Another week, and another prompt for the Friday Fictioneers graciously provided by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
The task is to write a story: beginning, middle, and end, in 100 words or less. You can find all the Fictioneers’ stories when you click on the Froggy. Please read, comment, and if you like, join the fun. Everyone is welcome.
People like me who like and need constructive criticism label their posts with a C, according to the guidelines of the Friday Fictioneers Concrit Subgroup.
Trying the dialogue again…

Tulips and Daffodils“Daffodils. Tulips and Daffodils. What were you thinking?” “I… I only…” “Yeah, right. Only wasting our precious soil. The plan was to boost morale with that picnic. But you…” “I thought they liked them.” “Liked them? They were crying. This is bad.” “Where is Dr. Cameron?” “General Larsson! An honour. She’s right there. Please…” “Leave us.” “General?” “Go! — Dr. Cameron, was it your idea to plant these flowers?” “Yes…” “Good! It was the perfect demonstration of what terra-forming on Mars is all about. It’s not only about crops. Food fills our stomachs but beauty feeds our souls. Plant more flowers.” (100 words) |
Featured image: From http://www.space.com/31687-zinnia-not-first-flower-in-space.html — If you’re interested in flowers in space, read the article, it’s very interesting.
That’s my kind of story, terraforming on Mars, with flowers to feed our souls with beauty. xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, fellow Marsling. 😀 I’m very pleased you enjoyed it. Now, let’s get to work…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely. It’s great to be partners. ((Hugs)).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved this. Beauty does feed the soul.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you agree. 😀 Thank you.
LikeLike
‘Beauty feeds our souls’ – I love that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you like, thank you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oo, all dialogue and no speech tags at all, with more than two people, how gutsy of you! It was a teensy bit confusing, but I think the important bits of who’s who came through. And I love the terraforming on Mars twist: nicely done.
I tried the same all-dialogue technique with a longer short story. I only had two people going back and forth which was easier to keep track of but there was also a lot more “stuff” to get across, which was challenging. Check it out if you get the chance, G:
https://talesofeneana.wordpress.com/2015/06/28/burning-questions/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heh. Thank you. Sometimes experiments are necessary. I’m going to check out your story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even better, sometimes experiments are FUN! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just read your story, but am on bus with ipad. Longer comment later. Loved it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And who says we can’t have tulip fritters in Mars? We are supposed to weighless in space .
Nicely done story. We do need beauty for our soul.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We do, don’t we? I won’t recommend the tulip fritters though, they’re poisonous. Thank you, I’m glad you had fun.
LikeLike
I like your surprise ending. Very reaffirming.
Ω
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you like, thank you.
LikeLike
Ha! I’m glad the person in charge has seen the benefit of the flowers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly. All work and no play would make Mars a very dull planet. 🙂 I’m glad you liked, thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love General Larsson! And Dr. Cameron!
Fun stuff!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The general just showed up when I wondered how to end that conversation. No idea where he came from, but I like him, too. Glad you enjoyed, thank you. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
At least someone has an eye for the finer things in life. Nicely done
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m convinced they are necessary for us. Glad you liked, thank you.
LikeLike
Yay for General Larsson – somebody knows what living is about.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes he does, thank you! 🙂
LikeLike
Beauty v bureaucracy – thank goodness beauty won this time round
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed. Sadly, most of the time it’s the other way around. Thank you.
LikeLike
I like the idea of planting flowers on Mars and the General’s reaction to it. It was confusing at first to tell who was who with no attributions, but when I read it through the second time, I got it pretty well. With only 100 words to work with, minimalism rules. 🙂
-David
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. It’s good to know that it was confusing. It was an experiment, and to me of course it was all crystal clear. I’m glad that the meaning still came across though. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely story! (If you read mine, you’ll know why.) I almost missed you. My reader showed your header instead of Recliner’s photo. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great minds think alike and all that. 😉 Yours is a lovely story and I’ll go comment later. Sorry about that header thing… I usually comment through the in-linkz since it brings me directly to the stories and I can–kind of–keep track. I know that many others go through the reader though. I’ll have to look into that.. I like the featured photos, but readers’ comfort is more important. Thanks for mentioning it.
LikeLike
I have been out in my cold damp garden counting which of my babies have survived the winter and cheering on the daffodils and tulips. A heart-warming story!
I love potatoes (apparently they grow well in Martian soil and Matt Damon’s sh**.) and I adore flowers – I am definitely warming to your campaign on behalf of the cold planet.
And well done on the dialogue only – I have never been quite so brave, but I agree with the spirit of experimentation. I had to work hard, but the story made complete sense to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mars surely can need some warmth, but I’m afraid once there are people there, it’ll warm up faster than anyone would like… we seem to have a knack for that. I’m glad you found your way through my trialogue. Thank you! 🙂
LikeLike
I think it’s a perfect end. To sustain on barren soil we would need some beauty too…
It took me a few readings to understand it was three people in the dialogue… But I do love the concept.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Word count restrains bring out the worst in me. 😉 I’m glad you found your way through it. Thank you.
LikeLike
No I really liked the story… I think a few words just at the transition would have helped….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t know why, but this reminds me of the quote on the Friday fictioneers page,’It’s not what you look at but what you see that matters.’
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heh, I like that. Thank you. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
and that’s the way i like it. well done. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you like it, thank you! 😀
LikeLike
Yes Sir! More flowers! Nice 🙂 I like the dialogue format!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Terry. Glad you liked. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome!
LikeLike
Quite right too! Pland more flowers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
More flowers are always good. Thank you!
LikeLike
Good dialog. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you like it, thank you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
She’s got the formula right. I’m glad she has a superior who understands. Well built dialogue.
LikeLike
I’m glad you think so, thank you Margaret. I think a projekt like settling on Mars would go down really fast if there were incompetent leaders.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I must confess, I got a little lost in the dialogue without an occasional tag to reference the speaker. Once I figured it out, I like the story line.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! For me this was an interesting experiment, and educational. I’m glad you liked.
LikeLike
And THAT is why she is the general!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heheh. Absolutely. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Gabriele,
All the good comments have been taken. 😉 Someone needs to fill the world with color. Without it we live a dull existence.
Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is so good, it should be a quote. Thank you, Rochelle. 😀
LikeLike
Great story! Love the Mars terraforming 😀 Have you read the Mars series from Kim Stanley Robinson? Loved those books… this reminded me of them 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you liked. No, I haven’t read these books, but will check them out. I am in need of something good to read. Thank you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, well if you like hard core science fiction with all the sciency stuff, you will love them.. the interpersonal stories woven between all of that is great too… there are three THICK books, Red Mars, Green Mars and Blue Mars ….And you are most welcome 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds great! I do like the sciency stuff. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! then you will LOVE those books!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story. I hope flower lovers are some of the first people to settle Mars. I loved the story. We need more people like that. Some others take all the fun out of life. Well done, Gah. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think most astronauts know what’s important, they really seem delighted about their zinnias in the ISS. I’d think that at least early settlers would think likewise. I’m glad you liked, thank you Suzanne. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a positive message, Gah. I hope they consider planting flowers on Mars, if they can! Life isn’t the same without flowers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Amy. I’m sure they will. Plant scientists love the esthetical aspect of botany, too.
LikeLike