Welcome readers,
Friday Fictioneers is an international community of blogging writers who come together once a week to share their creative talents via a ‘hundred word’ (roughly) fiction story prompted by a single photo. Some use the photo for inspiration while others use it as an illustration.
- Writers are encouraged to think outside the box.
- The story should have a beginning, a middle and an end.
- THE KEY: making every word count. As close to 100 words as possible.
Hopefully I’ve accomplished these items this week. Enjoy! And yes this story has 100 words exactly!
copyright-Rich Voza
~
She looked at the photo. This week’s prompt. She was going to write one hundred words this week or die trying. She was still mystified as to why a hundred word count was so important. Had to be a reason.
Slaving away at her revisions, she repeatedly glanced at the prompt. Finally, at last, she’d done it. One hundred words exactly. Yes! She hit publish.
Hidden safely behind the moon, the aliens in the flying saucer observed the all important “indicator” light up. They nodded at one another and went to pick up another human brain now ready for consumption.
~
Thank you,
Penny
writeondude
February 11, 2013 at 2:11 am
Very funny. If I’m not here next week, you know why.
pennycoho
February 11, 2013 at 3:30 pm
Thank you very much. But more to the point if you are here next week will you still be “you”!
neenslewy
February 10, 2013 at 3:49 am
Fantastic take on the challenge, brilliant I was right there imagining the next scene beyond the 100 words!
pennycoho
February 10, 2013 at 1:09 pm
Thank you, this one was for fun. I am so glad you enjoyed it!
readinpleasure
February 8, 2013 at 5:03 pm
Brilliantly unique take, Penny. Fun-filled
pennycoho
February 8, 2013 at 7:55 pm
Thanks Celestine, it was pure fun for me also in the writing of it!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
February 8, 2013 at 10:42 am
Welcome to the club, we all have alien replacement brains implanted.
pennycoho
February 8, 2013 at 7:14 pm
I’m sure you are correct on that one!
Alice
February 8, 2013 at 8:37 am
A great idea–I like to think of the fictioneers is blending fiction with pioneers–pioneering new horizons in words.
pennycoho
February 8, 2013 at 6:48 pm
You’re right Alice, new ideas and new directions, a very good thing!
t
February 8, 2013 at 7:23 am
Ha ha ha – that was fun!
pennycoho
February 8, 2013 at 9:22 am
Thank you and I loved yours also!
elappleby
February 8, 2013 at 4:18 am
This had me bursting out with laughter – fantastic! I’d write more, but they’re coming to get me…
pennycoho
February 8, 2013 at 6:06 pm
Quick, run…hide! Actually it was just a ton of fun to write this and am so very pleased you liked it! Thank you very much!
dmmacilroy
February 8, 2013 at 3:39 am
Dear Penny,
I burst out laughing at the last paragraph of your story. Where i work we are in direct contact with the aliens behind the moon. in fact they land here and take surface tranportation to harvest their brains….
Loved your lunatic take on the prompt. Thank you for being you.
Aloha,
Doug
pennycoho
February 8, 2013 at 5:59 pm
Oh that is good to know Doug! Seriously, It was one of those “just couldn’t help myself” moments, if you know what I mean. Thank you for your compliment and the truth is I don’t think I know how to be anyone else besides myself (I find just being me to be hard work.) Penny, xx
rochellewisoff
February 8, 2013 at 2:55 am
Dear Penny,
A fun take on the prompt. But I’m a little shocked that you figured out my ulterior motive. Thanks for the giggles. Good job!
Shalom,
Rochelle
pennycoho
February 8, 2013 at 5:55 pm
Thank you Rochelle, meant in fun and i’m so glad you enjoyed it, very much appreciated by me!
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 10:04 pm
Nope, I’m feeling you Tom. How exactly do you give a “warning” if you’re going to use profanity? Just curious.
Shirley McCann
February 7, 2013 at 7:03 pm
Too cute for words. Chuckle, chuckle.
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 7:36 pm
Thank you Shirley. I got a little carried away but it was fun!
RoSy
February 7, 2013 at 6:26 pm
Oh – Made me smile & then a chuckle came out!
xx
xx
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 7:35 pm
Thanks RoSy! I had a lot of fun writing it too!
xoxo
billgncs
February 7, 2013 at 4:52 pm
good one! I always thought it was because we too can be perfect squares.
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Thank you very much! I admit it was a rather creative endeavor on my part. I like your idea of perfect squares better!
