Mastodon The Writing Desk: 100 Word Flash Fiction Friday: Amber

2 March 2012

100 Word Flash Fiction Friday: Amber


Creatures of the ancient forest shared their slow horrific death, trapped in the sticky sweet sap. Their cruel reward for hungry curiosity? To be entombed for all eternity.

Light sparkled from polished facets as she slowly turned the amber jewel, her expert eye quickly searching for the slightest imperfection.  Dark blemishes lurking deep within demanded her rejection.  Unknowingly she returned the most precious of all the gemstones, to continue in her quest for sterile conformity. 

Writers suffering the cursory inspection of their precious originality find consolation in knowing life is often truly stranger than the most finely crafted fiction.


For more flashes prompted by this week’s picture and to find out more about 100 word flash fiction, visit Madison Woods and explore.

17 comments:

  1. '..knowing life is often truly stranger than the most finely crafted fiction' I love this line and it has got me thinking, really deep. Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think I'd like to bring that last paragraph to the attention of one or two editors of my acquaintance ...

    An excellent piece, poignant.

    http://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/dark-heart-friday-fictioneers-2nd-march-2012/

    ReplyDelete
  3. It struck me that you could have turned this into a poem. Very meaningful.

    Here is mine: http://postcardfiction.com/2012/03/02/lost-in-translation/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Interestingly I had to stop myself from making it scan like poetry. (Just tweeted Lost In Translation - very original)

      Delete
  4. HMMM... very interesting. I like it. And I like the way it runs into a commentary on writing fiction, but in a way that feels natural.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wonderful post--loved all the subtle inferences: How we sometimes keep the mundane (sterile conformity) when we've discarded the truly valuable. It was a smooth slide into writers' cursory inspection of their precious originality. Well done!!

    Mine: http://www.vlgregory-circa1800.vpweb.com/blog.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have to say...I prize amber for its imperfections. Unfortunately, as I study to be a copy editor, I know the same does not hold true for the written word.

    ~Susan (http://www.susanwenzel.com/)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes you will never run out of customers. I find amber fascinating, it is the perfect time capsule. Your post was inspired btw. Well done Susan :)

      Delete
    2. Ah...thank you. I bought a little bit of amber for myself when I was in Poland. I wish now (20/20 hindsight) I'd purchased more!

      ~Susan

      Delete
    3. Oh, sorry...I posted logged into the wrong blog. Oops.

      Delete
  7. Perfection is boring, and unattainable. It's the imperfections and how people deal with them that makes life some interesting. Thought provoking story!
    Here's mine: http://bridgesareforburning.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete
  8. Magical piece...poetic. Love the last line. PS: Did you forget the bug/insect trapped in the imperfect Amber?
    Here's mine -
    www.triplemoonstar.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. A wonderful meditation on the creative process and the plight of all writers. Very original take on the prompt.

    Aloha,

    Doug

    http://ironwoodwind.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/you-are-free-to-do-what-we-tell-you/

    ReplyDelete
  10. I enjoyed the musings of a writer in this story within a story.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I enjoyed your vivid description of amber here. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Nice turn...

    http://tedeley.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/friday-fictioneers-1-semi-precious-gememoirs/

    ReplyDelete
  13. Interesting writing about amber.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for commenting