Project Xcess – Friday Fictioneers

~ Amy Reese

It’s time for Friday Fictioneers. Writers around the globe attempt to write a 100-word story based on a photo prompt.

Thanks to Claire Fuller for this week’s photo. I have a feeling it will bring about a whole array of stories this week. Claire is the author of Our Endless Numbered Days, an amazing book that will stay with you long after you’ve put it down. I highly recommend it!

Friday Fictioneers wouldn’t be possible without the leadership of Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Thanks for all you do, Rochelle.

And now my story, set sometime in the future…

claire-fuller-9
PHOTO PROMPT – © Claire Fuller

(100 words)

“I was told to come here,” said Oscar, presenting a wrinkled, half sheet of paper.

“Ah,” the man behind the glass said, pushing the paper back.

“Is my book here or not?”

“Hmm, dunno. If it goes inside the universal vault, the black hole will spit it out… somewhere. Information never vanishes. Don’t ask me what that means–”

“What about that other fluffy business…thingy?”

“The cloud? Impossibly full.”

The stuffy room was filled with blank stares, like an ER but without any visible injuries.

“Here’s your number. Wait time: 5 years, 3 months, and 11 days. My advice to you. Write another book.”

 ***********************

For more stories from the Fictioneers, click here.

74 thoughts on “Project Xcess – Friday Fictioneers”

  3. Enjoyed this a lot – very Douglas Adams. I like the lack of ‘visible’ injuries and the ‘wrinkled half sheet.’ Lovely detail!
    Just had an email to tell me my drop-box is full just when I was beginning to understand how to use it – honestly I’m transferring stuff to the end of the rainbow in future. It’s simpler.

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    1. Thanks, Claire. I can’t wrap my mind around the cloud. I just know it exists somewhere and that we need it very badly.
      It’s my pleasure to mention your book. It’s also such a boost for our little writing community. We have so many great writers in FF and it feels great to celebrate that. You’re a star!

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  10. Dear Amy,

    If the net ever does crash for good there ware going to be a lot of present day authors whose minds will need to be rebooted. This was an excellent story that gave an absurdist face to the obscure cyber-geography we all trust so much. The last line is perfect advice whether or not the first is lost. Well done.

    Aloha,

    Doug

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    1. Thanks so much, Doug. A lot of my writing is out there on Google Docs which I trust, but perhaps I should have a back up! I know a lot of writers use this, too. You put it perfectly…the obscure cyber-geography. Yes, I can’t wrap my head around it ever, but just know that we need it and it absolutely cannot crash on us! Done with one book and on to the next. There’s always another story to tell, right? Thanks for your lovely comments, Doug.
      Aloha,
      Amy

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  12. Dear Amy,

    I’m not sure I can add to what has been said. Doug’s comment is near perfect and my thoughts exactly. I hope that’s not a cop out. I’ll add my own ‘very well written and imagined.’

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. I thought vault, too. I think this picture does have something to do with information. I just read an article recently about Hawking’s beliefs about black holes – information never vanishes from the universe it says. That was part of my inspiration. Finish one book, start the next, Frank! Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

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  16. Well, that’s about how long it takes me to write one. 🙂 It’s been 17 months since The Perils of Heavy Thinking was released and I have completed about one-third of the next book, so I guess you could say I’m right on schedule–or is that write on schedule?

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    1. I admire you for writing one and writing another, Russell. I’m working on one, really. I finally am, but it’s been slow going. Some writers can whip out a book and others take decades. It’s tough no matter what. I guess it’s all a process. I applaud you for keeping on the writing path.

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  17. I often wonder were “things” go when I send them off into the cloud. I’m still wondering…Great story. I feel like the person at the window waiting for something…anything…to come back! 😐

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    1. I understand completely, Lorna. I’m often left feeling the same way. Where is that whatsit?? We just hope it comes back. Where do the lost go…only they know.

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  18. Well, that must be what happened to the terrific book that I wrote — it vanished into the cloud. No wonder there’s no fame, fortune, or even lunch money. Interesting society you’ve created, Amy. If my half-sheet of paper is not wrinkled, will I fare better?

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    1. Perry, would you even wrinkle a half sheet of paper? I doubt it! As for the book, I will be expecting your terrific book in my inbox. Deal? If anyone can track it down, you can. I have faith.

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  19. Funnily enough I was only thinking the other day about the amount of work I have stored on WordPress and what I would do if anything happened to it. Hmmm You made me think there, great idea.

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    1. I certainly don’t want to sound alarmist, Sandra. I hadn’t thought much about it…until this prompt! I suppose I should do something about this, too. Thanks for making me think about it again.

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  22. This is great, and I so love the black hole line. Apart from that: I don’t trust the cloud and I don’t trust Google. It’s convenient but anything but safe. Please, Amy, make backups!

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      1. Oh, I think they are ok, but they have the tendency to take their services away when they are not popular enough. Old advice with putting your eggs into different baskets is true with the cloud, too. Besides, I never put personal stuff into the cloud, that stays local. Yes, I’m paranoid. 😉

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    1. No truer words have been spoken. Technology is a mixed bag, that’s for sure. It’s funny how we all rely on it so but can’t explain how it all works. Thanks for the visit!

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  26. Amy, there’s a scary vision of things to come. Hopefully cloud storage never gets that bad, although I did go into work yesterday to find my network drive unavailable for some reason, so I couldn’t do my work. Maybe we should all go back to typewriters. 🙂
    -David

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    1. I hope it never comes to this, David. I honestly had not considered any of this…until this prompt. I kinda count on it, so I hope it continues to keep on working. Hmm…about your drive being unavailable. See, that stuff happens. I don’t even own a typewriter! 🙂

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      1. I would go nuts if I had to use a typewriter, or worse, a pen. 🙂 My writing is terrible and much slower than my typing. Can you imagine the days when another draft meant writing it all out by hand again?

        Liked by 1 person

      3. I know Tolkien had at least 3 drafts of Lord of the Rings: two by hand and one by typewriter to send to the publisher. Which means he wrote out at least 3000 pages by hand. No wonder it took him 9 years to finish.

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      4. I do a fair amount of self criticism, sometimes even before I’ve even written something. It’s that fear. I totally understand. My story fell apart! It had too many characters.

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