22 March 2019

Published March 20, 2019 by rochellewisoff

The following is the PHOTO PROMPT. Express permission is given for the purpose of Friday Fictioneers only. It is proper etiquette to give credit to the photographer/contributor. Thank you.

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

Get the Code

CLICK THE FROG TO JOIN THE FUN!

Genre: Historical Fiction circa 1950

Word Count: 100

MOONS AND JUNES AND FERRIS WHEELS

Eighteen-year-old Tammy set the cake on the table. “Seventy-five candles, Grammy.”

Phoebe blew with all her might. “Wish James was here to celebrate with us.” Winded, she leaned back and shut her eyes. “We met in 1893. I was your age.

***

“May I sit here, Miss?”

Phoebe gazed into his startling blue eyes. “Certainly.”

“Think this contraption is safe?”

From their car at the top of the observation wheel, an unheard of 264 feet, she took in the whole fair. Heart pounding, she grasped his hand. He squeezed hers.

***

Tammy squeezed Phoebe’s stiff hand. “Give Gramps a kiss for me.”

For a little more about the Ferris Wheel CLICK HERE

The original Ferris Wheel at the Chicago Worlds Fair in 1893

15 March 2019

Published March 13, 2019 by rochellewisoff

Like us on Facebook

The following photo is the PROMPT. It is proper etiquette to give credit where credit is due. Thank you.

PHOTO PROMPT © Anshu Bhojnagarwala

CLICK THE FROG TO JOIN THE FUN!

Get the Code

The following is a snippet from my books AS ONE MUST ONE CAN and A STONE FOR THE JOURNEY. Rachel is a favorite character of mine. Perhaps I’ll write a novel about her in the future. At the very least, a short story. 😉

Genre: Historical Fiction circa 1907

Word Count! 100

SHORTSIGHTED

Miss Kline glanced at three-year-old Rachel and back at Havah. “She’s—”

“Blind.” Rachel grinned. “I don’t have floppy nerves.”

“Optic nerves,” said Havah.

“May I play piano for Miss Kline, Mommy?”

“Play something pretty.”

Rachel’s dog led her to the upright piano and lay down next to it so Rachel could use her for a step stool.

“Surely you don’t allow her to bang on that lovely instrument,” whispered Miss Kline.

Havah smiled but said nothing. Rachel danced her tiny fingers across the keys.

Miss Kline clapped her hand over her mouth. “Bless my soul, it’s… it’s… Bach’s ‘Musette’!”

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Published March 9, 2019 by rochellewisoff

This week Pegman is still wandering around in the Northern Hemisphere. However this time Pegman visits Greenland for the first time.

Your mission is to write up to 150 words inspired by this week’s location. Feel free to use the photo supplied with the prompt or search for your own. Be warned–you won’t find much in the way of streetview or photospheres here.

Once your piece is polished, share it with others using the Linkup below. Reading and commenting on others’ work is part of the fun!

Thanks to Karen and Josh for hosting the challenge.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

So, it’s Saturday morning. Like every Saturday morning for the past two years, there’s an email in my inbox from Karen or Josh with the location of this week’s What Pegman Saw Blog Challenge.

I laugh at a picture of a flock of penguins on the ice preparing to swim. Surely there’s a story in that. I could write an amusing tale of anthropomorphic birds at a royal ball in black and white tuxedos. After all, talking cerebral animals worked well for Deborah Howe in her hilarious children’s book, “Bunnicula.”

After thinking it over I decide against penguins. Magnificent landscapes aren’t inspiriting me. In the end, I’ve decided to go with my first thought. I couldn’t help myself.

In the movie “A Hard Day’s Night,” which followed a fictitious day in the life of the Beatles, an interviewer asked John Lennon, “How did you find America.”

“Turn left at Greenland.”

*

SEASHORE – Weekend Word Prompt

Published March 9, 2019 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 the comments.

Word Prompt

Thanks to Sammi Cox for the challenge. 😀

A little reminiscence .

My parents took me to Miami Beach the year I turned fourteen.

My first trip to the seashore.

However…

Puberty wreaked havoc

Hormones raged.

Everything was wrong. I didn’t have a Twiggy figure.

My hair required constant ironing.

Nonetheless…

The sea calmed me.

The ocean stretched before me.

I dipped my toe in the water.

As the future beckoned.

A picture my brother took of 14 year old me being very unhappy with myself.

DEVOTION – Weekend Word Prompt

Published March 3, 2019 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 the comments.

Thanks to Sammi Cox for the weekend challenge.

The affair began in innocence

Understanding

Accelerated into devotion

Ardent passion

Resistance is futile.

I am a hopeless love slave.

Writing is a jealous lover.

1 March 2019

Published February 27, 2019 by rochellewisoff

Like us on Facebook

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 © Jean L. Hays

Get the Code

I hope the new format for the inLinkz works. Just click on the froggy. I’ve put the update off for a month. Don’t you love updates? I think I’ve done this right. I’m still resisting the new WordPress dashboard. 😉 In any event, after wrestling with the new inLinkz format, here’s my ‘story’ for this week.

