The Dangers of Baiting the Muse

67 Replies
PHOTO PROMPT © Brenda Cox

“Is this Chinese, Korean or what?”

“How in the world should I know?”

I jumped.  I didn’t know the muse had entered.

She frowned at the photo.

“All I know is that it isn’t ancient Greek.  I haven’t read since Timocles.”

“A lot of help you are….”

“You could ask a friend….”

Kyung is Korean and Lilly Chinese, but I would never bother either of them over this photo!

“Just begin with someone who is lost in a new culture, OK?”

I started writing, “Thalia hadn’t had a date in two millennia.”

“Hey!”

“I thought you only knew ancient Greek?”

***

word count = 100

Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.  This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo © Brenda Cox. Read more or join in by following the InLinkz “linky“.

**

OK, I had nothing. And since I didn’t know the language, I was 99.99% sure which ever language I picked, even doing a coin toss, I’d be wrong. And that idea distracted me, so…

67 thoughts on “The Dangers of Baiting the Muse”

    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Well, my muse told me that she is just supposed to provide the inspiration, that I need to get up off of my lazy behind and do my own research ;) I don’t know, I think I’d rather tease her instead….

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  8. ahtdoucette

    LOL. Well, it’s all Greek to me anyway. According to Internet, Brenda took this picture in Seoul, South Korea. I think someone did a Seoul picture also. The letters have this squashed look to it. Now I’m resisting the urge to look more into it. I know that many other countries use Chinese letters with adaptations like how European countries/the Americas use the same basic letters for different languages. Just found out North/South Korea have different character systems. Did not know that. Okay going to stop going down that research rabbit trail. I was wondering too, though!

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I was pretty sure it was Korean, as you said, the squished look is what I think of with Korean, but I wasn’t sure enough to go with it! I did not know that North and South used different systems. lol, an easy rabbit hole to go down! Why is research much more addictive when done for fun than when it is done for work? Thanks for finding out for sure!

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          1. Dale

            Truth be told, there are weeks I don’t play because I don’t feel like reading 60 other stories. It wouldn’t be fair to put mine up and not participate – though I have played and not left my link for that very reason…

            Liked by 1 person

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              1. Dale

                And sometimes, I just don’t. I’ll read the ones I’m subsribed to (like you ;-) ) whether I play or not. There are a lot I don’t bother with now because they never reciprocate and worse, don’t acknowledge comments left to them. So rude.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks! When I saw the photo I didn’t want to fall into any stereotypes of modern cultures, so I decided to poke fun at stereotypes of ancient cultures instead 😁

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  17. Bear

    Good one. I can just see them standing on the corner having this discussion, much to the amusement of the locals. LOL! I’m struggling with this photo, too…but not from lack of inspiration, just can’t decide which line to write on.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks. Sometimes too many choices is good – nothing in the rules says you can’t do two ;) (I did have one thought about violence to Asian Americans, but I could not write that! Not in the mood.)

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      A minor deity should remember, though, particularly one who has been called upon by everyone from Homer to Shakespeare (and in the movie The Muse, Rob Reiner, James Cameron, etc.) ;) Thanks

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I guess I can’t blame her, though she should have had plenty of practice inspiring stories in those 2000 or so years, so time shouldn’t be an excuse ;)

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