Friday Fictioneers Go to the Dogs! |

I hope the title gets your attention. It’s all about the inspirational photo for today’s Friday Fictioneers–the weekly explosion of creativity restricted to 100 words. We’ll get to that in a bit.

I signed up for my first week-long writers’ workshop, the Tinker Mountain Writers’ Workshop in June at Hollins University in Roanoke, VA. It’s a pretty intense schedule, and I’ve signed up for a fiction workshop taught by Pinckney Benedict (Miracle Boy and Other Stories, published by Press 53). I went to his reading at AWP and was enthralled. If I get his workshop (you have to pick a primary and two alternates, in case your primary is full), I know I’ll learn a lot. I’m looking forward to it and can’t wait for June to get here.

When I saw today’s inspirational photo from Madison Woods, I felt very nostalgic for the dogs of my childhood. How could you not love this face?

But, of course, my love of dystopia took over. Here’s a 100-word story I call–

“The Last Dog on Earth.”

Yeah, I have an image to maintain, you know. And all this you see? It’s mine. I’ve peed on every tree, rock, and blade of grass, and no one would dare set paw here.

This is my gig—sitting here, surveying all that’s mine, looking cool. I trained myself not to chase squirrels or gulp my food. Not cool. I’m beyond puppy behavior anyway.

I get a herd now and then to show off my skills. They’re robots, though, and programmed, so it’s not quite the same. But what the hell? You gotta give the tourists what they expect.

——————–

For more snappy, 100-word fiction go to Madison Woods’ blog. Please read all the offerings, leave a comment (writers love it when you love our works), and consider joining us. I warn you, though. It’s addictive, but it’s a sweet addiction and costs you nothing.

3 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers Go to the Dogs!”

t

March 16, 2012 at 10:28

Nicely done! Have you ever played Lance’s “100 Word Song” over at My Blog Can Beat Up Your Blog? It too is a hard habit to quit!

Jeannie

March 16, 2012 at 10:59

well now…I wouldn’t have thought about a robotic cow herd! I like how you show the dog as knowing what he’s all about and his place in the world he knows. He accepts it as it is. Nice work!

http://thewriternubbin.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/flash-friday-fictioneers-the-vigil/

V. L. Gregory-Pohlenz

March 16, 2012 at 16:05

Your description of the dog’s sense of confidence was “spot-on”–I firmly believe that dogs view themselves this way. (Almost arrogant– :-).) Well done.

Mine: http://www.vlgregory-circa1800.vpweb.com/blog.html