WEEKEND WRITING PROMPT – RAMSHACKLE

Published September 19, 2021 by rochellewisoff

A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s Comment Section.

It was the early 70’s. I guess you could’ve called it our…

HONEYMOON SUITE

“The rent is $85.00 a month,” said the landlady, cuddling her Schnauzer. “No pets allowed.”

What can I say about that ramshackle, third-floor walkup comprised of four rooms and one closet? It was our first home together and within walking distance of my school, the Art Institute.

A former tenant had painted the kitchen cabinets red and black. Try waking up to that every morning.

The walls must have been constructed of foam core board, held together with masking tape. We heard every clever word our next-door neighbors uttered such as, “Oh wow, man! What a rush!”

This is the only picture I have of our first apartment. The rest I leave to your imagination. 😉

3 September 2021

Published September 1, 2021 by rochellewisoff

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.

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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.”

27 August 2021

Published August 25, 2021 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT, a cool picture for hot days, depending on your side of the globe. Where does it take you? Tell us in a hundred words or less.

I’m doing it again. Taking a story out of mothballs and republishing it for Friday Fictioneers with a new photo prompt. It’s proving to be a crazy-busy summer and my muse is giving me the silent treatment. A few of you might remember this one from 2013.

Genre: Literary Fiction

Word Count: 100

ORDINARY GIRL

The surgeon told her she’d never walk again.

Not long after that, Grandpa Farthing came for a visit. “How’s my favorite cyclist?”

“Crippled.”

“Pity-party? Here, celebrate with this.” He tossed a book into her lap. “I enjoyed it as a boy.”

“‘Around the World on a Bicycle’?”

“By Thomas Stevens. Rode it on a big-wheeled contraption called a Penny Farthing.”

“You’re joking.”

“Nope.”

Two years later, inspired by Stevens’ determination, she labored to prove the doctors wrong and registered for her first Penny Farthing race.

The official stared at her signature. “You’re joking.”

“Nope, Miss Penelope Farthing at your service.”

You can find more about Thomas Stevens who rode what was then known as an Ordinary Bicycle by clicking here . For more in depth reading the book is available on Amazon.com.

The ordinary bicycle was nicknamed “Penny Farthing” for its shape:

13 August 2021

Published August 11, 2021 by rochellewisoff

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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.

Genre: Histrionic Fiction
Word Count: 100

PEACE BY PIECE

“Whatcha doin’ sis?”

“If you must know, I’m working a five-hundred-piece jigsaw puzzle. There.” Mindy snapped a corner in place. “That completes the border. Wanna help?”

Mike donned his baseball mitt. “Nah. Looks like work to me. Why would anyone waste their time like that?”

“Glad you asked. British cartographer James Spilsbury invented the dissected map in 1762 as an educational tool for the Royals’ children.”

“Uh, sis…?”

“Fast forward to 1933. Die-cast puzzles became all the rage. Cheap entertainment to—”

“Yoo-hoo?”

Mindy huffed. “What?”

“I’m not a history expert like you, but I’m pretty sure that’s John Spilsbury.”

A bit more history of the jigsaw puzzle.

6 August 2021

Published August 4, 2021 by rochellewisoff

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: Hysterical Fiction
Word Count: 100

DATE NIGHT

“Let’s do something besides a movie.”

“I’m game,” said Kevin. “Whatcha thinking?”

“Ice skating” I replied. “The bowling alley just opened a new rink.”

***

Donning my rental skates, I visualized gracefully gliding across the ice like Peggy Fleming. As I stood, reality set in. My feet took off in two different directions.

I managed a faulty stride or two before Kevin seized my hand. We fell and slid on our butts. After a few more stabs at staying upright, he said, “If we hurry we can catch ‘Yellow Submarine.’”

I rubbed my sore bum. “Milk Duds and popcorn. Extra butter.”

23 July 2021

Published July 21, 2021 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT, a cool picture for hot days, depending on your side of the globe. Where does it take you? Tell us in a hundred words or less.

PHOTO PROMPT© Na’ama Yehuda תודה חברה שלי 😉

Some of you may remember this story. I posted it exactly six years ago this week. Different photo prompt.

Genre: Science Friction

Word Count: 100

YOUNGER DRYAS

“The weatherman says we can expect another six inches of global warming tonight.” Kent knelt and shaped a mound of wet snow into a ball. Then he stood and let it fly. “Look out, Taffy. Here comes some of your greenhouse effect!”

The snowball splattered against the back of Taffy’s head and ice rolled down her neck. She spun around. “How can you ignore what’s happening right under your nose?”

“Climate change? Hooey and hogwash!”

Taffy bent and dug a conch shell from a knee-high drift. “Doesn’t this weather strike you as being a bit odd for Florida in mid-July?”

***

Climate-Change-Public-Domain-620x330 — **click**

Weekend Writing Prompt – Tether

Published July 4, 2021 by rochellewisoff

A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s comment section.

To whom it may or may not concern,

Please excuse me from participating in this week’s weekend writing prompt. You see I’m tethered to a stubborn muse who’s giving me the silent treatment. And now my imaginary friends refuse to let me play with their toys.

I will miss the interaction with other bloggers, but I just don’t have eighty words to spare. If that’s not enough, the dog ate my printer paper. Thank you for your understanding.

Shalom,

Rochelle

11 June 2021

Published June 9, 2021 by rochellewisoff

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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.

Genre: Hysterical Fiction
Word Count: 100

TANG TALES

“Tang. NASA sent it to outer space.” Russell stirred orange powder into his water. “Remember the commercials when we were kids? I wanted to be an astronaut like John Glenn.”

“Just like I remember. Fortified with vitamin C and full of sugar.” Rochelle raised her glass. “To William A. Mitchell, the Montana farm boy who grew up to be a food chemist and invented not only Tang, but Cool Whip and Pop Rocks as well.”

“A toast to our maven of trivia,” Russell took a sip and grimaced. “Blecch! Gimme a beer instead. To quote astronaut Buzz Aldrin, ‘Tang sucks.’”

7 May 2021

Published May 5, 2021 by rochellewisoff

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: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100

TALES FROM THE CRYPT

“What was it like when you were a kid, Grandpa?” asked Trevor.

John leaned back in his recliner. “We were poor. In fact, we didn’t have a TV until I was in high school. The five of us lived in an 8 foot by 40-foot trailer. No iPhones like today.”

“And you walked three miles uphill to school and back every day. And ate dirt for supper. Right?”

“Okay, wise guy. I’m done.”

“Please Pa-Pa, go on.” Gina scowled at her brother. “Are you really that old?”

“Old?” Trevor cackled. “When Grandpa was born, the Dead Sea was only sick.”

WEEKEND WRITING PROMPT – WAYWARD

Published May 2, 2021 by rochellewisoff

A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s Comment Section.