
I watch. The brush is poised. And then he moves. From the shoulder, leaving a row of lines on the parchment that summon feeling before my mind understands. I smell the stone ichor of rain, and sense the blunt endurance of a gaunt herd. Beneath his brush, a world begins to breathe.
“Though I saw, I don’t understand. How do you do it, maestro?” I ask.
He smiles that infuriating smile of his. “Rather, ask how you did it. I only made a few squiggles. Your mind made the meaning.”
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here.
Sweet and mysterious goings on here, Neil. You’ve conjured something out of time, something other in just a few short words. A lovely idea, being able to evoke images from just a few strokes of the brush. Lovely work 🙂
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Thanks, Lynn
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My pleasure Neil 🙂
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I love this – a great demonstration with how the mind works. And it can do the same thing with words as with pictures – filling in the gaps.
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Some would say the meaning is all in the gaps between one word and another
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Clever analogy of what we try to do with 100-word stories.
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I like that. Thanks
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Well struck. I like it.
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Thanks
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Dear Neil,
As a visual artist, I particularly appreciate this stellar piece of writing. Nicely rendered.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle
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I like “infuriating smile” a lot!
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Thanks so much
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Otherworldly. Beautiful.
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Thank you
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“It’s not what we look at that matters…” indeed. Great story, and with ichor I learned a new word.
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Thanks
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Lovely. I like the mix of mind and brush. Mike
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Thanks Mike
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Stunning line – ‘Beneath his brush, a world begins to breathe’
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Glad you liked it
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the stone ichor of rain Lovely line, sir.
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Thanks, Alicia
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Makes me think of Bob Ross, may he rest in peace.
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Really, really, very well done!
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Really enjoyed this, some lovely lines here Neil. 🙂
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Thanks so much
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“The brush is poised” – so much artistic determination here! Great description!
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Thanks, Alana
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Knocked … me … out!
Neil, you seriously outdid yourself here. Story great. Ending superb!
Five out of five papyri.
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Thanks so much
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How do you it Neil ? 🙂
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Some lovely lines in this.
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Thanks, Clare
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i didn’t expect the twist at the end. well done.
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Thanks so much
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Poetic and mysterious.
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Thanks, Dawn
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Perception is everything huh?
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There’s more to seeing than meets the eyeball
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Very nice, and you nailed the last line.
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Thanks so much
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Nice Neil!
Seems that you are saying that meaning is given by the viewer.
Thank you for that freedom!
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My pleasure
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Every week I see how we all use the same picture but see completely different stories. You story captures that essence 🙂
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Just great. I love how your own ‘few squiggles’ capture so much movement and sensation, and finish by encapsulating succinctly just how we make meaning.
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Thanks, Margaret
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Interesting! It makes me want to know more about what feels like an apprenticeship and what the narrator might be preparing for.
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Thanks, Emily
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Well said, Neil. The mind is truly magical as it fills in the blanks. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks, Suzanne
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