I’m not a rule breaker, but I am a rule-find-a-way-arounder.
The 100-word writing challenge from Madison Woods isn’t supposed to be submitted until Friday on her website, but that doesn’t mean I can’t post mine on Thursday here on my blog. I had a lot of positive reactions last week, and I gained a bunch of followers from her readers. When I saw the picture, I knew exactly what I was going to write. afterward, I had such a physical reaction that I couldn’t wait.
Please feel free to write your creative piece – prose or poetry or anything – and submit it on her site on Friday. It’s fun, and you learn something too. I learned something already – that there’s something wrong with me because this is only supposed to be an intro to a writing assignment, and the word “I” has appeared eleven times. Talk about self centered.
The picture:
The sound came first. Pounding above like a rumbling truck. Heavy rain. She was walking alone, fell into an unseen hole. It collapsed. Brace arms, arch back, make air pocket, yell for help, don’t panic.
It worked, but uncounted hours in total dark, buried, screaming, drying her up. Dirt in her eyes, ears, nose, mouth. She turned her head, tongue stretched to catch the rain seeping through three feet of earth. Beneath her, the crying kitten she saved.
But the rain was increasing. Kitten struggled in mud. Her back weakened. The water was rising. She was sinking.
Don’t panic.
brainsnorts inc. 
Got chills!
me too writing it. thanks. i was squirming.
I like when writing causes a visceral reaction!
i prefer positive reactions, like in steamy sexy two people all over each other instead of a girl buried and drowning, but i’ll take anything i can get..
Well I feel better about you now. HA!
eventually i’ll scare you away. happens all the time.
Or vice versa I’ve too known that fate!
Wow, so much dramatic energy in this flash. Thoroughly enjoyed it Rich.
thanks. a month ago i was making fun of people who wrote flash fiction. that’s what happens when you make fun of something without totally knowing what it is.
I understand what you say Rich. For instance until recently I had never encountered six word stories, taken from Ernest Hemmingway’s ‘For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn. The impact is palpable.
see, i consider that poetry. oh well. it’s using words creatively, no matter whatcha call it.
Sure is Rich. Have a good day my friend.
you too. sunny here. hope it’s that way there
hello mr rich, i’ve been meaning to ask you a question about the boss but i saw this and thought i’d ask you about poetry instead – i’m aware this gives the impression i don’t think bruce is a poet….please ignore the inference – if you find time would you mind reading this: http://sacha1nch1.wordpress.com/2012/04/14/is-this-poetry/ and letting me know your thoughts? i think reading the previous post is necessary also (turn the dark on), at least the first little bit anyway
thank you in advance
p.s. like the story
thanks. i’ll read that now.
Nicely done.
thankya kindly.
Absolutely beautiful!!!! 😉
not as beautiful as you, but thank you very much.
hey…. How do you know if I am beautiful? 🙂 😆
i have no reason to believe you’re not. therefore, you are.
😆 what a theory… 😀
we are beautiful, no matter what they say.. yes… 🙂
Very nice. 100 words well-used.
thanks. give it a shot. post tomorrow on madison’s blog.
Thinking I might do that. Not sure yet.
Interesting style of writing, it was great got me thinking, then again I’m always thinking, but still, I loved it!
thanks. glad you read it.
Glad I read it myself, noticed you liked mine, thanks.
nothing to thank me for. i make it a point to take time to read the blogs i follow and comment when possible. or at least “like.” but only if i do. i don’t just blankly “like” everything from everyone.
Can’t “like” everything (well we could, but that means we’d be lying sometimes).
zzzactly
Dramatic! Choice and play of words superb!
And this happens with me too… Madison’s prompt teases till Friday when you can actually finally manifest your thoughts into 100 words! 🙂
I am done with my entry too.. Will post it just as I am done with this comment.
thanks. looking forward to seeing yours too.
superb …was waiting for your take on the photo…brilliant 🙂
where is your take on it?
None..if I was even 1/100th of gifted/talented as you and other guys doing this flash fiction would have really done something..only thing I could see was those green grass blades ..and then i thought Moo and slept for 7 hours straight
that’s very funny. moo and slept 7 hours.
Very good and terrifying take on the prompt. Poor lost kitty – and now lost girl. The don’t panic is a nice touch…
Lindaura
here is mine: http://fictionvictimtoo@blogspot.com
thanks miss. i’ve got reading to do.
OH my god! I put in the stupid @ sign by mistake – and I did it everywhere! Yikes – so it was
I am really here!!
Please find me: http://fictionvictimtoo.blogspot.com
That’s what I get for doing this early in my English morning!
Laura Lindaura
you make it seem special that you are really here. thanks. will read yours soon.
oh, yeah, saw that @ sign and wondered if that was supposed to be an e-mail address. ha!
Drama and intensity…very cool juxtaposition with intensity and the softness of a kitten.
Here’s mine: http://integrativethought.wordpress.com/
thanks. i have reading to do.
Hauntingly sad. Not one person sinking, but the kitten as well. Though your style of writing may not necessarily invite empathy for the victims, I do believe it it s there, nevertheless. Well done!
thanks miss.
Oops, forgot to add my link. Here it is: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/fridayfictioneers-diamond-tear-drops/
thanks. more reading for me. gonna be a good day.
Evokes the full range of emotions, including claustrophobia. A stroke of genius adding the kitten into the mix.
http://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/spellbound-friday-fictioneers-april-2012/
thanks miss. the kitten made it more sympathetic as she was trying to do a good thing and it’s going to kill her.
Yep, heart jump into throat moment and I felt it. Very real, which is the most chilling thing about it.
Thinking about the ways a person could die is creepy. Getting buried alive and drowning both make the list of terrifying ways to go. Great job on this.
thanks miss. love the flip flops.
Great tension and anticipation.
Here’s my story: http://wp.me/p24aJS-3Z
Rich I see where you say people take offense to your comments but I read your inquiries. Not a single one is rude only short on words and to the point.
I see you save them for maximum impact.
Here are your emotions and empathy.
This is so powerful it is as if a memory surfaced.
Mission Accomplished.
BTW your questions are the exact ones readers ask.
As usual forgot my link: http://createrealitylivelife.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/flash-fiction-friday/
that’s what i try to do. be a reader. ask questions. learn.
Ah great twist. Water, the life sustainer and mountain eroder. No good dead goes unpunished.
Here’s mine:http://teschoenborn.com/2012/04/20/friday-fictioneer-5/
thanks. i have some reading to do. thanks for that too.
Oh so much easier said than done. I’m already panicked. Great story, Rich, and I enjoyed the intro too, lol.
thanks. and thanks.
You do these very short pieces exceptionally well.
this is what happens when you’re sitting in boring school meetings.
Looks like we both had the same idea… liked the kitten angle.
i did notice that.
love the ending. bravo
thank you very much. was fun to write. but i squirmed.
Hi Rich, sorry for the late comment on this. Very powerful piece, really placed me right in the thick of it with her. I could feel the adrenaline, the claustrophobia. No good deed goes unpunished? Great writing. Thanks for visiting mine. 🙂
Thanks!
Came across your blog through a comment you left on LittleWonder’s friday fiction post and must say, I love what I found here. Your short fiction is wonderful.
That’s a wonderfully nice thing for you to say. I will check out your work too.