Madison has surpassed herself again with a gorgeous photograph – below. Check out her blog for other responses and comments (http://madisonwoods.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/rainbows/) My story is below. I’m not sure where it’s going this week; it sort of wrote itself, but I am quite tempted to press on and see where it goes next. So I might write a longer short story sometime next week. In the meantime, do let me know what you think of this opening by leaving a comment below!
The Lie of the Land
I have walked in these fields every day since I was a child. I know the trees and shrubs as well as I know my brothers; I know the undulations of the ground so well that I could navigate by them alone, with my eyes blindfolded or picked out by the jackdaws which whirl and cackle overhead.
I have walked in these fields every day since I was a child. But until today, I have never seen a clearing on the Mcguinty land. Now it is picked out by the tip of a rainbow, and I can see nothing else.
elmowrites 
Wonderful. How intriguing, a sudden clearing appearing?
Here’s mine:http://teschoenborn.com/2012/05/17/friday-fictioneers-luck-of-the/
Strange, eh? The piece pretty much wrote itself, so I’m as intrigued as you are!
nice cosy story…check out one of ours at http://writersclubkl.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/friday-fictioneers-lightnessvisible/
Thanks rainang. I’ll be reading later in the day so I’ll be sure to check yours out.
That’s a very enticing opening. There’s a shocking and unexpected hint of where the author’s creative processes are going with the line ‘blindfolded or picked out by jackdaws’. Nice one.
Mine’s at: http://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/pursuit-friday-fictioneers-may-2012/
Thanks Sandra. I didn’t want the reader to feel too cosy – you know me, there has to be a darkness somewhere!
Feels like the rainbow cleared the land somehow. Nice bit of mystery here.
Mine’s this-a-way:
http://garybaileywriting.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/fridayfictioneers-rainbow-memorial/
That’s certainly one possibility, Gary. Although there’s a less magical option too which could be more ominous.
Yes, Madison’s prompt has made us see only the rainbow, literally and figuratively. Nicely wirtten. Mine is here: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/friday-fictioneers-sinking-low/
Very true, RP. I tend to try to look at the rest of the picture, but this one is mesmerising.
Very intriguing story.
Here’s mine
http://tollykitsjourney.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/rainbows-fridayfictioneers-flashfiction/
Thanks Tolly. Must get onto the reading phase … I’m falling behind!
A meditative pacing, lovely. And I love this line jackdaws which whirl and cackle overhead
Thanks Craig. Come to think of it, I have a feeling there was cackling last week. It’s obviously playing on my mind!
definitely go forward, very intriguing!
Thanks – I’ll let you all know how that goes!
So what does it mean, the sudden clearing? Very curious. Nice.
My attempt: https://unduecreativity.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/fields-of-wildflowers/
What indeed? I’m not telling yet, but I do plan to write on…
Like you, I’d be very interested in seeing where this goes.
Thanks Brandon, I’ll post something here if it comes together.
a very nice intro…with quite a sad ending? LOL.
anyways,here’s mine: http://writeforacause.org/2012/05/18/friday-fictioneers-answered-prayer/
Please feel free to check it out…^_______^
Thanks jenine. Yes, I’m not sure it’s going to be all roses and tulips when he gets there!
A very nice combination of ominousness in the midst of the pastoral. What could it be? There’s no way for us to know, but I connected the eyes “picked out by the jackdaws” with the land “picked out by the tip of a rainbow.” Maybe it’s rainbow logging! They could use unicorns to skid the logs.
Ooh, careless word repetition, I apologise! But yes, I was definitely going for an ominous hint. Rainbow logging sounds like an ecological disaster even mankind hasn’t managed yet!
Very neat! I really liked this and am wondering what caused the clearing to show up so unexpectedly….let us know when you find out! http://theforgottenwife.com/2012/05/17/friday-fictioneers-2/
Thanks forgotten wife, I sure will!
I love the title — it held a bit of a double meaning for me in this piece 🙂
Curious to know what made the character think of jackdaws picking out his eyes 😦
Interested to know why the character thinks there might be a clearing now — has someone been chopping down his woods? Or is it the pesky leprechauns?
You know where I am 🙂
http://plowright.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/fridayfictioneers-flashfriday-no-13/
lots of mystery in this one, Stacey. I don’t even know all the answers myself, so I’ll have to write on and then get back to you!
What is the rainbow doing? Or is the rainbow an implement controlled by something else? Interesting.
Here’s mine: http://thebradleychronicles.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/flash-fiction-friday-4/
Sorry, JK, too many mysteries this week and I know I often get grumpy when other people do that. I’ll have to come up with some answers and post them here…
he clearly pays attention to nature.
http://brainsnorts.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/friday-fictioneers-518-via-madison-woods/
He does indeed. Thanks for stopping by!
Ooh, an unexplored terrain. It felt surprising, given how intimately the character seems to know the land. I think that’s what impressed me.
http://littlewonder2.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/friday-fictioneers-rainbows/
ooh, I’m glad it impressed you, littlewonder. He is pretty intrigued himself, and so is the author!
I wish I knew such a place as well as your protagonist does! 🙂
Nice and calming piece!
I wish I lived where Madison does – either she travels a long way for these Friday photos, or she lives in a glorious area! Thanks Parul.
Good title! I like that the land may well have been hiding something all these years, waiting for the right moment to spring that meadow on the narrator. Stay well!
Kathy
http://notforallmarkets.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/after/#comment-210
Thanks Kathy. I’m not convinced I realised the double entendre in the title when I wrote it, but now it’s been pointed out, I love it!
Dear Elmo,
This is haunting and beautiful.
You are one of my favorite writer’s in this wide ranging group. Your words flow like a mountain stream, clear and bright and delicious from your fertile imagination. I could read your work all day long and relish the getting lost in it.
Aloha,
Doug
Doug, what have I told you about unmitigated compliments?! Thank you, and I hope one day I’ll publish a novel you can get lost in!