Every Friday authors from around the world gather here to share their 100-words based on the photo prompt and offer constructive crit and encouragement to each other. This creates a wonderful opportunity for free reading of very fresh fiction! Readers are encouraged to comment as well.
Writers:
- Depending on your preference, leave your blog link in the comment section or use the linkz tool (or both
). My story follows for those who’d rather not read it before writing their own. - Please make sure your link works. There were a couple last week that didn’t. If you find that you’ve made an error you can delete by clicking the little red ‘x’ that should appear under your icon. Then re-enter your URL.
- If your blog requires multiple steps for visitors to leave comments, see if you can simplify it. If you can disable CAPTCHA –that wavy line of unreadable letters and numbers– please for the sake of our writerly nerves, disable it. It’s frustrating to have to leave a DNA sample, your blood type and your shoe size just to make a comment. (So I exaggerate. But hopefully you get the picture).
- Challenge yourself to keep stories to 100 words. (There’s no penalty for going over or under).
*********HAPPY NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS TO FICTIONEERS:Lora Mitchell – 13Charles Williams – 14Madison Woods – 15Russell Gayer – 16(If I missed you let me know. )*************THIS WEEK’S PHOTO PROMPT
- Copyright-Sean Fallon
***********
Thanks to Sean Fallon for his intriguing photo. This particular song served as an inspiration and springboard to:
A WELL-ORDERED LIFE
Prototypical milquetoast, Benjamin Parker wore bow ties and kept to himself.
Three days of no-call, no-show to work passed before anyone missed him enough to call 911.
When we broke into his immaculate apartment we found his pajama-clad body in bed. No sign of foul play.
Jars filled with things like batteries, safety pins, wine corks and matchbooks lined cabinets and counter-tops.
“Quite the collector. Wonder if he jarred his tighty whities.” I flung open the closet door and choked. “What the—?”
In single file on the top shelf human heads floated in name-tagged gallon jars.
.
Rochelle… Sean’s photo has already given me an idea… this will be a special one this week.
I didn’t know Some of our Fictioneers were teenagers… how the hell do you know everyone’s birthdays?
Oh… I would encourage everyone to visit my PhotoLog… something special today for the FFs… http://tedbooksdailypics.com/2012/11/14/above-the-clouds/
Whoa, that’s a lot of Scorpios in one place
Thanks, Rochelle!
Hmmmmmm, what can I come up with this week?
Fun and creepy! My story has an orderly person in it, too, but quite a different one. I’m linking and posting it now. Fun one! But I thought it was “tighty-whiteys.” Or “whitey-tighteys.”
“Milquetoast”–haven’t seen that in print for quite a while. It’s a great word.
I concede on tighty whities, Cindy and have changed it. Thank for your kind comments.
Dear Rochelle,
Your story about Mr. Parker has a great feel to it, almost Lewis Carroll like in its pacing and purposeful movement toward its conclusion and our surprise. Quite the collector’s piece, if you don’t mind my saying so.
Aloha,
Doug
Dear Doug,
Collector’s piece. Cute. Thanks for taking time to comment.
You had me feeling sorry for him until your twisted ending. Guess he more than got ahead!
. Excellently told.
I like it!
I had to Google ‘milquetoast,’ and found that the rest of your description had already conveyed the meaning
I am with Janet, i was feeling bad and then come to find out he is a sicko….very well done. Tough prompt this week i think, but managed to pull something out.
Well you turned that one on its head right there at the end. Nicely done Rochelle, wasn’t expecting that.
Awesome work, Rochelle! I literally put my hand over my mouth in shock at the end!
Ditto on tidy-whiteys vs. tighty-whiteys, although keeping them tidy IS important, whatever you call them!
Hi Waiting…I concede and have changed tidy to tighty. Thank.
That’s prime example of what happens when your underwear is too tight. Poor guy. If his mother had started him out in boxers (or commando) this never would have happened.
Great story, Rochelle, and thanks for the birthday mention. You are quite a detective yourself to dig up that many birthdays in one week.
Can’t claim much detective work on my part, Russell. Lora Mitchell is my informant.
We missed you at OWL this weekend.
Oh yikes, that ending I was *not* expecting! Nicely done, Rochelle. Where’s the air freshener?
And I felt so sorry for the poor guy until the twist at the end. That is a twist to envy
You got an audible gasp out of me with your surprise ending. Quite a twist.
Thanks, Lori. I couldn’t ask for a higher compliment.
I never saw that one coming, Rochelle. Great story. For your info my birthday was November 4.
Happy belated, birthday, Celestine.
I like what you tried to do.
Excellent story…
Dear Ted,
You’re going to get me in trouble….
