99 word prompt: colonnades
January 17, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes colonnades. It can be natural, architectural, or a metaphor. Take a stroll and go where the prompt leads.
If you want to participate, here’s the link: https://carrotranch.com/2019/01/17/january-17-flash-fiction/
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Desert-beige legs like colonnades framed a thirsty expanse, providing support for a woman torn. As I wandered through life, searching for purpose in 1987, I dreamt of being a geologist, loved learning about rock strata and mining the fossils littering a hillside.
They’d lived in oceans for over 270 million years, far longer than humans will litter the Earth, trilobites finding their end inside a mass die-off.
They were swept away together…each death a personal ordeal.
As I loosened one from a stone coffin, I wondered if the creatures replacing us will stop to ask, “Did it feel pain?”
.
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Geologist. Can be daily!!! (* L *) great job!! And dream (*L*)
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Thanks. Wish I could have pursued it.
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Too bad not!!!Too bad not!!!
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Sciency! Love it!
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Thanks. 🙂
I love the fact that 99% of every species that ever lived is now extinct. It makes us aware of our own chances as a species, and compels us to find out why and hor they died off..
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Joelle, I liked the clever way you used the prompt to describe the geologist on the shore, but I’m amazed at how deep you were able to take the story by the last line. A real good punch!
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Thanks. 🙂
How it makes me grow as a writer is one of the reasons I love the 99 word prompts.
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99 words is a good length for exploration and we can take those risks that lead to growth. I love witnessing the writing breakthroughs.
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You’re helping to give birth to an author’s creativity.
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I feel like an author midwife, lol!
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I’m sure you’ve had your share of listening to mothering authors screams and having to wait patiently for the baby book to come out. 🙂
My problem isn’t writing the books, it’s finding an editor and Indie author expert (uploading/book covers/etc) nearby who can edit for a dyslexic author and won’t cost more than I make in 10 years. My sequencing skills are, quite literally, the level of a 3rd grader & Squiggles are meaningless. aarugh!
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Ha! Yes, I’ve heard lots of screams followed by joy and relief.
I use Grammarly and WritePro for copy edits. I still can’t tell you which I like best, but I argue with Grammarly a lot. That’s good. You don’t want to be reliant on an editing software but it quickly cleans up dyslexic typos.
I’m working on screening editors (in addition to ones I use) to create a page with strategies for authors, who to hire when, and how to do it well on a shoestring budget. Coming soon to the back pages of Carrot Ranch!
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You will have authors running to your site!
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Whoa. I feel like this is a cautionary tale. Humans beware.
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We might be past the point of no return when it comes to extinction, but I won’t be around to worry about it. I’ll leave that to my great-grandchildren. 🙂
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An enlightening piece!
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Thanks. 🙂
I couldn’t find an “about” page or a place to comment or like on your blog.
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Here is mine
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That’s not an about page — that’s a post. See “About Joelle” or About Vickie” on the upper left side of my blog for examples.
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I haven’t made one. Was just sharing a link to comment.
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Thanks. 🙂
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