Étienne Maurice Falconet: Pygmalion et Galatée (1763)
The Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Rodeo announced another winner, and I’m thrilled to have pulled off top honors with this one. Yay!
Challenge #4: In a double length Carrot Ranch flash, or 2 chapters of 99-words each (198 words total), tell a story that shows a scar. It can be memoir, other forms of creative non-fiction, any genre of fiction, or based on a true story.
Galatea
My father was Pygmalion and I his child chiseled by his scowls and smiles into the woman of his daydreams, a huntress, a poet, a woman who walked barefoot over mountains. In the light of his approving eye, I flourished in the myth of Galatea, a living statue until age cracked my smooth skin. What he thought was carved of marble I revealed as plaster, the child beneath growing beyond the sculptor’s control. I was a betrayal of his art, his vision, a flesh and bone girl with her own daydreams, and he said, “I don’t love you anymore.”
And so, the sculptor became a butcher, his chisel traded for a cleaver, Galatea gone, my myth smashed into rubble on the floor. In pieces, I sought new masters to glue together my shattered heart, unable to accept I was clay, not stone, and the only artist was me. For decades, I fashioned a new myth, molded her with tender fingers and scraped away layers of pain, all the while longing for my maker to undo the original wound. But time cannot be undone or cuts unmade. I forgave and finally became a woman wholly of flesh and bone.
***
Many thanks to Carrot Ranch and to the judges, and congratulations to all those who entered. To read the powerful work of other top contenders, click here: Carrot Ranch
Myths of the Mirror 
Congratulations, Diana. I cannot believe I fell so far behind. . .
(Personal complications with traveling between long days.)
I think father-daughter relationships are so complicated. This was poignant and heartfelt. I hope you had some resolution to this disconnect between the two of you, dear friend.
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Thanks, Robin. You’ve had some priorities that took precedence without question – holidays, Randy, kids, grandies, mom. Totally understandable! I’m so glad you stopped by though. This piece won the best of show last week, too. I was thrilled to say the least. Hugs!
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I’m so glad you won the whole contest, Diana! I am thrilled you participate in these which allow us to read “smaller bodies of your fine writing pieces.” The process you displayed was also fascinating. . . Break is over so I will see you later!
Thank you for your warm and special messages. ❤
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Oops! I missed this, and it’s lovely. The win was well-deserved. And the boost to the writer’s self-confidence is always so welcome. 🙂
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Thanks so much for backtracking, Cathleen. It was a boost, but honestly, the participation was a blast regardless of the win. I’m so glad you enjoyed this one. Happy Writing!
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Congratulations, Diana! It is a breathtaking piece.
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Thanks, Inese. It was a personal one and the metaphor of the myth seemed appropriate. So glad you enjoyed it. ❤
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This one speaks volumes ❤
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Reblogged this on Creative Writing Reblogged.
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Thank you. So appreciate the share. Happy Writing ❤
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Wonderful!
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Thank you! I’ve been having fun with these, obviously. A few more and the competition will be done. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Happy Sunday!
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Congratulations on the award, Diana! What a beauti ful and moving story you’ve retold in your very own way. I love the classic myths and the one about Pygmalion and Galatea always makes me sigh…
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Thank you. The myth made a good metaphor for my life at the time. I was honored by the selection and happy to be among so much talent. ❤
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Many congratulations, Diana. I can see why this piece of writing won you the competition. It was such a ‘deep’ read.
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Thanks so much, Hugh. I was head over heels with the recognition for this little piece. The whole event has been loads of fun. Happy Writing!
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Congratulations, Diana! Amazing piece, could not have found a better winner 🙂
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Thanks so much for stopping by to read, Sophie. I’m just giddy that you liked it. Have a great week and Happy Reading!
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Congratulations, Diana! Well-deserved win. 🎉
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Thanks, Sarah. So glad you liked it. Only four more to go! Ha ha. What an event. I find myself looking forward to Tuesdays for the first time in my life. 😀
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LOL. 😀
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Amazing story D! beautiful!
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Thank you so much for reading. I had a lot of fun with these prompts. Happy Writing. 🙂
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CONGRATULATIONS Diana! You stand out and you shine in the billions of authors we have around the world. Your story short, and well told deserved to be won. I am so happy and I enjoyed the story, it is very exciting and “would you turn it into a book?” Just wonder what is in your mind about this little story that won the prize!
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Thanks for the lovely comment, Juli. This little flash piece isn’t going to become a book, though sometimes that does happen. It will stay as it is. I’m so glad you like it, though. Have a wonderful Sunday, my friend. 🙂
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What a powerful little story, Diana! Well done!
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Thanks! I’ve been “flashing” a lot lately. Well, not that kind of flashing. The writing type. Now, I’m back to the WIP and cranking out the words. Happy Writing!
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Well, geeze, no wonder you won. That was masterful.
And in the spirit of rodeos everywhere, allow me to give you a sincere “YEE-HAA!”
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Ha ha ha. Thanks for the cheers, pardner. I had so much fun with these competitions. Now it’s back to slogging through my first draft. 😀
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Go get ’em, cowgirl!
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Well deserved! Congrats Diana!!
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Thanks for stopping by, Rob. I’ve been consumed by flash fiction lately. And it’s been a blast, win or lose. I’m glad you liked this one. Have a great weekend and Happy Reading!
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Beautiful. you deserve to always win, Diana, you have such control with words, you shape and mold them so perfectly.
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Thanks so much for the kind comment, Jina. I’m glad you enjoyed this piece. It was from the heart, for sure. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Wonderful, Diana! Congratulations.
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Thanks, Jennie. I’ve been enjoying these and sharing my submissions, win or lose. It’s all fun. Happy Weekend, my friend. ❤
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It is fun, Diana. Happy weekend to you, too! 😍
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Hi! I commented yesterday but all my comments to everyone went into Spam folders. Yikes. Hopefully this works now. I found this ‘2-part- story full of layers: sad, and yet hopeful in the end. She’s a woman now!
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Thanks, Pam. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story. Ugh, sorry about the spam. I have days where it seems everything comment I write gets spammed. Lately I’ve been getting about 300 spams a day and if I forget to check there will be over 1000 of them in there – too many to search through. 😦 Thanks so much for trying again. ❤
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Wow. I’m bad – I never check my Spam. And I think you wrote a blog once that we should do that. Learning….learning.
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Most of it was on one post. I closed comments on the post and now spam is “normal” again. I’m learning too!
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Diana, this story is fabulous. It works on so many levels and reveals much about human beliefs and relationships. Congratulations!
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Thanks, Lana. I’m just tickled with the win, but enjoyed every moment of the competition regardless. Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Writing!
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