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Matt's avatar

Hi. I'm Matt and I'm brand new to substacks. I enjoy, writing micro fiction. Here's my take.

Prompt- Ocean

Samuel took a seat at the bench on the beach closet to the shore. He remembered the good ole days of his youth, wandering up and down the beach with his friends or little sister Maggie. Maggie had passed away several years ago. Going back to the places they both cherished always warmed his heart. He could feel her presence almost as if Maggie were sitting or standing right beside him, whispering cheerful thoughts into his aging mind while gentle waves washed across the sand.

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Miguel S.'s avatar

Hi Matt! That’s a beautifully poignant story you got there! Thanks for writing with us :) We’re sharing stories here at the Fiction Dealer 6 days a week, so feel free to hop on anytime and welcome to Substack!

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Matt's avatar

Awesome! Sounds good, friend and thank you for the warm welcome :)

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Izzibella Beau's avatar

Thank you so much for adding my story.

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Evelyn K. Brunswick's avatar

I'm the same as you when it comes to Spring...

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Miguel S.'s avatar

Spring is just magical time

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

PROMPT: OCEAN

THE MESSAGE

We had one bottle. And one piece of paper.

One chance to tell the world we were stranded and needed help.

So, after carefully slipping our rolled-up note into its glass container, we threw it in the sea.

But we forgot to put the cork in.

And we watched helplessly as our one hope of rescue disintegrated in the waves… 😎

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Rostislava Pankova-Karadjova's avatar

This is my first attempt of this, not sure how to go about it. So, I made it into a post:

https://open.substack.com/pub/rostislava/p/a-whole-beach-of-sand-grains?

r=zcxsb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

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Miguel S.'s avatar

Post, comment or a share with the story is fine, whatever suits you the most 😁 thanks for writing with us ❤️

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Bill Ferguson 🇨🇦's avatar

The steady thrum of the ocean's waves lulled him into a sense of relaxation as he sat on the deck of his beach house. No stress, no competition, no overdrawn deadlines. Just him and the way that he viewed life. Relaxing views, a whiff of fresh ocean air, calm, cool nights. This was exactly how life was supposed to be.

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Todd Christopher Thurman's avatar

that water … which brings shalom

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Jane Dougherty's avatar

Thank you, Miguel!

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Miguel S.'s avatar

Thank you for writing with me! :)

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Wild Lion*esses Pride from Jay's avatar

60mg of. OCEAN

The ocean is space, endless and deep. Endless Horizons. I sank slowly, the surface fading into turbulent waves, the pull of the unknown beneath. As I descended, the chaos above quieted, and the world seemed to dissolve. Below, there was only the soft undulation of water, enclosing me, holding me in a way that felt safe, peaceful, and truly home.

___

Thank you so much Miguel S. for the acknowledgement and mention in this weeks Batch Fiction .I is always an honor to find myself again in the community of so many talented and gifted writers.

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Miguel S.'s avatar

Thank you Jay for writing with us! It wouldn’t be the same place without you :)

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Wild Lion*esses Pride from Jay's avatar

Miguel, it is a pleasure writing in this group of amazing writers and poets. Thank you. I appreciate you.

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Max Echard's avatar

Inland

Bobby said the ocean was just a story.

Said no water stretched past where your eyes quit.

Said it was for sailors and fools.

We’d never seen more than a cattle pond.

I didn’t argue.

Some things you don’t remember learning.

Some things are older than proof.

The dust took our crops.

It never touched the ocean in me.

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Gillian Fletcher's avatar

60mg of OCEAN

“I can’t see the other side,” Chip said, using a stick to poke the seaweed and wet sand.

“Because it covers the whole world without stopping,” I replied.

“Can we see the bottom?”

“In the middle, it is so deep no one has been able to find it.”

A briny wave crashes at our feet, and Chip shrieks with glee.