Genre: Hysterical Fiction

Word Count: 100

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?

“It’s not what you look at that matters…,” said Sandra.

“…it’s what you see,” said Shrawley.

“Our Fairy Blog Mother posts it almost every week like it’s highly significant or something.” Russell repositioned his clown nose while his pooch, Liza Jane, warbled a tune. “Ask Louisa May Alcott Wisoff-Fields yourself.”

“You yanks are so obtuse,” fumed Ali. “Don’t you see the flying saucer over the market?”

“Pfft!” Dale rolled her eyes. “Give it up.”

Rochelle’s frustration mounted. “The prompt is a mere suggestion. Use your imaginations, please.”

“Oooh. Now I see it.” Russell pointed to the Coors sign. “Bottoms up.”

INDISTINCT

Published February 23, 2019 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 the comments.

Thanks to Sammi Cox for the challenge.

Word Prompt

Indistinct

This week is a snippet from my WIP “What the Heart Wants.”

The shop dissolved into a miasma of indistinct outline and shadow. Asher saw only Papa’s oozing, hollow eyes.

: Kishinev Pogrom 1903

22 February 2019

Published February 20, 2019 by rochellewisoff

Like us on Facebook

Please be considerate of 70 or more participants and keep your story to 100 words. Thank you.

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.

get the InLinkz code

Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

AWAKENED AND STIRRED

“You admit to helping to spread leaflets for those subversives calling themselves The White Rose?”

“What we wrote and said is also believed by many others. They just don’t dare express themselves as we did. And I would do it again.”

Swastika flag draped behind him, the judge stood and shook his fist. “For your crimes you’ve been sentenced this 22^nd day of February 1943.”

“As you will be judged for yours.”

Schubert’s “Andantino” played in twenty-one-year-old Sophie Scholl’s mind. Birds sang and the whole of creation called joyfully to her as she trembled before the guillotine, head held high.

*Note: This Friday is February 22, 2019 …76 years to the day Sophie, her brother Hans and his friend Christof were executed for standing up to Nazi barbarism. May their memories be blessed.

Sophie Scholl

***

The following video I add “just because.” The fact is the Nazis often forced Jewish musicians to accompany the condemned to the gas chambers. It’s long and not directly related to the story. To me it seemed to fit. Listen or not.

THE GOLDEN LOTUS

Published February 16, 2019 by rochellewisoff

This week Pegman is in the Jaingxi province of China. There are a few more photosheres available than the last time I went searching in this area. Hopefully you can find something that inspires you. I had trouble getting to this area through the main Google maps, but you are free to try for yourself.

Your mission is to write up to 150 words inspired by the prompt. Whether you write fiction, poetry, sonnet, limerick or essay is completely up to you. Once your piece is polished, share it with others using the linkup below. Reading and commenting is part of the fun!

Thanks to Karen and Josh for hosting this weekly cruise.

During China’s Song Dynasty (970 – 1260), seen as property, a woman’s sole purpose was to please her husband. Officially sanctioned, foot-binding became the essence of feminine beauty. The smaller a woman’s foot, the better her chances of marrying well. The practice continued into the 20th century until China came under Communist rule.

To learn more CLICK HERE

It’s always fun to take on oldie out of mothballs and give it a fresh look. I first posted a version of this story in January 2013 for Friday Fictioneers.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 150

THE GOLDEN LOTUS

Bones bound and crushed in childhood, Zhen Xi’s feet fit a man’s palm. Such prized feet represented wealth and social status. Although the pain was often unbearable, she enjoyed the attention she garnered from the young men.

It came as no surprise when her youthful beauty caught wizened warlord Han Donhai’s eye.

She begged her father. “Please don’t make me marry him. Chan Ho is my true love.”

“We are poor. It is not for you to love.”

Every night she endured beatings following Han Donhai’s inadequacy. She feared she would ultimately suffer the same fate as three past wives who died under his sword for their failure to conceive.

Seven months after the wedding, fireworks spangled the sky in celebration of Donhai’s nine pound heir.

Hours later he wielded his blade over her head. “You faithless whore!”

She smiled. Her child would live while her unbound spirit ran free.

15 February 2019

Published February 13, 2019 by rochellewisoff

Like us on Facebook

As always, please be considerate of your fellow Fictioneers and keep your stories to 100 words. (Title is not included in the word count.) Many thanks.

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.

get the InLinkz code

Genre: Memoir

Word Count: 100

MOTIF

South City View—we kids replaced ‘View’ with ‘Zoo.’ I suspect our overworked teachers used the same handle.

A bright spot for me was Mr. O’Neill, a teddy bear of a man. He taught art to all the elementary grades in the Center school district, going from school to school and room to room. His visits served as once-a-week holidays from routine classroom tedium.

In junior high, Mrs. Spears filled his vacancy in my life, followed by Mr. Creamer in high school. I often wonder what became of Robert H. O’Neill who added color, form and composition to my childhood.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.