making something out of nothing.
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Dear Tannille,
It happens to all of us, doesn’t it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love it! This week, the photo kinda fits a thought I was swirling in my stewpot so there’s inspiration. Now to get that inspiration into words that are coherent.. that is the challenge. Been going back and reading past stories I’ve written in search of anything to write all week. Hope your muse comes back from Vacation soon. Shalom, Bear
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Dear Bear,
It’s been a trying week and the summer is only ramping up its share of busy. It does help to go back over some old stories. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I feel like I’m in a bit of a holding pattern until July’s appt. Just can’t seem to find any motivation to do anything unless I have to.
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lol, that’s my reaction to the photo as well, though now I can’t write it since it has been taken 😉 I think you need to talk to whoever picked this one out… lol
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Dear Trent,
Aye, there’s the rub. “She” picks those prompts and there’s nothing “I” can do about it. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’ve accurately documented my struggles. I feel your pain.
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Dear Sandra,
It seems we all get there sooner or later, don’t we? Thank you for your understanding.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
You ended up writing a great post anyway.
Shalom,
Adele
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Dear Adele,
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ideas come speeding past, but you have to catch them before they disappear into the darkness. I love the Gingerbread story.
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Dear James,
Sometimes those ideas are as hard to catch as the gingerbread man. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well, it was a good story anyway. I know I’ve never been unmotivated before. Lol.
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Dear Jan,
Motivation comes in different ways, doesn’t it? 😉 Sometimes it’s best to unplug.
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Haha…doggone muse!
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Right, Dawn? Pfft!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yup. Happened to me last week. Hoping my muse wakes up this week!
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Dear Linda,
I’m a little concerned about my muse as we round another week. Thank you for commiserating.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I’m blank again this week. I’ve determined to write something–anything–tomorrow! This is rare for me, and I don’t like it!
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I know the feeling , Linda.
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Been there, worn the teeshirt!
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I understand, Liz. We all do.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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She’s temperamental, that’s for sure. Good story.
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Dear Lisa,
Temperamental, capricious and sometimes a downright witch with a capital B. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are very welcome ❤
Shalom,
Lisa
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Sometimes, you have to show that muse who’s boss and just beg. I’ve done a lot of staring, bouncing around from distraction to distraction, hoping something will pop into my head while I wasn’t looking, and giving up and working in the yard lately. You’ve captured the struggle and frustration perfectly.
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Dear Nobbin,
I do a lot of painting when the writing muse is gives me the silent treatment. Or I water my plants or wash dishes. The wrestling match continues. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Everyone deserves a break now and then, muse included! 😉
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Dear Iain,
You’re more forgiving than I. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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When I first saw the picture I thought, Offda! And walked away. Upon my return, I saw fireflies. Sometimes the muse just ain’t there.
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Dear Alicia,
It’s been a busy summer so far and the muse has been ellusive. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think we all know that feeling, Rochelle. This week I was definitely carried by extra inspiration.
In case it’s of interest, the quick brown fox only uses all the letters if he jumpS over the dog. JumpED doesn’t quite make it.
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Dear Jen,
I’ve heard it said that some weeks you’re the dog and others you’re fire hydrant. BTW, I did change jumped to jumps in the written, however I’m not willing to rerecord it. 😉 Thanks for the catch.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Haha, I love that analogy. Definitely feel like a fire hydrant here sometimes, but the dog will have his (her) day!
And I wouldn’t expect you to re-record. The difference is very slight; I’m the convert who now preaches on this one. I was writing / saying ‘jumped’ for ages until it was pointed out to me. It’s funny how such a common letter is the one that gets missed
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Uninspiration equates to being sick for a writer…it just feels bad. Like the color has washed out of the world. Hopefully you’re cured now.
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Dear Clare,
I’m typing my way back to health. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well, it happens to us all Rochelle, good stuff
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Thank you, Shrawley. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great post! I’ve definitely had those weeks where inspiration is hard to come by. Your writing style makes the mundane seem hilarious. I’m curious, what techniques do you use to get creative when you’re feeling uninspired?
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I don’t know that I have any particular techniques. I just sit down and type. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Cute way to deal with the dearth of creativity 🙂
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Dear Trish,
I seem to write one of these types of posts about once a year. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Muses can be so very temperamental!!
Shalom and lotsa inspired love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Temperamental indeed. Sigh. Some days…;) Thank you for chiming in.
Shalom and lotsa proliic hugs,
Rochelle
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You know it’s how it is 🙂
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I had to give my muse a serious talking to today. It’s her fault I’m late to the party this week!
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Dear Keith,
Oh those muses. Can’t live with ’em. Can’t live without ’em. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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it was quite a challenge indeed, but you passed the test. well done.
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Thank you so much, Plaridel. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Boy, do I know that feeling! Well done.
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Dear Athling,
Don’t we all? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Captured perfectly – don’t you just hate it when it happens 😊
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Dear Angela,
Thank you for your encouragement. It does happen periodically.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s been a while, but so thrilled to find you and the FF still in the writing!
That quick brown fox is always pestering this lazy dog! Great take!
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Dear Yolanda,
So happy you’ve returned for another go. For the time being, I haven’t let go of Friday Fictioneers. Don’t see it happening any time soon. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Don’t we all. Nicely done.
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Thank you, Brit.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS If you don’t see your comment show up it will probably be in my Trash folder. Not sure why this happens with certain FF’rs. But I do check every day. 😉
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Oh, okay. Thanks for the heads up. 👍
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Case in point. Don’t know why it’s happening, but this one was there, too.
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Oh that pesky muse! I wish she was a chatterbox some days. Still, fabulous story, Rochelle. I could really relate
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Dear Laurie,
The muse is a capricious one, isn’t she? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Good one! Something I think we’re all familiar with every so often!
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Dear Nancy,
As writers we all relate, don’t we? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sorry to have missed the party! It’s not like me to me late. Oh well! Hope you enjoy my “better late than never” story:
https://theelephantstrunk.org/2023/06/29/i-dig-love/
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