Weekend Writing Prompt – Mercurial

Published June 1, 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. To join leave your link in Sammi’s comment section.

After forty-five years I miss your mercurial personality. Remember our lively battles of wits, Jerry—all those ornery barbs we lobbed back and forth? I wish you were still here so I could say them all over again.

*My husband’s brother, Jerry, died in a car accident when he was in the Air Force, stationed in Turkey in 1974. He was one of the funniest, sharpest people I have ever known.

24 May 2019

Published May 22, 2019 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.

PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll

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Genre: Memoir

Word Count: 100

TOYS, GAMES, AND YO-YO’S

My Chatty Cathy doll said eleven different things, ranging from “Let’s play house” to “I love you.” Her voice sounded just like Talking Tina of “I’m going to kill you” Twilight Zone Fame. No surprise. Voice actress June Foray spoke for both of them.

However, of all the toys I lost or broke, only one stood up to years of joyful wear and tear.

I owe it to inventor André Cassagnes, a baker’s son whose allergy to flour caused him to seek employment as an electrician. His creation would go on to become the Etch-A-Sketch.

I still play with it.

***

Portrait of Jan on my Etch-A-Sketch

Weekend Writing Prompt – VULNERABLE

Published April 27, 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.

Thank you for the prompt, Sammi!

Everyone hides behind a mask.

Never did she feel more vulnerable than when she applied a whiteface mime mask and bared her soul to an audience.

Weekend Writing Prompt -IMPRESS

Published April 21, 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 for the challenge.

A few of my high school class mates and I friended each other on Facebook. One day someone suggested we all meet at a local café for lunch. I hedged. Why would they invite me? We never hung in the same social circles. With great apprehension, I went.

The visit wasn’t what I expected. As teenagers we all worried about what everyone else thought of us. Today we’re simply women of a certain age with more in common than not—adult children, grandchildren and imminent retirement.

We’ve left high school and its emotional baggage four decades behind us. Who do we need to impress?

Rochelle at 16 – A very serious student.

Weekend Writing Prompt-CHARLATAN

Published April 13, 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.

Thank you for the prompt Sammi.

The public school system failed my son. Desperate to help him succeed, I enrolled him in a private school. Although he liked his teachers, too often he locked horns with the principal.

At first I chalked it up to my son’s difficulty with authority figures. Not so. When push came to shove, that charlatan expelled my son for telling the truth.

The boy has grown up to be a man I’m very proud of.

12 April 2019

Published April 10, 2019 by rochellewisoff

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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.

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

CLICK THE FROG TO JOIN THE FUN!

Get the Code

This Friday, April 12 is my 7th Anniversary as a Fictioneer!!! I posted my very first story 12 April 2012

(I didn’t start as the facilitator and I had a lot to learn about reciprocation.)

Genre: Memoir

Word Count: 100

This man influenced me more than I realized all those years ago.

YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, UNCLE CHET

My drama teacher intimidated me. With meerschaum pipe in hand, he commanded center stage.

Etched forever in the cloisters of my memory is the day he offered my partner and me a few pointers on our duet for a drama contest. Mr. Landes dropped to his hands and knees. Tongue hanging, he yipped and sniffed.

It took every ounce of self-control to deliver my lines. “Atta boy, Snoopy, it’s a beautiful day for chasing rabbits.”

After completing the scene, Chet Landes adjusted his ascot and resumed his dignity, then turned to Kent. “That, sir, is how it’s done. Any questions?”

Note: I’ll count this as a comment. I shared the story with the other half of the duet and this was his response: “What a sweet … and hilarious … memory!And you better believe I remember this very moment. Mr. Landes playing Snoopy? Hah! Thanks for sharing, Rochelle. This is very special. Kent.”

Chet Landes Yearbook Picture

A cherished note. He addressed it to Lucy after the character I played in the scene from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Kent onstage

Linus and Lucy, still friends after all these years.

Mr. Landes intent on a student.

Weekend Writing Prompt – Anathema

Published March 30, 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.

History class was the bane of my high school existence. Anathema.

Who cared what happened fifty years ago?

Fast forward fifty years. Discuss Vietnam, the Kennedy assassination, or even adjusting the horizontal on a television with a millennial and watch her eyes glaze.

Now I understand what my teachers tried to say.

Quotation-George-Santayana-Those-who-cannot-remember-the-past-are-condemned-to-repeat-25-87-01

WEEKEND WRITING PROMPT – IMPERVIOUS

Published March 24, 2019 by rochellewisoff

The challenge is simple: each week you will be given an exact number of words you can use to write a poem or piece of prose. You can use any format or style you like; go wherever your inspiration takes you.

Thank you, Sammi

Does the name Kenner ring a bell? If you grew up—or had a child—between 1960 and 2000 it should.

Remember Stretch Armstrong? You could tie him in knots, stomp on him and extend his body from Kansas City to St. Louis. What Kenner advertisers never bothered to tell you was how the impervious super hero didn’t stand a chance against a four-year-old boy and his comrade.

I’m not sure how the indestructible paladin met his Waterloo. I can only tell you what it’s like to scrape ten pounds of gooey innards from the basement floor. R.I.P., Stretch.

Weekend Writing Prompt – EQUINOX

Published March 16, 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.

Thanks to Sammi for the challenge.

Once more the word prompt has me in touch with my inner Dale. 😉

The package arrived an hour and fifteen minutes before the vernal equinox and eleven days before we expected it. Nonetheless, we were prepared for its imminent appearance.

Monday afternoon, following twenty-four hours of practiced breathing, effleurage and pushing, our second son transformed us into a family of four. Seven pounds, twelve and a half ounces of chubby cuteness, son two was born four years and four days after his older brother.

Spring heralded noisy birthday parties and colorful cakes—our own March Madness.

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