Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
This is the Six Sentence Story bloghop.
Denise is the host.
The rules are: write a story, employ the prompt word and the keep it to no more (and no less) than six sentences.
Prompt:
REACH
“Steady as she goes, helmsman, a broad-reach in this wind may put us in the lee of Conanicut before we need to lash you to the pedestal,” The ship’s master, behind and to the right of the wheel, spoke with the benign authority everyone hoped to hear on Judgement Day.
The dawning sun, smothered by the clouds jealously guarding the horizon, was an angry red, a baleful glow that gave lie to the desperate hope that the captain had dominion over anything beyond the gunnels; the heavy flapping of his greatcoat more a flag of surrender than one of victory.
The southerly winds chasing the brigantine from the open ocean, grew the ocean into rolling hills of greenish-gray; hissing as they broke behind the ship, like a runner well passed his reserves, the tops of the waves broke into avalanches of white foam.
“Captain, are you certain we’ll reach port before this storm catches us?” The woman placed her hand on the man’s forearm, much as a carpenter testing the joinery of a cabinet, assuring herself that he was an extension, albeit softer, of the timber and iron of the sailing ship. Her quiet voice was shaped from a power neither helmsman nor captain, blinded by gender imperative, were equipped to acknowledge in any more sophisticated a manner than to stare at her.
The master of the ship, jaw set as resolute as a priest walking past a bordello, struggling to understand the sudden certainty the sea was no match for this woman, sought safe harbor in her gaze; the wind built into a low roar and steady guttural clumps of the wooden sheaves slapping against the masts, served as counterpoint.
About clarkscottroger
“jaw set as resolute as a priest walking past a bordello” such a picture painter you are! Great one
A perilous sea journey lyrically written. Its accompaning soundtrack, perfect.
Totally enjoyable Six!
Excellent tuneage, I will agree! (and as I mentioned to Paul, this is a glimpse into the time of the beginning of our story of Hobbomock
thanks, man
(getting into this era, 1600s ’cause part of the Hobbomock Chronicles ties in with the native Americans and Roger William’s settling Rhode Island)
“Her quiet voice was shaped from a power neither helmsman nor captain, blinded by gender imperative, were equipped to acknowledge in any more sophisticated a manner than to stare at her.” Love this line! Though her voice was quiet, it was powerful and it got their attention.
Great Six!
Thank you, Pat
You wow me every time.
I’d be lyin if I said I wasn’t trying to… ever time.
So many visuals. Dude, I almost got seasick. And worried for all souls onboard.
Thanks, Miz Avery Can’t resist (plus its the fun of writing) trying to get words that turn on the Reader’s projector. I don’t know if the captain survives, but I totally know the woman does, as it’s becoming apparent that she (this unnamed woman of curious distinction) is the at the wellspring of the story of Hobbomock. It will be interesting to see if my continuing development (as a writer) will permit me to indulge in the ‘I wonder where that path goes?’ while writing in a serial form. The key, imo, is that I get all 19th century and find a way to start each chapter with a reminder of what has happened (or 21st century, “Previously on Lucifer”….)
I’m thinking a small block quote at the top of the new Episode and the judicious use of subtitles… (as with almost everything in my experience of trying to learn to write good, I can see that even writing a ‘Previously on…’ I need to identify the key plot points without going into to much detail…. ayiiee! I need to write the dreaded and reviled synopsis!!
…stay tuned
Or just present the episodes as stand alone flash fiction pieces (Sixes) and visit, revise, and thread them all together some other time for a different presentation, i.e., short story, novella, etc.
Fun fact: I used to open scallops in one of Mountain’s band member’s shanty. Aw, shucks.
Ms. Av’ry: Awe shucks!*
*no wait, I’ve got it**… ba rump bump!
** thank you for the perfect setup. lol
Good suggestion, that ‘think of each Episode as a Six’. That sense of self-sufficiency is critical to all flash fiction (imo). That said, the idea of a serial, carries connotations of performance which I love/hate (lol) Not that any of it is truly ‘live’ in the sense of ‘one take’ and I will sweat over the words for a week ahead of time. Being totally seat-of-the-pants, the thrill/suspense/horror of extending the story without revision, e.g. in this week’s episode we will be fully in the world the real estate broker has found himself and he will learn a very little about the world, but more than he needs about the people. Thats the suspenseful part, as I’m setting the storyline in a certain direction. I do not permit myself a change in previous chapters, at least while the serial story is ongoing. After the story ends is something else entirely.
Thanks for the input and perspective and such
It’s all self talk. I really don’t know what I’m doing, but have wound up with recurring characters who use the prompts for episodes, which get written totally seat of the pants. I am realizing though that if I am ever to do something with their stories I will have to rethink sequence and even ditch some episodes. But each episode helps me know the characters better and I’m hoping will reveal their bigger story. Might never do more, too, just having fun.
totally get the value/importance of getting to know our characters. speaking for myself, my characters tell a story way more interesting than the one I might come up with.
and, I would submit, the ‘re-telling of a story after it’s been told ‘live’ surely is enhanced by the opportunity to apply some production values not appropriate to the first time out.
and, in the odd way that performance comes with the added excitement of knowing (or imagining*) that people are reacting and responding to a story that, in a sense, we’re not that far up ahead from, there is something added to the story.
hey, thanks for the feedback/perspective on this writing thing
*well, sometimes the same thing lol
WOW! You took us on a journey of the imaginariest! Nice way with the prose.
Thank you, Lisa
A narrative that leaves me quite unsure whether I have read or lived its content. Masterfully done, Clark.
Thanks V.
I love the Sixes, ’cause they let me create a scene that is, like one in a movie, expressive* yet discrete. That being said, by my own ‘method’, I must perforce think about what brought the characters to this point and where might they be next. Yet… yet! I don’t seem to have the same level of need to know their names! damn! (Naming is a remarkably involved process for me, for the most part.)
As you may see in other comments, she, this woman un-named is about to discover a different destination than the one she’d hired the good Captain Hugh Boardman to get her to. But then, Hobbomock needs it’s legendary ancestors, right?
* whoever said, ‘light rogerian expression there’ very good!
“…the heavy flapping of his greatcoat more a flag of surrender…” I always love your way with words.
Thanks, Deborah… the Sixes are fun (and, have provided me with an entry point to a storyline in the Hobbomock Chronicles!*)
* you’re correct! the woman on the boat is the unconscious woman in Episode Two