Going to? He he.
I have no idea what you two are talking about…
Didn’t see it coming. A “nice” surprise for a horror writer.
Scott
Ha! Great suspense, I expected to find the underwear lined up in jars. Good job!!
No tighty whities there. Bwahaha.
Love it, Rochelle. Seems there was ‘foul play’ after all.
Mine will be added tomorrow.
Really enjoyed reading yours!
Scott
Yup. you nailed it! Me likey!
Effectively gruesome to the core. I wonder who did him in. Maybe the lucky one that got away before he became a piece of the canned goods.
Unknown but a viable option, Joyce.
well that was a surprise! Got me!
I tried to add to you linky thingy. I’m not sure if it worked. I really enjoyed my first try at this. Thank you.
Loved it.
Hey, thanks for the birthday mention….really glad for it.
your story is a lesson in action pacing…i enjoyed it a great deal; cos, here i am feeling sorry for him until the last line…’What the__?’ Enjoy the party!
OMG! That was a great way to kick-start the morning. Well, he collected everything else so neatly–a serial killer with OCD. Good job.
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/the-rising-of-the-moon/
Hi Rochelle,
I need to delete a faulty link (No 37) and there is no x to do that.
Please help.
Abraham
Hi Abraham,
I really don’t know what to tell you without the red x. Someone else is having the issue. That’s the only way I know of to delete a faulty link.
Sorry,
Rochelle
wonderful twist!
Now THAT was a very disturbing little read indeed. I like it. i like it a lot. That angle on such an innocuous thing never occurred to me. Kudos!
I agree–successful shocker! Good job, Rochelle.
Creepy….Really liked this one…I also thought I had commented last night on this one….odd?
Like an episode of “Tales from the Crypt,” Rochelle. We’ll start calling you The Cryptkeeper! Spooky but fun …
hmmm. Cryptkeeper? It does have a certain resonance, doesn’t it?
Hi Rochelle,
Well, you couldn’t say he wasn’t organized. Never underestimate a milquetoast! Good story and loved the descriptive detail. Ron
Awesome!
http://zennjennc.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=248&action=edit&message=6&postpost=v2
http://rendezvouswithrenee.com/2012/11/16/friday-fictioneers-silly-pickle-jar/
My second attempt. Silly but cute.
Wow. A killer with OCD. Loved the surprise ending. I went the funny route at http://banterwithbeth.blogspot.com
Oh, Rochelle, you do know how to make our flesh crawl! I think it’s the name tags that get to me. Nothing worse than a well-organized killer, is there?
My version of “why a jar full of batteries?” – http://newpillowbook.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/friday-fictioneers-moving-on/.
And by the way, I’m another Scorpio – November 15, like Madison Woods.
Ooh. A collector of all things! Loved it.
Well, well, I am not the only one thinking on the dark side this week. Whole heads? I wonder if he was friends with my grandpa.
at least he’s organized
Sublime! Really the ending caught me before I expected it. Is this photo prompt over for the week? Looks really fun..
Go ahead and jump in! No new prompt until Wednesday.
Great!
Hi Rochelle – I was enjoying the ride until the end…your twist made me nauseous. What a wicked mind you have, my dear.
The better to weird you out with, my dear.
Here’s my first 100 words – thanks! http://managuagunntoday.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/you-picture-prompt-story/ I’m still working out the more efficient way of lnking in..!
Whoa, Rochelle, Creep! I’ll never look at a jar batteries the same way now! I thought your brief description of Benjamin was effective, that he wore bow ties and kept to himself. And, then heads floating in jars…I’m going to have nightmares.
Yikes! Dangerous milquetoast. You left me with a lot of questions! (I may not collect much in jars after that story!)
hi, the pirate gentleman just recommended your blog to me ^^ your story is excellent and chilling… and your blog is amazing..i’d love to join too ^^ (if i come up with something) ^^
here’s mine ^^ http://theeclecticeccentricshopaholic.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/100-words-story-challenge/ thank you for this challenge ^^
This is my first Friday fiction. Hope you enjoy it. http://musingsbysusankeene.blogspot.com/2012/11/friday-fictioneers-11162012.htmls
Not sure what ending I expected…. big surprise here. Well done
I’ve missed the last couple of prompts, here’s mine for this one
http://40again.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/jar-of-happiness/
Dee
Well, that was certainly unexpected. Loved it.
Here’s my try: http://rickmallery.wordpress.com/
would it be alright to post another one?
Please do, KZ…. I’ll answer for Rochelle… And everyone else…
thank you ^^
http://theeclecticeccentricshopaholic.wordpress.com/2012/11/21/100-words-story-challenge-ii/