This is my first attempt at Friday’s Fictioneer… and I’m late. Love reading these, and thought I’d throw my hat in the ring. Thanks to Rochelle Wiseoff for organizing this cool challenge, and providing the photo prompts. Check out her page here. Here’s my attempt… Exactly 100 words.
Image: Rochelle Wiseoff
Each Sunday Jude took the feather duster and carefully dusted around the tiny items in her collector’s box. She meticulously lifted each item, then placed it back in the same spot, preferring to see them in the chronological order in which she’d collected them. Occasionally she moved items around, placing the acting pin, from tenth grade drama club in the lower left-hand corner, and the shells she’d collected during college spring break, sophomore year, in the opposite corner. However, it was hard to make changes. Jude felt as boxed in as each sacred item, stuck in choices she’d made years before.
TALES FROM THE MOTHERLAND 
Love this. Your last 2 sentences gave me chills. Well done.
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Thanks! Much appreciated.
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Dear Ms. Tales,
Welcome to Friday Fictioneers, a lovely eclectic group of writers from all over the globe. I’ll warn you, it is habit forming.
I really enjoyed your first entry and look forward to reading more of you. 😀
Another note, while we’re called Friday Fictioneers, the offerings start rolling in early Wednesday morning (depending on where one lives). The page goes live each week at 2:30 am CDT. No more entries are accepted on the link after Tuesday at 6.55 pm CDT
Also, while I’ve been called Wise-Off by some, the name is spelled Wisoff, no ‘e’.
I guess I’ve said enough. Again. Good piece of writing. Heartfelt and multi-layered. I really enjoyed it, as this week the photo’s mine and the items in that box, for the most part, have special significance to me.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks so much, for the welcome and clarifications… I couldn’t find the info, but was probably looking in the wrong place! So, is the new prompt up now, and then people start posting on Wed., and then it closes the following Tuesday? Does this mean it isn’t really tied to Friday? I’m a little confused. Is there a page where I can find all the posting details. I had read several of the Friday Fictioneer posts from other bloggers, and was intrigued. Love the idea!
Great prompt, and so hard to stay at 100 words! There were so many interesting items in the boxes, and I was horribly tempted to go on longer… but ended at exactly 100 words, mostly by accident. 😉 Thanks for the welcome and kind words. Shalom, and L’Shana Tova!
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The prompt that’s up has been up since Wednesday. The next one goes up this coming Wednesday. Thanks for the Rosh HaShana greetings 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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And the prompt is on your page? Or, is the one I responded to, the current one? Sorry… just trying to figure it out, so I can get on board! I wrote a New Year’s post, just before this one… my favorite time of year, and such a lovely holiday. 🙂 Dawn
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Dear Dawn,
The page with the prompt is my blog page. My story to go with it is posted. 😉
Most of the time I use photos from other FF’rs. Since Wednesday was my birthday I used my own pic.
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Ok, I think I understand now… So this is the current prompt, and a new one will come up on Wednesday? Great! I’ll watch for it. 🙂
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Right!!!!
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Good for you- doing all this fiction. How’s the novel?
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Submitted to 7 editors/agents, but no word so far… killing me! Now that school is back in session, I hope to find more time to get my act together. Thanks for reading and commenting, Lisa. 🙂
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Welcome to FF! I can relate to this character’s desire to switch it up, yet comfort in sensible order. Well done on your first submission.
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Thanks so much denmother! Your feedback is much appreciated. The challenges was really fun!
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Great vignette, Dawn. I’m glad you’re doing Friday Fictioneers. I’ll definitely look forward to more!
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Thanks Cathy! I really enjoy the challenge, and need to find more options for posts right now. I appreciate your support!
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That has such a great “grab” to it! I want to know more about her already!
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Thanks Veronica! Hopefully my book will feel the same way. 🙂
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Love this Dawn! Well done. Your character’s intricate thought process matches her intricate dusting, and then the last line grabbed me in a haunting kind of way. It’s seems like you’ve been doing this for a long time!
I’m sorry I didn’t explain this process more to you. I see Rochelle explained it above. Right…the photo goes up on Wednesday on Rochelle’s blog, and many post Wednesday and Thursday. I’ve seen people post as late as Saturday, which is totally fine, you just may not get as many readers. I usually end up posting late Thurs or Friday! One of these days, I’ll post on a Wed. I see you linked it fine, too. That’s the last step!! Any questions, just let me know. I’m happy to help.
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Amy, thanks for all the help, and the positive feedback. I love reading yours, and I kept thinking it would be fun to do it too… finally just followed your links and jumped in. Really fun challenge. I did a fiction challenge last week, and really enjoyed it… but not many “hits.” I know it’s not all about that, but it sure is part of it! 😉 Again, thanks for your kind word, help and encouragement.
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Oh, sure! Anytime. As I mentioned with FF, the sooner you post, probably the more readers from FF. I have a feeling by even Friday afternoon, people are done reading, although people do read into Saturday. That said, it’s better to do it no matter what! I’m always happy with myself when I do it. I give myself a little pat on the back!
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So, If I have this right… the post I wrote, regarding the memory box, is from LAST week’s post? The new prompt will come this Wednesday… and then people will begin posting that day… with most reads on Wed., Thurs, and possibly friday? I feel like I’m a little slow in getting this! :-p
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The memory box was for this week (that just ended)! You got that right! It does come out on Wednesday, so people can have time to post by Friday. What happens is people start posting on Wed, and it continues through Friday, and sometimes Sat and Sun. “When” you post is no problem. I just personally feel that the earlier I post, the more FF readers I have, which may or may not be true. In the end, I just do what I can! I hope that helps! Look for Rochelle’s post on Wed!
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Thanks again! I am slow to the trough, but I’ll stay and drink. Thanks for speaking slowly, and repeating key points! 😉
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Oh, and by, “readers” I mean from the Friday Fictioneers group!
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Oooo that was good!
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Thanks so much lingeringvisions, or Dawn? I’m Dawn as well. 🙂 Thanks so much for checking out my post on Tales From the Motherland. I hope you’ll read other posts, and share your thoughts. Much appreciated!
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I love this challenge! Nice work, Dawn!
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Thanks Jolene! Thanks for stopping, and leaving a comment! 🙂
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Dear Dawn,
Welcome to the party, pal. You write sad and locked in very well. Looking forward to seeing more stories from NW Washington.
Aloha,
Doug
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Thanks so much, Doug! I really enjoyed this challenge and look forward to writing more, and reading more! I was away for the weekend when I jumped in, so I’ll be catching up this week. I appreciate the wonderful encouragement and feedback; thanks! Aloha to you too… assuming you live in one of my favorite places! 🙂
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Great title. I enjoyed your story Dawn,the way you ‘boxed’ it all in with your last two sentences. Well done.
Welcome to Friday Fictioneers look forward to reading more.
Dee
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Thanks so much Dee! I am really appreciating the feedback from the group. I was away for the weekend, and look forward to catching up on more submissions. Thanks for taking the time to check out Tales From the Motherland; I look forward to more connecting! 🙂
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Dawn. This is delightful. You did an excellent job. It kept me engaged and I especially liked the last line!
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Thanks E! I appreciate your feedback.
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