Whacky Words & Flash Fiction

It’s time for WHACKY WORDS! Remember, this is supposed to be FUN!

Thank you to everybody who played along for the previous word. The real meaning of the word Lalochezia is: the emotional relief gained by using indecent or vulgar language http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/lalochezia

The definition that captured my attention was posted by… well, I chose two! Mary Pax said: It’s a gangsta hideout where bad guys lay low while things are hot (which sort of ties in with the real definition, since gangsters indulge in vulgar language…) and Loni Townsend said: the latest trend in cheese-scented nail lacquer (how innovative is that?) Congratulations ladies!

Today’s word is

                                                MOURNIVAL

The 2015 horror/comedy blockbuster movie which is raking in millions at the box office!   

That’s my definition. (The word does have a meaning, but you are invited to play along by providing your own original meaning. No cheating and looking up the word. I’ll post the meaning next week). So do you wanna play along? Leave your definition in the comment section below.

*                    *                    *                    *                    *

What it’s F-S-F all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week the hostess will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

                                                                    OFFERING

offering

“Honesty is the ONLY ingredient that will ensure the success of this offering,” the knowing voice emanated from a bent frame as ancient eyes gazed upon the contents, before the prophetess added it to the container.

I was plagued by the choice: would any sacrificial act linked to a thirty year old friendship be voluntary or obligatory?

My mind raced back in time, to a pivotal moment, when my senses were smothered by burning rubber, screeching tyres, and a high-pitched scream; before oblivion swallowed an eternity of unimaginable pain, just as I was snatched from the jaws of death…

I was lucky to be alive.

But that didn’t answer the question.

52 Comments

  1. Anna on January 20, 2015 at 5:05 pm

    Offering is nicely done. I want more (if you please). 🙂

    Anna from Shout with Emaginette

    • Michelle Wallace on January 22, 2015 at 8:08 pm

      More?
      It’s kinda deep… means I need a proper outline….. 🙂

  2. Alex J. Cavanaugh on January 20, 2015 at 6:20 pm

    That was tense!
    MOURNIVAL – a carnival for mourners.

    • Michelle Wallace on January 22, 2015 at 8:10 pm

      Glad the tension came through… 🙂
      A carnival for mourners… wonder if it would be a happy or depressing place?

  3. Loni Townsend on January 20, 2015 at 7:27 pm

    Woot! You liked my definition! I’ve got nothing for today’s word, though.

    That was a wonderful piece of fiction. Very intense. I loved it.

  4. Murees Dupé on January 20, 2015 at 8:58 pm

    This was well written and captured my full attention. Very good! Mournival – A town where everyone mourns?

    • Michelle Wallace on January 22, 2015 at 8:11 pm

      Thank you Murees!
      That must be one depressing town…

  5. Southpaw HR Sinclair on January 20, 2015 at 9:27 pm

    I love that one!

    A mournival is a type of rodent, similar to a mole, but it wears a mourning robe.

    • Michelle Wallace on January 22, 2015 at 8:13 pm

      I’m trying to picture a sad mole in a mourning robe. Quite a funny image… 🙂

  6. Patricia Lynne on January 20, 2015 at 9:46 pm

    Mournival – an interval of time that measures how long the morning drags on for those who aren’t morning people.

    • Michelle Wallace on January 22, 2015 at 8:16 pm

      Ooh, sounds very… interesting and… mathematical? Good one!

  7. Shelly on January 20, 2015 at 10:44 pm

    Loved your snippet. Hope you expand this one.

    • Michelle Wallace on January 22, 2015 at 8:17 pm

      Shelly, a million thank yous!
      (I do like the sound of this one…)

  8. L. Diane Wolfe on January 20, 2015 at 11:36 pm

    A revival for mourners?

    • Michelle Wallace on January 22, 2015 at 8:19 pm

      Possibilities… they all stopped mourning, or it’s a revival to increase the intensity of mourning/length of mourning… 🙂

  9. Carol Kilgore on January 21, 2015 at 12:25 am

    Love your story!

    The only thing I have for Mournival is the annual line for a hangover cure on the morning after Carnival and Mardi Gras.

  10. Julie K Pick on January 21, 2015 at 9:33 am

    Congrats to Mary and Loni! I can’t possibly top Alex’s definition for Mournival! Another suspenseful Five Sentence Fiction, Michelle!

  11. Melissa Maygrove on January 21, 2015 at 12:55 pm

    Mournival: What kids do when the carnival leaves town.

    Great flash fiction! 🙂

    • Michelle Wallace on January 22, 2015 at 8:22 pm

      A mourning period for kids who are experiencing carnival-withdrawal-syndrome… something like that? Yep. Love it! 🙂

  12. Crystal Collier on January 21, 2015 at 3:09 pm

    Whew! Nice appeal to the senses with your flash fiction. Very evocative.

    The definition, as anyone can see, is a festival of mourning–like El Dia de Muerte, or a festival of professional mourners putting on a show to obtain patrons.

