We stood together facing the western sky.
“Some of us just need more … something … than others. Hell, I don’t know what to call it. If this was my last day on earth, if that sky yonder meant the apocalypse, I’d still need it and I’d probably get it from watching the end approach.”
“I don’t understand,” he said.
“Look at it. It’s beautiful. Even if it burned me to the ground I’d stand there and drink it in.”
“You’re crazy.”
“I know you don’t understand. But something inside demands to be quenched. I don’t know how to make it different.”
[...] how it works: My story is here. When you comment, post a link to yours. Then comment and add your link to the other [...]
I, too, feel that way about the sunset. It’s like the end with out a promise of a new beginning. Thank you for this photo prompt.
~Susan
Thank you. I’m glad you liked it and could identify. I love sunsets. Love sunrises too.
Sent from my iPhone… You should have seen the typos I *did* catch!
That’s beautiful, Madison, and worthy of your incredible photo. I especially like the last line: “Something inside needs to be fed.” Very nice!
Here’s mine:
http://jansthoughtsovercoffee.blogspot.com/2012/02/flashfriday-fridayfictioneers-chosen.html
Thanks Jan. That scene of the sunset was perfect and one of those moments when I was very glad to have my camera handy.
Jan, your blog didn’t want to allow my comment, so I just wanted to say I enjoyed it very much, the building tension and the final description of the flames.
[...] writing prompt taken from: http://madisonwoods.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/the-western-sky-100-words/] Rate this: Share this:FacebookPrintEmailTwitterStumbleUponRedditDiggTumblrLike this:LikeBe the [...]
MM. Love it, Madison. Gorgeous.
Here’s mine this week: http://thecolorlime.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/sleep-horizon-99/
Dear Madison,
You return bearing thunder. That was a fantastic way to start things off. Those words are ones I live by. Beautiful how you found them and then placed them in perfect order on the page.
Aloha,
Doug
Here’s my attempt to do your picture justice. I’ll check the link to make surre it works this time. http://ironwoodwind.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/the-race/
I don’t know what happened to your comment on my blog, but thank you, Doug. How lucky you are to see such a light on the Big Island.
Good job. I like your take on this and the repetition of the “not afraid” line. Sorry the comments are here not on the blog. I can’t get comments onto blogspot from this computer!
[...] more flashes prompted by this week’s photo, and to learn more about flash fiction, visit Madison Woods and explore. Tell People:EmailDiggLike this:Like2 bloggers like this post. Filed under flashy [...]
[...] ) Comment on Madison’s story here ( http://madisonwoods.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/the-western-sky-100-words/ ) and leave a link to your submission. Check everyone’s story out and meet new and [...]
Very nice!
Here’s mine: http://intwenties.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/friday-fiction-1/
Lovely piece. I loved the cynicism versus determination.
Here’s mine:
http://hugmore.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/new-beginnings-a-friday-fictioneers-post/
Heading your way next!
I found this photo a little challenging, too, but here’s what I came up with:
http://mymusings-maggie.blogspot.com/2012/02/if-its-friday-it-must-be-flash-fiction.html
hey there Unspy,
I was able to comment on jan’s blogspot, but can’t on yours. Because blogspot and I are embroiled in a bitter battle of wills, and I usually take the cowards way too in this fight. Hahahha.
Anyway, I liked your piece, especially that last line.
I’m also struggling to get Blogspot to let me have a profile to choose from (i.e. there is no drop-down list) so I’ll comment here too. Loved the last line and enjoyed your take on this.
Good story. Leaves you wondering…
Here’s mine: Omens (http://bit.ly/xwjUJX).
[...] more stories from Friday Fictioneer’s, go to Madison Woods’ blog. Share this:ShareRedditDiggEmailPrintFacebookLinkedInStumbleUponTwitterLike this:LikeBe the first [...]
Appreciating beauty up to the very end of days. Beautiful!
Here is mine. There is a little pun in the title….
Panic! At the Driscolls:150 Word Flash Fiction
http://susielindau.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/panic-at-the-driscolls-150-word-flash-fiction/
Feel free to leave your link in my comment section!
I loved it. Sounds like a clip from a movie.
I didn’t write a flash this week due to a time consuming construction project. However, if you’d like to read about Big Mama’s building click here.
http://russellgayer.blogspot.com
Thanks Russell – I’ll be over to your page soon. Looking forward to hearing what this is all about, lol.
