normally, this would be posted on a wednesday, but i might possibly be unable to post anything until sunday, so i’m posting this now. also, i usually enjoy reading and commenting on the blogs that i follow, but i likely won’t be able to do that until monday when i get back from my short trip. my apologies to those i do not read and comment upon.
every wednesday madison woods posts a picture prompt to challenge writers to create a 100-word story or poem or anything that works for you. then post your work on your blog. additionally, on friday, you go back to her site and post a link to your blog entry in the comments on her friday fictioneers post.
i’m going to try to keep up with this, as should you. give it a shot. i prefer to stick to 100 words, but she doesn’t mind either way. not everyone has an hour and a half like i had this morning to sit and write, revise, edit, revise, edit, etc. until getting it down to 100 and telling everything you want to tell.
here’s this week’s picture. if you don’t want to read my entry or be influenced by what i wrote, then don’t scroll beyond the picture. until friday.
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Lost in the woods for hours, they followed miles of barbed-wire fence. Maybe a hole or gate. Nothing.
Limping, Jimmy said, “It’s bleeding again.” He sat. David tied a sock, snuggly replacing the bloody one around his little brother’s calf, sliced hours ago climbing inside the fence. Now, barely walking, he hid tears.
“There’s a sign,” said David, “but on the other side.”
“Please climb and read it.”
David climbed. Barbs bit him.
Shredded sunset touched the sign.
Private Property: Beware Attack Dogs
“What’s it say?” asked Jimmy.
David looked through the fence, past Jimmy’s shoulder.
Barks and shadows approached.
(100 words)
brainsnorts inc. 
Oh crap. Jimmy’s in trouble. This makes me think of the Hunger Games. Nicely done.
Thank ya sir.
I think this whole prompt reminds me of the Hunger Games.
Still steering clear of “sweetness and light”, I see! I looked at the photo but wasn’t the least inspired by it. Total blank. So, well done for finding something. “You’re a better man than I am Gunga Din.”
Ran outta sweetness yeeears ago.
Poor dear!
Ex-wife knocked it outta me. 😉
Literally or figuratively?
Mainly figuratively.
The one that leaves the deepest wounds.
Now that I taught you how, are you going to schedule some posts while you’re gone?
I think I’m taking my laptop with me. Not positive. But I do need to experiment with that.
I enjoyed this a lot. It was short and it has a good ending.
Thankya very much.
Nicely written..
and Have a great trip 🙂
I’m going to keep my fingers crossed they get out of there.
Not likely. I was squirming when writing it.
That’s what you get for trespassing
Sometimes
loved it, you always come up with great stories 🙂
will try and give this challenge a shot but 100 words …hmm i dont know
Took 100 minutes to get them right.
Well done …. but too dark for me.
ooooh – I liked it – I wanted MORE….
Great! But what about story?
excellent, really enjoyed your 100 words, and miss you my friend 🙂 hurry back!
Personally I think David’s just playing with Jimmy. I think he wants to let Jimmy bait the dogs while he runs away.
😦 Poor Jimmy. 🙂
Didn’t think of that but it works. Thanks!
Hi RIch: Darn, you didn’t give these poor kids much of a chance. Was hoping for a happier ending. Anyhow, well done with a difficult prompt. Enjoy your trip. When you return…here’s mine:
http://www.triplemoonstar.blogspot.com
I liked this Rich. It reminds me of a sign I see out here sometimes that says (it has variations) “Don’t cross this field unless you can do it in 8 seconds or less. The bull makes it in 9.”
Clever sign!
Nothing like giving your characters a swift kick when their down. I really liked it!
I’m going to be out of town too, so here’s my early entry: http://teschoenborn.com/2012/04/26/friday-fictioneer-6/
Correction, ‘..they’re down’ Just color me sleep deprived….
Just what I wanted. They’re hanging off a cliff, and I stomped on their fingers. Thanks!
Oh that does not sound like a good situation.
mine: http://storytreasury.wordpress.com/2012/04/26/friday-flash-dust-devil/
Thanks. I’d love to read yours too but I’m away from home for a few days and it’s hard to read and comment using my phone. I’ll read yours Monday. Thanks again!
whenever. travel safe.
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Wow. I owe someone a big thanks!
OMG–that’s definitely jumping from the frying pan into the fire. How scary! Would love to see how that situation gets resolved———or NOT. Nicely done!
Mine: http://www.vlgregory-circa1800.vpweb.com/blog.html
Thanks. I’d love to read yours too but I’m away from home for a few days and it’s tiugh to read and comment through my phone. I’ll read yours Monday. Thanks again!
I am with Señor Bradley in the Oh Crap! Department.
Well done now I want more.
here’s mine I stepped out of my comfort zone feel free to tell me to return. http://createrealitylivelife.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/flash-fiction-story/
Thanks. I’d love to read yours too but I’m away from home for a few days and it’s hard to read and comment through my phone. I’ll read yours Monday. Thanks again very much.
Oh dear Jimmy, poor guys. Doesn’t sound like a good ending for them. Great story.
http://freejournowriter.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/friday-fictioneers-flowers/
Thanks. I’d love to read yours too but I’m away from home for a few days and it’s hard to read and comment through my phone. I’ll read yours Monday. Thanks again miss!