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Jon Howski's avatar

It’s one of the highlights of the week to see the batch post come out and get a mention in it - Kev’s looking forward to his new adventures

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Ken Beyer's avatar

The ship climbed up and down, fighting the ocean waves. The frothy sea smashed over the handrails. Whoa be the sailor caught on deck, flung overboard like a rag doll. The ocean holds her secrets well. Suddenly, another vessel sighted closing fast. Collision imminent!

With a swoop of intervention, Captain Johnny diverts his rubber ducky away from Thomas the tugboat.

Many thanks Miguel for the opportunity to contribute along with such talented writers!

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Stephanie Loomis's avatar

Glad you liked my senior life--thanks for the share!!

Ocean 60 words

Constant, yet never the same.

Powerful, yet always welcoming.

Chaotic, yet serene below the surface.

Healing salty water for the body.

Healing salty air for the soul.

Healing warm sand for bare feet.

Shells tell the story of life.

Shark teeth tell the story of predation.

Gulls tell all the stories aloud.

Ocean: Keeper of dreams and healings and beginnings.

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Wild Lion*esses Pride from Jay's avatar

Stephanie, your words capture the ocean’s soul so perfectly. It’s amazing how you balance its power and tranquility, the way it both heals and tells stories. I love how you highlight the contrasts—chaotic yet serene, predatory yet full of life. The ocean truly is a keeper of dreams and beginnings. Beautifully written!

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Jeannine's avatar

Though oceans divide our nations, we can all find joy in the simple things: Things like Stroopwafels, Galletas de Maíz, Kok Chyes, Nanaimo Bars, Brunkagers, Snickerdoodles, Bejus, Alfajores, Pryaniki,  Horishky, Ka'ak Asawir, Rosalach, Macarons, Maamouls, Jaffa Cakes, Heidesand, and more.

Grandmothers of the world unite, let your sweet voices soar: Love and happiness are what we need, make cookies not war!

🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪

Cookies listed are from the Netherlands, Mexico, China, Canada, Denmark, the United States, Nigeria, South America, Russia, Ukrainia, Palestine, Israel, France, the Middle East, Great Britain, and Germany. I wish I could list all the world's cookies, but I ran out of words!

Note: I am now two words over so I could add Jay's German cookie suggestion, but I would be happy to overdose some more if anyone whose country did not get into the list (and would like to be there) would be willing to give me suggestions. 😉

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Wild Lion*esses Pride from Jay's avatar

What a beautiful message, Jeannine! Your list of cookies feels like a journey around the world, each one a small piece of a shared culture and love. It’s incredible how food—especially something as simple and comforting as cookies—can bring people together, no matter the distance. Your sentiment is spot on: "Make cookies, not war!" 🍪💖

I add Heidesand from Germany

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Jeannine's avatar

Thank you for the compliment and the suggestion! I added your German cookies, so now I'm over par, but at this point, the more the better...

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Wild Lion*esses Pride from Jay's avatar

That is so thoughtful of you, Jeannine! Your message really captures the warmth and connection that food—especially something as comforting as cookies—can bring to all corners of the world. I love how you’ve celebrated the diversity of cultures through something so simple yet meaningful. Your sentiment of "Make cookies, not war!" truly resonates! 🍪💖 Baking cookies with you on this side of the Atlantic against Fascism.

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Lia's avatar

OCEAN (60)

Low tide had left her thrashing wildly in the shallows, unable to move off the sandbar. Human hands touched her for the first time. They were grabbing her tail, pushing her helpless body, guiding her towards deeper water. At last, the ocean rose up and cradled her. She jumped for joy, thanking them for helping her find her way home.

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Wild Lion*esses Pride from Jay's avatar

Lia, this is such a beautiful, evocative story. The imagery of the ocean embracing her and guiding her back home is powerful and moving. It’s a perfect reminder of the way we all sometimes need a helping hand to find our way back to where we belong. Beautifully written, I felt the emotion in every line.

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Lia's avatar

Thanks!! So glad you liked it 😊

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Jeannine's avatar

I love this!

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Lia's avatar

Thanks Jeannine!

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

Another fun week there, full of wonderful contributions! Well done everyone... 😎

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