Russell,
I left an elaborate comment yesterday and now it’s gone into the ether. I hate Blogspot forever.
But I loved your tale of building the Hen House (perfect name). I’ve built my share and can relate to your trials as construction manager.
Aloha,
Doug
[...] you enjoyed this tale. Comments and feedback are always welcome. Be sure to check out Madison Woods’ blog for more #FridayFictioneers! Category: Friday Fictioneers Tag: #FridayFictioneers, [...]
Very philosophical, Madison. Love it. Especially, “Even if it burned me to the ground I’d stand there and drink it in.”
http://www.caramichaels.com/defiantlyliterate/2012/02/03/fridayfictioneers-020312/
That was lovely, Madison, with a real sense of fatalism. Interesting that we know it is a sunset because it is a western sky. It bears a similarity to mine, which is here:
http://repuestodelatabla.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/friday-fictioneer-100-word-story-10-forest-fire/
This one was different for me. Not really a story, more of a reminiscence, and I spent much more time working on it than any other. All my other stories have been scrupulously 100 words; this one is 96 and I could not figure out how to add 4 more without upsetting the balance of it.
Heading your way now, Carlos. Hey, if you came up with your story and it needed less than 100 words, that’s great. It’s always harder for me to add than subtract and not necessary except for word-count, whereas almost always subtracting is helping do more than meet a limit.
[...] prompt courtesy of Madison Woods, (click the link to see the picture. I really should do these from home, but I’m a morning [...]
That guy is taking sun worship to a whole new level! There is something very forboding about it too. And as you know, I am a fan of forboding!
I really enjoyed it!
Here is my little yarn. In the interest of full disclosure, this one topped out at 119. Not that there are any sticklers out there!
http://jhardyb.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/100-word-fridayfictioneers-9/
Haha, not sun worship, but it is foreboding. Thanks! Heading your way now John, but it might be after I get home tonight before I can comment…
Hello Madison and everyone else,
After reading your story a second time, it makes me think it’s a breakup conversation. I might have a different idea in an hour when I read it for a third time.
here’s mine
http://cleveroldowl.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/friday-fictioneers-fire-on-the-mountain-2/
Looking forward to reading everyone’s pieces this morning (should be a quiet day at work.)
Very perceptive, Craig. I only wish my breakup had been so profound and philosophical, calm. This was the sort of conversations that led up to it eventually though. Some differences are too great…
[...] the link to Madison Woods Friday Fictioneers instruction page. To see her and the other entries, go HERE to this weeks [...]
I know that feeling Madison. In fact I was my breath was stolen when I first opened the post and I longed for home (El Paso)
My attempt is at http://www.wakefieldmahon.com/1/post/2012/02/fridayfictioneers-the-end-of-the-day.html
Heading your way next Wakefield!
Beautiful things always give me a longing for ‘home’ it seems. But home in that sense isn’t so much a physical location as it is somewhere inside. Hard to explain…
Well said, Madison, and I understand completely. The context isn’t necessary, you give me a picture of who this person is in few words.
My challenge entry:
http://writetuit.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/friday-fictioneers-feb-03-2012/
Off to read more…
More people than I thought ‘got it’. This is why I love the community of writers
Heading your way now.
What a great use of suggestive words (Hell, apocalypse, burn…) to generate the feeling through the story!
My weekly contribution:
http://kbnelson.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/friday-flash-the-burn/
Thanks Karen – I loved yours too
In reading your piece, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Edward Abbey and his beautiful writing about the West. I think this proves you don’t have to be plot driven to produce good writing. I also found the photo prompt challenging and went through a bunch of scenarios before settling on my story.
Here’s mine: http://bridgesareforburning.wordpress.com/
Thank you
It seems the most beautiful pictures give me the hardest time, LOL. Heading your way next.
[...] Madison’s blog, and links to lots of other postcard fiction inspired by the picture, here: http://madisonwoods.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/the-western-sky-100-words/ I do recommend you take a look, there are some great writers hiding out there on the blogosphere [...]
Hi Madison!
Another stunning picture, my response is here: http://wp.me/p1PeVl-3k
I liked your words too – it’s clearly part of a much bigger story, which stopped me getting into the characters as much as you often allow us to, but the words were very realistic and resonant at the same time.
