This week at the Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills challenged writers to In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about shards. You can write about the pieces, the item they once were, or who picks them up and why. Go where the prompt leads.
I had an idea I wanted to craft into a story. I’ve had a go. I’m not certain that it expresses quite what I was hoping, and certainly not as explicitly as I hoped. I had wanted it to stand alone, requiring no other explanation or padding and, while it fails, I’ve let it do just that.
Analyse the Detail
The artisan turned each piece to the light, this way and that, fitting and refitting, arranging and rearranging. Finally, it was done. Each piece necessary and perfectly positioned creating the whole— exquisite, harmonious, illuminating—not one greater nor outshining any other. It filled each open heart with hopes of dreams fulfilled.
Another sought to analyse its beauty, the power of its message to explore. He picked out all the pieces one by one and examined each in every detail. Too late he saw that, shattered and alone, not one shard revealed a secret. Only united did their meaning shine.
Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.
The concept of many shards coming together for a purpose of beauty is a statement on life and people and humanity. Powerful flash fiction!
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Well done, Norah!
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Thank you, Jennie. 🙂
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You’re welcome, Norah. 🙂
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While looking up things to do with shards, I actually saw a decorated flowerpot that had different china plate shards. And I thought that it was a lovely way to use up chipped pieces that once together created a new chapter in the life of those shards that may once have had individual stories, but once together created a unique piece of art. Just like literary art, when we use and select our 99 words. Each could stand alone but together they create beauty, a lesson, or just entertainment. Your piece conveys all those things. 🙂
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Thank you for sharing what my writing said to you, Jules. You’ve brought out an extra shine in my words. Appreciated. 🙂
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It so coveys to me that everything may not be perfect, but when all the pieces are bought together, they can be so much more than perfect. Well done, Norah, I loved the message this piece of flash fiction held.
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Thank you, Hugh. And I love the meaning that you took from it.
Have a great week.
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To me, there’s a special relationship between writer and reader. I imagine a piece of literary art existing between the two of them. I see this relationship between artists and viewers, teachers and students. What matters is how they bring the pieces together for shared meaning. I like that we can read your story from different perspectives. Not failed at all.
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Ah, you’re close to my intention when you mention writer, reader, teacher, student. Although my meaning wasn’t as clear as I’d hoped when I set out to write, the interpretations have all been close and show that what a reader brings to a text is individual and as important as what the writer shares. Sometimes the gaps are necessary to let the individuals in. Thank you. Perhaps I didn’t fail after all. Perhaps the piece was better to be not as specific as I’d hoped. I think there was a similar message in your post. 🙂
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Yes! To me, this is the heart of what literary art is: “what a reader brings to a text is individual and as important as what the writer shares.”
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I agree. It’s connection. Though we’d really rather the interpretations weren’t too far from the intention.
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We could say that about all forms of communication. Yet we know it’s a balance between speaking and listening in turn. Art is similar and we don’t always know what we are communications in art. That’s the exploratory component.
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That’s true. Perhaps there are greater possibilities in interpreting art. As beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is meaning in the heart of the observer (reader).
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exquisite, harmonious, illuminating
Those words describe this piece. It is a brilliant take on Charli’s prompt, and adds another layer to the sentiments she put forth. I love the fable like quality and the twist of the un-doing; how many instances are there of studying and analyzing a thing and ruining it in the process, the realization too late? It’s real good Norah.
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Thank you, D. I think you’ve come closest to understanding the meaning I was trying to convey, but I have enjoyed reading everyone’s interpretations and am beginning to see that it may be better that I wasn’t too specific so that each reader could interpret it in their own way. 🙂
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That’s one of the magical gifts of 99 words that room for interpretation it leaves.
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Yep. I’m learning. Thank you. 🙂
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I can’t help but read this as a metaphor for children (since that’s where you and I intersect). Maybe they aren’t broken (or maybe they are) but they are made up of so many intriguing pieces.
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I like your interpretation, Jacqui. Yes, our interests do intersect with children, and I was thinking of children as I wrote but not in the way you read it. I’m pleased it can be interpreted differently by each reader. Perhaps that makes the piece more successful than I thought.
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I imagined an artisan creating a beautiful stained glass window, Norah. How can any one piece of glass stand alone to create the beauty that is the whole? Even the critic could not make a case for separation. Gorgeous story.
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Thank you so much, Molly. I appreciate your interpretation and that you were able to make meaning from it. 🙂
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profoundly beautiful … seems we all got it Norah, well done!
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Thank you, Kate. I am pleased that you all were able to find a message in my words.
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loud and clear, you have talent Norah … you just need to acknowledge that 🙂
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Thank you, Kate. I appreciate your support. 🙂
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you’re most welcome ❤
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The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Great flash, Norah.
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Thank you, Anne. I’m pleased it said something to you. 🙂
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Wow, 99 words to tell a complete story. Very well done, Norah. It’s the beauty of unity, complimenting each other to make a unique piece of art.
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Thank you, Miriam. I appreciate that you shared the message you found in my words.
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Yes, your message is so clear, Norah. It’s well done.
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Thank you, Miriam. 🙂
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You’re welcome, Norah. 🙂
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I think you did really well with this piece, Norah. Most enjoyable and a good message about strength in unity too.
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Thank you, Robbie. I’m pleased you found a message in my words. 🙂
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It’s pretty hard to convey such a deep and complex thought in a stand alone story of 99 words, no more, no less. I got your meaning and intent clearly though – so it must work. It’s a little like a fable really and the moral is a moving and excellent one!
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Thank you for your support, Pauline. I do appreciate it and am pleased you were able to make some sense of it. 🙂
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