    • Michelle Wallace on January 22, 2015 at 8:24 pm

      Thanks Crystal! 🙂
      Selling their mourning wares? Interesting.

  13. Susan Gourley on January 21, 2015 at 3:35 pm

    Love the flash fiction.
    Mournival- where fans get together online to mourn the cancellation of their favorite TV shows.

  14. Mr. Slow Computer on January 22, 2015 at 12:13 am

    Hey Michelle,

    Oh good grief, my computer is struggling enough as it is without having to try and leave a comment via your name, rank and serial number comment system. Yikes and HELP 🙂

    Looks like Mourning has broken….Nice one and I have to go because my computer is whirring real loud…..

    Gary aka klahanie….

    • Michelle Wallace on January 22, 2015 at 8:27 pm

      Glad you made it Mr. Slow Computer. 🙂
      Hope you get it fixed soon!
      (I taught my choir that song…. kids loved it1)

  15. Elizabeth Seckman on January 22, 2015 at 3:12 am

    Way to go Loni and Mary…and it is fun!

    Love to see all the twisted answers!

    • Michelle Wallace on January 22, 2015 at 8:28 pm

      Yes, it’s loads of fun reading all the responses!

  16. krystal jane on January 22, 2015 at 4:52 am

    Yes! Love that! Makes me wonder…

    Mournival – The tent that tailgaters use on rainy game days. 🙂

  17. Michelle Wallace on January 22, 2015 at 8:31 pm

    I had to google tailgate party… your definition fits nicely! 🙂

  18. Christine Rains on January 23, 2015 at 1:20 am

    Nice flash fiction. I do wonder too.

    MOURNIVAL: a professional mourner who has become addicted to her job.

    • Michelle Wallace on January 27, 2015 at 3:57 pm

      Thanks Christine!
      There’s a niche in the market for such people… she probably makes good money from hiring out her services…

  19. Beth on January 23, 2015 at 2:49 pm

    great FF piece! Mournival, wow….I think the above are way too good to compete with ha

    • Michelle Wallace on January 27, 2015 at 3:58 pm

      You should give it a try… all in the name of “fun”, and stretching the imagination… 🙂

  20. joylene on January 24, 2015 at 1:22 am

    Alex’s interpretation was brilliant. It’s what I would have said. Notice how I added the definition brilliant?

    Okay, so let’s say he’s wrong. I’m guessing that a Mournival is what happens when a dumb schmuck falls in love with a girl called Val and won’t let go of the fact she’s not interested and keeps telling him over and over again, (iows: repeatedly) “Get lost, you dumb schmuck.” But hey–that’s not the worst of it. The family starts calling him the schmuck who’s stuck in Mournival.

    Whew, that took a lot of brain effort. I have to go lie down now.

    • Michelle Wallace on January 27, 2015 at 3:59 pm

      Bravo, Joylene!
      Now that was BRILLIANT! 🙂

      • joylene on January 27, 2015 at 5:33 pm

        Haha, thanks, Michelle. That was exhausting!

  21. Medeia Sharif on January 25, 2015 at 9:31 pm

    Wonderful flash fiction piece. Mournival sounds like an alternative for Halloween.

    • Michelle Wallace on January 27, 2015 at 4:00 pm

      It actually does. Has a similar “feel”.
      Mmm, I’m thinking – maybe a synonym?

  22. C. Lee McKenzie on January 26, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    Rats! Alex took my definition. Now what? How about “What happens in the valley when the sun comes up.” Sheesh. Why does that guy always get here ahead of me?

    • Michelle Wallace on January 27, 2015 at 4:02 pm

      LOL! Gotta be quicker than that, Lee!
      You need to pick up your feet to try and beat the Ninja (tell me if you get it right…) 😀

  23. Annalisa Crawford on January 26, 2015 at 5:24 pm

    Mournival – a carnival that no one enjoys going to.

  24. Stephen Tremp on January 26, 2015 at 6:22 pm

    Flash fiction is fun. I need to do more. It adds up and pretty soon you have a short story.

    • Michelle Wallace on January 27, 2015 at 4:04 pm

      The only problem is that I write a brand new piece every week. *sigh*
      Maybe I need to link the pieces…

  25. Sherry Ellis on January 26, 2015 at 9:43 pm

    Mournival: Where writers go after receiving rejection letters.

  26. Julie Flanders on January 27, 2015 at 1:47 pm

    Love your flash story – what a powerful piece.

  27. Jocelyn Rish on January 30, 2015 at 12:09 am

    I had never heard of the word Lalochezia before, but I think it’s my new favorite word. My dad was in the Navy, so I grew up with a lot of cussing, and therefore developed a bit of a potty mouth myself. How awesome that there’s actually a word to describe how cussing up a storm actually seems to help when I stub my toe! 🙂

Leave a Comment


Notice: Undefined variable: user_ID in /home/writerintrans/public_html/wp-content/themes/bb-theme/comments.php on line 69