Elmo
Thanks for your feedback elmowrites
Heading over to yours now…
Oh golly, there are so many comments and so many stories, I don’t know how you will get through them all.
But I have a comment about yours. It is stirring and the sentiments are large and wondrous, but I have a problem with your line “something inside me demands to be fed”.
I think this jars with the previous paragraph’s beauteous explanation that if the apocalypse looked like this “I’d stand there and drink it in.”
I would take out the ‘fed’ and change it to simply “something inside me demands it.” That’s the truth anyway – and more cohesive.
Whoops! I forgot to leave my link. Here’s Linda at:
http://fictionvictimtoo.blogspot.com
Thanks!
I had the same thought about that word, Linda and plan to take it out as you suggested. Thanks
LoTS of stories already! I’ll read some at lunch and the rest tonight. The ones that went to my RSS feed are easier to access so I need to see how to do that with more.
Sent from my iPhone… You should have seen the typos I *did* catch!
Linda, I can’t seem to reply at blogspot today, so here is my thought:
This is fantastic, the beginning of something much bigger. I would love to see you develop this. I already feel attached to the characters.
Edited that sentence to swap out ‘fed’ for ‘quenched’. I like it a lot better now. Thanks, Linda. Heading your way finally!
I’m going to have to get up at 3:00AM to get my post on here in a timely manner! Haha! But, here it is and I’m looking forward to reading what this week has to offer from all of you…
http://www.susanwenzel.com/
I don’t know why this won’t post. Here’s try #3:
Here is my offering. I’m looking forward to reading what this week has to offer from all of you…
http://www.susanwenzel.com/
It seemed to work the first time Susan. Do you not see it on your end? I’ll go check to see if it got swiped by spam filters…
Sent from my iPhone… You should have seen the typos I *did* catch!
Oh no…I do see two now. Feel free to delete one – I didn’t mean to clutter your page!
No problem Susan
just wanted to make sure the one you meant was actually there.
Sent from my iPhone… You should have seen the typos I *did* catch!
My son once asked me, Dad what if Sun forgets to come back next day? I laughed and said Sun’s never late my Son. He’s eager too to see you wake up & play the next day! Innocent question made me think though; in this world of uncertainty you never know there will be another morning. You 100 word piece of art brought back that grim reminder to me. I like the way you expressed ascends of optimism even describing descend.
Here’s mine for this week
http://yatinpatel.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/brightest-before-the-end-100-word-flash-fiction/
Hi Madison,
i liked how the speakers looked at the same phenomenon and saw two very different perspectives. He took it literally. She saw the possibilities. Nicely done.
Here is mine. Nothing explicit on the blog today.
http://siobhanmuir.blogspot.com/2012/02/camping-100words-for-fridayfictioneers.html
Siobhan
Thanks Siobhan. Just visited yours and got a nice little chuckle from it
Very nicely done. I like it. I went for something rather more surreal. Found at: http://www.jeffreyhollar.com/2012/02/friday-fictioneers-sunset-road.html (I edited your link to make it live)
Thanks Jeffrey
I’m back to reading today and heading your way now.
[...] for the #FridayFictioneers; [...]
Watching sunrises from airplanes make me feel religious.
Here’s mine:
http://wp.me/p29sL6-E
Oh that is so true!
Sent from my iPhone… You should have seen the typos I *did* catch!
My favorite line: “Look at it. It’s beautiful. Even if it burned me to the ground I’d stand there and drink it in.”
Quite a bit pf philosophical depth in that observation. I’ve noticed that that insight (firestorm/death/rebirth) seems to be one so many Friday Fictioneers are struggling with today.
Here’s my contribution: http://furiousfictions.com
Joe, I don’t know why your comments keep landing in my spam filter and I don’t know how to make it stop. On my phone I can’t see that they’re not posted, so if you notice it when you post, please let me know (madison@ancientearthwisdom.com) so I can unspam you earlier. Sorry!
HEY ALL FICTIONEERS!
I just was Freshly Pressed, so be sure to put your link in my comments section of “Panic at the Driscoll’s” because a ton of people will be coming by my blog this weekend and they may click on your link!
Congratulations Susie!!
Thanks so much!
Damn girl that’s at least twice now. You’re good!
Sent from my iPhone… You should have seen the typos I *did* catch!
The first paragraph left me with “adrenaline junkie” in my mind. Interesting take, and I love it!