Lisaman
February 7, 2013 at 2:21 pm
hahaha I’ll stay away from 100 words thank You very much…
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 2:28 pm
Hi Lisa, yes very wise of you LOL!
train-whistle
February 7, 2013 at 2:11 pm
nice work, I like your take on the prompt, very original.
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 2:23 pm
Thank you very much! It was different wasn’t it! LOL
waitingforaname
February 7, 2013 at 2:09 pm
So this Friday Fictioneer addiction thing… Is it really some alien takeover of my brain? I bet Rochelle was phoning her leader in that photo she posted the other week. Well played, aliens. Well played.
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 2:16 pm
Really who knew! LOL, I did enjoy writing this, totally tongue-in-cheek so I hope Rochelle has a sense of humor, just having a little bit of fun! Thank you very much!
yerpirate
February 7, 2013 at 1:41 pm
Oh I bursts out laughing! I really thought you’d written yourself into a corner there…just so clever…with us folk playing right into their hands! Brilliant!
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 1:53 pm
Thanks. Okay I admit it was written with some deliberateness. Poking a little bit of fun at the process of writing within defined dimensions. Was fun though! Again my thanks for your flattering comments!
yerpirate
February 7, 2013 at 2:06 pm
Spontaneously so! Real enjoyment! PS…if there is a touch of time left over… http://ligoeditions.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/the-ligo-haibun-challenge-prompt-melt/
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 2:10 pm
Thanks, I will give it a try, I love a challenge!
annisik51
February 7, 2013 at 9:55 am
But I thought visiting aliens are all going to be more advanced than earthlings (or should I say ‘eatlings’ in the circumstances?). If so, they will be vegetarians, like me.
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 1:43 pm
You know what? You’re probably right!
themisanthropicmuse
February 7, 2013 at 9:51 am
What is it with other creatures wanting to eat our brains? First zombies now aliens. It’s enough to make a girl want to invest in a helmet. Fun read
Thanks for sharing!
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 10:09 am
Thanks! I’m sorry couldn’t help myself, it just came to mind! (ha,ha)
Roxi St. Clair
February 7, 2013 at 6:57 am
” They nodded at one another and went to pick up another human brain now ready for consumption.”……………………… remind me Penny to wear a tin foil hat when we meet…….hehehe
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 7:59 am
Yes do, we can also go down to Roswell for even more imaginative fun! Although I think the location has moved now! LOL
Roxi St. Clair
February 7, 2013 at 8:00 am
I’ve actually been there. And when living in Vegas…. visited area 51 frequently… lots of fun!
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 8:05 am
Aha! I mean … I’ll bet!
Never been, unless that’s where I was originally dropped off! lol
Roxi St. Clair
February 7, 2013 at 8:10 am
I’m still waiting for the Mothership to pick me up and take me back home.
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 8:17 am
Yeah me too, wish they’d hurry up!
rich
February 7, 2013 at 6:53 am
so that’s what happens when we hit “publish”? just a matter of time then. well done.
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 7:56 am
Sorry couldn’t help myself, I kept reading the directions and thinking to myself – what if? A bit of whimsy and fun! Thank you for the compliment!
rich
February 7, 2013 at 7:59 am
“what if?’ is what writing is all about. what if vampires were real? what if a guy and a girl fall in love but they’re from two families that hate each other? what if a guy is stranded on an island byhimself for years?
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 8:03 am
I do go through life with “what ifs” and constantly wonder, always so much fodder out there to wonder on isn’t there?
emmylgant
February 7, 2013 at 5:53 am
Great twist at the end Penny; I enjoyed that.
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 7:52 am
Thanks, it is fun to sometimes not only think outside of the box but to leave the box completely behind!
Sandra
February 7, 2013 at 5:45 am
Great idea! Very inventive.
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 7:51 am
Alright, I admit to having fun with this, a bit of whimsy that came to mind so I just couldn’t help myself, thank you for stopping by and commenting, very much appreciated by myself!
sustainabilitea
February 7, 2013 at 3:57 am
Beam us up, Penny.