Oh dear, this is pretty grim. Really well told so that we feel nothing but sympathy for the two of them. You did well with that roll of barbed wire.
Lindaura
http://fictionvictimtoo.blogspot.com
Thanks. I’d love to read yours too but I’m away from home for a few days and it’s hard to read and comment through my phone. I’ll read yours Monday. Thanks miss!
Just when you think it can’t get any worse … there are dogs! Nice one – I’ll keep my fingers crossed for them.
http://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/trespass/
Thanks. I’d love to read yours too but I’m away from home for a few days and it’s hard to read and comment through my phone. I’ll read yours Monday. Thanks again.
I wouldn’t want to be Jimmy when the dogs get there. Great take on the prompt.
My attempt: http://authorbrandonscott.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/when-hope-dies/
Thanks. I’d love to read yours too but I’m away from home for a few days and it’s hard to read and comment in my phone. I’ll read yours Monday. Thanks again!
man that’s rough. pretty good though
here’s mine: http://wstadler.com/
Thanks. I’d love to read yours too but I’m away from home for a few days and it’s hard to read and comment through my phone. I’ll read yours Monday. Thank you again!
NP man. Take care.
I’m assuming the sign was facing the other way, so it couldn’t be read from their side of the fence? Either way, not a good scenario for these kids!
Mine’s this-a-way:
http://garybaileywriting.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/fridayfictioneers-hunterhunted/
Yes about sign. It says it in dialogue. Thanks. I’d love to read yours too but I’m away from home for a few days and it’s hard to read and comment through my phone. I’ll read yours Monday. Thanks again!
Well done. You’ve given us some suspense and maybe more to read–or at least wonder about. My story is at http://wp.me/p1WuR1-Ss.
Thanks. I’d love to read yours too but I’m away from home for a few days and it’s hard to read and comment through my phone. I’ll read yours Monday. Thanks again!
Thanks. I’d love to read yours too but I’m away from home for a few days. it’s hard to read and comment through my phone. I’ll read yours Monday. Thanks again!
I like this – creepy and suspenseful. I hope Jimmy has muster the last bit of energy to get over that fence, things aren’t looking good for him!
One tiny thing, “Big brother David” feels like exposition. I personally think you don’t need to tell us he’s the big brother, but if you do, I think you should try to work it in more subtly. Just my 2p.
I’m here: http://elmowrites.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/friday-fiction-soul-memories/
Adding big brother makes him more responsible and invested in the situation. As for it being exposition, yes, but we’ve only got 100 words. I’m open to suggestions and would be happy to see another way to work it in.
I agree. ‘Big brother’ seemed awkward and forced. What about ‘his brother’s’ instead of ‘Jimmy’s’?
That works fine. I’ll edit that in.
Yup. Changed it. That’s better. Thanks.
I think so. It was important they be brothers. Good idea adding ‘little’, it accomplished your goal. I really liked the story… scary by portent.
Thanks. And now it’s a little better.
The odds are not in their favor. Poor kids. They just seemed like they were in a bad spot even before the pups showed up. Really nice.
My attempt: http://unduecreativity.wordpress.com/2012/04/26/sharp/
Thanks. I’d love to read yours too but I’m away from home for a few days and it’s hard to read and comment through my phone. I’ll read yours Monday. Thanks again! Love the flips.
Oh boy, are they in trouble now. Even though I want to know how they get out of the situation, what I really want to know is how they got there in the first place. Nice job,
http://whimsicalquestsofacuriousmind.blogspot.com/2012/04/friday-fictioneers-fence.html
Only one is out and watch what happens to his brother. Thanks. I’d love to read yours too but I’m away from home for a few days and it’s hard to read and comment through my phone. I’ll read yours Monday. Thanks again!
Damn good… scary. Made me think of the Twilight Zone episode with the astronauts for a moment when they saw the sign.
Compare to twilight zone? Thanks!
You know the one, right?
I hope they get wherever they are going safely!
Good snippet of what will make a good story!
Parul
http://faitaccompli.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/building-boundaries/
One will. Thanks. I’d love to read yours too but I’m away from home for a few days and it’s hard to read and comment through my phone. I’ll read yours Monday. Thanks again!
You are welcome anytime! 🙂
Would love to have your feedback.
Ahh! I think you did a wonderful job getting that tension in the story quickly, and ramping up the “uh-oh” factor quickly in such a short space. Great!
Here’s mine: http://the-drabbler.com/trespass/
Super thanks!
Sad ending, nicely done though, I love your writing.
Here’s mine: http://sphrbn.wordpress.com/2012/04/26/195/
lovely thing to say. will read yours monday when i get back from a trip. thanks.
You have a ton of talent Rich!! LOVE IT
wonderful thing to say. thanks!
Nice tight story. There is a tension in your writing style that compliments the subject matter of the story perfectly. Things are happening at a lightning quick pace, and the reader is dying to keep up. Well done Rich.
My offering: http://wp.me/pReXn-fv
Thanks! When I get home from a short vacation I’ll read yours.
Wow!!!! 🙂
(1 word)
Thanks as always!
Dogs! Oh no! You set the scene up so well Rich. Nice!
Awww thanks!
Intriguing, I might just give it a try!