Friday Fictioneers – New Year Resolutions

Every week, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (thank you, Rochelle!) hosts a flash fiction challenge, to write a complete story, based on a photoprompt, with a beginning, middle and end, in 100 words or less. Post it on your blog, and include the Photoprompt and Inlinkz (the blue frog) on your page. Link your story URL. Then the fun starts as you read other peoples’ stories and comment on them!

I’m sorry to contribute so little to Friday Fictioneers at present. I’m very busy with my novel “The Dove on the Pergola”. The first draft has now reached 80,000 words, and I suspect I have about 20,000 still to write. And then it will be time to edit, edit, edit!

I owe Rochelle a big thank you, because the germ of the novel came from a Friday Fictioneers prompt!

ff - new year resolutions - 190109

PHOTO PROMPT © Priya Bajpal

New Year Resolutions

Laboriously, tongue tracing the letters, Danny wrote “Keep bedroom tidy” on his square of red paper. Tracy’s blue square read “Do my homework on time”. Deborah’s elegant script, written with a fountain pen on green paper said, succinctly, “Gym!”, while Michael’s resolution, scrawled on yellow paper and not entirely altruistic, was “Spend more quality time with Debs.”

Each of them placed their resolution in a sweetie jar which Michael ceremoniously sealed.

The magician tapped the jar with his wand, and immediately a fountain of glittering mirror dust erupted from it, sparkling silver, gold, sapphire, emerald and ruby.

Happy New Year!

62 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers – New Year Resolutions”

    • Dear Brenda
      Thank you for reading and commenting. True, it’s not easy to keep a resolution, but I think that even identifying an area for improvement can bring benefits! Good luck with your resolutions!
      With very best wishes
      Penny

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  10. I agree, the new year is a good time to contemplate, to look back then forward and evaluate how the upcoming year can be “better.” I guess the key is not putting to much pressure on ourselves and acknowledge the fact unforeseen events will pop up. Take care!

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    • Dear Subroto
      Thank you for reading and for your kind comments. I fear my writing journey for this novel is quite dull. It’s simply turn off the internal editor and write. Never mind whether the words are good or bad – that comes later – just get them down on the page. With an occasional break for the refreshment of research, of course! And coffee. Lots of coffee…
      With very best wishes
      Penny

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  15. Dear Penny,

    I love the imagery in this. Upbeat and fun.

    A long time ago I had twelve of my flash fictions published in an anthology. One reader said that they were “novels begging to be written.” So it makes me smile that is what sparked your WIP.
    I’m nudging 60,000 with mine.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    • Dear Rochelle
      Thank you for reading and for your warm and encouraging comments. Well done on reaching 60,000 words of your WIP. I’m in awe that you can write so many words as well as herding us Friday Fictioneers cats!
      Shalom
      Penny

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Lynn
      Thank you for reading and for your kind comments. I rather think that when they review their resolutions at the end of the year, they will see how they have improved – probably not 100% but certainly with progress.
      As regards my WIP I’m pleased to have written so much, but oh-so-conscious of the many imperfections, and in many places the clumsiness and downright ugliness of some of the writing. But that’s what editing is for, I tell myself!
      With very best wishes
      Penny

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      • Writing is rewriting, so they say! I feel your pain. I’m just looking back through the feedback from my beta readers – so many helpful comments, but so much work yet to do! We must love this or we wouldn’t put ourselves through it, right? Good luck with the rest of your writing

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  22. That’s a lovely fluffy story, just right for this time of year. Happy New Year, Penny. I’m excited to hear that your WIP goes so well. I remember the flash fic that was the source.

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    • Dear Gabi
      Thank you for reading, and for your kind comment. It was a lovely pink-tinged photoprompt and deserved a pink and fluffy story! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
      Yes, the WIP is still going well – thank you for being my writing buddy while we were doing NaNo. It definitely helped me.
      I hope your novel is still progressing well.
      With very best wishes
      Penny

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    • Dear Fatima
      Congratulations on having the courage to start a new life. It’s really difficult to admit to yourself that you’ve been following the wrong path, especially if changing is painful – which it usually is, of course. So, very well done!
      My wishing jar, though, is about those little things where we just need some encouragement. The symbolism is meant to be that the resolutions are made formally and in writing, and as a family, and that family love then enables the resolutions to be successful.
      Happy New Year, Fatima – and happy new life!
      With very best wishes
      Penny

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    • Dear Priya
      Thank you for reading and for your kind comments. It was a lovely prompt that made me want to write an upbeat story – so thank you for providing the picture!
      With very best wishes
      Penny

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    • Dear Magarisa
      Thank you for reading and commenting. You’re right, of course, that it takes more than a magic wand to keep our resolutions. My wishing jar is not about big, dramatic changes, but about those little things where we just need some encouragement. The symbolism is meant to be that the resolutions are made formally and in writing, and as a family, and that family love then enables the resolutions to be successful.
      With very best wishes
      Penny

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      • Dear Penny,
        It’s always a pleasure to read your writing. Thanks for explaining the symbolism – much appreciated. Making resolutions together as a family is a wonderful idea.
        Best wishes,
        Mags

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