(I heard about a cool Twitter experiment/experience called #FridayFlash where authors put out samples of their writing by giving away free flash fiction once a week. Don't know if I can do it that often, but I have a flash story or two I thought I could share. So here's this week's contribution - Achievement. Enjoy!)
(Also if you want, join me at Twitter @GloriaOliver or come see what else I have at the website www.gloriaolivercom)
It was finished.
After years of toil, of making sure every part was perfect and whole – his opus was complete.
A moment of indiscretion had led Taltus to his doom but also to his supreme achievement. Here, in this five by five cell, the greatest written masterpiece of his generation had been born and refined to perfection.
Yet no one would hear or read it. It would die in this dismal place with him.
He stared at the blank walls surrounding him, fighting welling despair. Yet as he stared, their very essence changed in his mind, sparking hope.
The walls would be his parchment. Blood his ink.
His story would be told.
Talk about flash!
ReplyDeleteThis is great. Simply GREAT. Please keep participating in Friday Flash!
Jim
www.writersnwriters.blogspot.com
Now you have me curious about him.
ReplyDeleteNicely done! Short, succinct, and just a tad insane. I like it!
ReplyDeleteNice! The lengths we'll go to, to get the story out. :) Welcome to #fridayflash.
ReplyDeleteWow. I didn't see that coming.
ReplyDeleteNice!
I think it's great when you can tell a story in as few words as possible. #fridayflash
have you been reading my mind?? I feel just like this sometimes. great write!
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if the seed germinated for this story in your mind because of how we must isolate ourselves to write :-)
ReplyDeleteI would feel sorry for him, except I'm not so sure I wouldn't sacrifice everything to write a masterpiece...lol. Or...is the masterpiece all in his mind because he's gone mad???
Short, but sweet. I hope to see you again on Fridays :-)
ReplyDelete~2
Wow, a lot of power in a small amount of words.
ReplyDeleteA very strong piece. Great example of flash fiction. Welcome to #fridayflash
ReplyDelete~Chris
Welcome to #fridayflash. Great debut post, short and sweet, but leaving the reader with stuff to think about.
ReplyDeleteLoved it - total economy but packed with power.
ReplyDeleteExactly what a flash story should be. Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to #fridayflash, Gloria. I hope you continue to participate.
ReplyDeleteThat would have to be the writer's worst nightmare, to compose their masterpiece and then realize it would never see the light of day.
~jon
Very nice - very compact and concise, but great imagery!
ReplyDeleteExcellent job! I'd love to see you expand on this by telling some of the stories he's going to put on the wall. Reminds me a bit of Clive Barker's Books of Blood.
ReplyDeleteSo can't you just see this guy, he's pounding away there writing or carving or whatever his opus on his wall and he realizes ... I'm out of wall! Arrrggh!
ReplyDeleteGood, flashy piece of flash.
Jeff Posey