Way to turn our weapons against us.
janet
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 7:44 am
Thanks! Having a bit of a jest, sometimes I just can’t help myself!
nightlake
February 7, 2013 at 2:48 am
that was fun, Penny. Good going:)
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 7:42 am
Thank you Padmini, I must admit I decided to just have a bit of fun with the challenge this week! I am glad you liked it!
claireful
February 7, 2013 at 12:09 am
Hah! A very clever way around the word count rule.
pennycoho
February 7, 2013 at 12:33 am
Thank you very much Claire, it was indeed, but lots of fun in the doing!
muZer
February 6, 2013 at 11:24 pm
Wow.. Such an amazing story. And didn’t expect that in the end. The first two stanzas sounded very much like me.. hehe..
Thankfully, I am still here. Loved your take on the prompt.
pennycoho
February 6, 2013 at 11:26 pm
Thank you very much, definitely original I guess, but there you go! Having a little bit of fun with it!
muZer
February 6, 2013 at 11:28 pm
Totally original with an amazing ending. And yes, fun too..
pennycoho
February 6, 2013 at 11:31 pm
Thanks again, I appreciate that!
Esenga' s Voice
February 6, 2013 at 11:16 pm
A good one, Penny, really is! Absolutely unexpected take on the challenge.
pennycoho
February 6, 2013 at 11:22 pm
Thank you! I really did go way out of the box didn’t I? LOL
Esenga' s Voice
February 6, 2013 at 11:26 pm
It is nice to be surprised this way
Alastair
February 6, 2013 at 10:47 pm
Haha! I love that!!! Utter brilliance Penny.
Writing Jobs
February 6, 2013 at 10:03 pm
That was an excellent post today. Thanks so much for sharing it. I
really enjoyed reading it very much. I’ll be sure to pass it along to others.
Enjoy writing? Join Us Today
Writing Jobs Available – Writers Wanted
pennycoho
February 6, 2013 at 10:05 pm
Thank you!
Writing Jobs
February 6, 2013 at 10:06 pm
You’re welcome. Enjoy the rest of your week.
pennycoho
February 6, 2013 at 10:09 pm
You also, I do appreciate your compliment. Actually producing precisely 100 words wasn’t that difficult. When I owned an advertising agency, of course every word counted and you also had to sell product too, so I perhaps have a slight advantage.
thanks again for stopping by.
Writing Jobs
February 6, 2013 at 10:13 pm
Every advantage helps in this new global economy.
pennycoho
February 6, 2013 at 10:15 pm
Huge truth there!
Tom Poet
February 6, 2013 at 8:34 pm
The non-conformist comes out in you as you conform…see you on the ship!
Tom
pennycoho
February 6, 2013 at 9:03 pm
Thanks Tom, okay … maybe we’ll share a cubicle for a brief period of time there!
iamforchange
February 6, 2013 at 7:56 pm
A very interesting end .. Human brain ready for consumption..
Nice 
pennycoho
February 6, 2013 at 9:10 pm
Thank you. Yes, I was reminded of a very old tv story on the Twilight Zone where aliens come to help humans and leave a book of knowledge (in their language) when the humans deciphered the book that was called “How to Serve Mankind” they found out it was a cook book. So I thought I’d have some fun with the same idea, only honing in on the intelligence (brain) of it all! Again my thanks!
anelephantcant
February 6, 2013 at 7:54 pm
AnElephantCant help thinking
This rule is slightly absurd
He thinks Penny’s tale
Should easily prevail
(This comment is twenty one words)
pennycoho
February 6, 2013 at 7:55 pm
Laughing here! Just great, love your poem fits perfectly with my story!
andy1076
February 6, 2013 at 7:53 pm
I’m with Boomiebol, I absolutely love this too!
pennycoho
February 6, 2013 at 7:54 pm
Thanks Andy, very much!
andy1076
February 6, 2013 at 7:55 pm
Thank “YOU” for sharing
boomiebol
February 6, 2013 at 7:45 pm
Ha!!! Brilliant!!!! Love it
pennycoho
February 6, 2013 at 7:46 pm
Thanks boomie! I was having a little bit of fun, so glad you liked it!
lenwilliamscarver
February 6, 2013 at 7:27 pm
did not see that one coming!
pennycoho
February 6, 2013 at 7:29 pm
Oh goodie, that was the idea Len. I had a handful of people last week really focus on the number of words in my story, so thought I’d have some fun with that 100 word count, LOL!
Tom Poet
February 7, 2013 at 9:52 pm
I was one of them…pet peeve of mine…The way I see it you can’t show up to car race for Minis driving a semi….
Using four legs in a three leg race just ain’t right! What upsets me is “the give a warning if you are going to use profanity” rule!
Are you feeling me Penny or is this cubicle too big?
Tom