Here’s mine: http://wp.me/puGD7-F1
That’s close to the truth, Caely
Thanks.
Heading your way…
Madison, this is a beautiful snippet of time. It is one of those drabbles that is complete within itself. So wonderfully done!
The link to my piece this week is: http://quillshiv.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/within-the-inglenook/
OMG that was fun – I learned some new words at your blog today Quill.
LOL…we had a similar impulse. Entirely different results. Your characters are touchable, Robin
http://robinhawke.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/daybreak/
Heading your way now Robin
This brings to mind a story from the Mount St. Helens eruption of a guy who refused to leave his cabin, preferring to face the coming devastation head on. That cabin now sits at the bottom of a displaced lake.
It is a scary prospect, and one that I admit I’ve thought about – just what would I do if faced by a sudden apocalypse? Would I just drink in the last imagery my eyes would ever see? Would I panic and lose my mind? Would I reflect on my life and my accomplishments, throwing in a Comic-Book Guy-esque, “Ooh, I’ve wasted my life?” I think option two is more likely, but in my heart of hearts, recalling the shadows burned into buildings in Hiroshima, I’d like to think that I’d make some outlandish pose.
Here’s my entry here:
http://jaykayel.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/circular-logic-100-word-flash-fiction/
Haha. I like to think I’d be all calm, cool, and collective facing certain death. But in reality I’m sure I’d be panicking. Love love love the idea of striking an outlandish pose to be found by archeologists later, though…
Nicely written. Great photo once again.
Here’s mine: http://wp.me/p1Tjpv-8P
Neat writing exercise! Here’s mine: http://vsta.pr/zCPZoa
I’ve tried to send this four times. Grrr.
Great short stories here and a beautiful prompt, Madison! I read many of them while at urgent care. Sigh. I’ll try to comment tomorrow but have found that WordPress and blogspot aren’t very compatible. That doesn’t mean I’m not reading and enjoying them, though!
Here’s mine: http://www.banterwithbeth.blogspot.com
Great job, everyone. I’m unable to post on many of these blogs for some unknown, weird reason, but I sure enjoyed the stories. Thanks for the beautiful prompt, Madison!
Here’s mine: http://www.banterwithbeth.blogspot.com
Sorry, Beth. Yours went to the spam filter too for some unknown reason along with Joe Lerner’s comments. I’ll try harder to catch them sooner next time, but they don’t show up on my phone when I’m reading comments away from my desktop, so if yours doesn’t show up right away next time shoot me an email and I’ll know.
I hope whatever brought you to urgent care has been resolved!
Late to the party, this week. Here’s mine: http://wp.me/p24aJS-2l
Shall read and comment on the others tomorrow.
[...] day late for my submission for this week’s ‘Friday Fictioneers’ 100 word story. I’m just hoping that fellow fictioneers will forgive [...]
A great story and a wonderful picture Madison.
I sometimes think there is nothing more calming and serene than sitting and watching the sun set.
Here is my story, a day late I’m afraid.
http://mjshorts.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/the-end-is-nigh-100-words-for-friday-fictioneers/
This is lovely Madison!
I love this line: ” Even if it burned me to the ground I’d stand there and drink it in.”
Here is my entry:
http://faitaccompli.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/as-the-hero-goes-down/
Thanks Parul
Heading your way next.
Enjoyed this very much…I’m addicted to sunrises and sunsets…
beyond words.
Thank you for your lovely words.
Siggi in Downeast Maine
It took me a bit…but here’s my post. Sorry…missed Friday in all time zones !
http://siggiofmaine.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/2650/
Peace,
Siggi in Downeast Maine.
http://www.siggiofmaine.wordpress.com
[...] Technically it’s Sunday, but when I got a chance to look at the photo, I knew I had to take up the challenge. See Madison’s story here. [...]
Better late than never
http://plowright.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/fridayfictioneers-flashfriday-no-2/
Here’s one from Lora (posted to the Friday page so I moved it here:)
Hi Madison: I love your Western Sky photo. A story came to me this morning when I woke up. Here it is: http://www.triplemoonstar.blogspot.com.
This is brilliant… Sometimes what looks nice and warm from a distance really does burn you up close… holds good for relationships too!
Very good piece!
I actually ended up doing a second drabble this week. Feel free to come take a look: http://quillshiv.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/ellipsis/
I’ll have to try to get over there soon to see what else you came up with.