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 Mournival is this: in the game of gleek, it’s four cards of the same value, such as four aces or four kings; hence, four of anything. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Mournival

The definition that captured my attention was posted by… Joylene Nowell Butler. She defined it as follows: 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. Bravo Joylene! *clapping* (and I hope you’ve since recovered from that ‘brain effort’)

Today’s word is

                                           NIDIFICATION

This is the constant nitpicking, fault-finding attitude displayed by people who “mean well” and are always on hand to help, offer advice and lend support under the guise of  “constructive criticism”.

Life's too short Mug

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.

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What is 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.

                                                    ABANDON

SOURCE

The derelict mansion had been ravaged by fire and then exposed to the elements.

Not a trace of its former grandeur remained.

Her journalistic instincts wondered about the stories trapped inside the dank and musty room; beneath the walls covered by black mould and under thick layers of ingrained dirt which smothered every surface, while a feeble ray of sunlight struggled to penetrate the dismal environment, via broken windows comprising jagged glass, crumbling frames and rusted wire mesh.

This assignment would be unlike any other.

A voice shattered her reverie: “Welcome home, Lady Dillingham.”

56 Comments

  1. Alex J. Cavanaugh on January 27, 2015 at 5:33 pm

    Great flash fiction!
    Nid is slang for pound sterling.
    Edification is good, nidification even better.

  2. Murees Dupé on January 27, 2015 at 7:51 pm

    Great writing. I wouldn’t have set foot in that house.

  3. Shelly on January 27, 2015 at 8:43 pm

    Nidification is someone who is unfortunately a moron and can’t find their way around a new town.

  4. Southpaw HR Sinclair on January 27, 2015 at 9:50 pm

    Another great flash piece.

  5. L. Diane Wolfe on January 27, 2015 at 9:50 pm

    It’s a knitting vacation!

  6. injaynesworld on January 27, 2015 at 11:05 pm

    Wonderfully dark and fun. I’d love to read more of this story.

  7. Patricia Lynne on January 27, 2015 at 11:46 pm

    I think I like L. Diane’s definition! But I may be biased since I knit. 😉

    • Michelle Wallace on February 1, 2015 at 2:48 pm

      It sounds dialectical – another way of saying knitting vacation. 🙂 Happy knitting!

  8. krystal jane on January 28, 2015 at 4:39 am

    I love that picture!! And now I love the word mournival. Who doesn’t like to find a mournival in their hand? ^_^

    NIDIFICATION — The act of getting rid of things that pester you. 🙂

    • Michelle Wallace on February 1, 2015 at 2:49 pm

      There must be loads of gratification in your nidification, hey?

  9. Corinne Rodrigues on January 28, 2015 at 7:55 am

    Nidification – Something you keep telling yourself when you’ve been overworked – ‘I sure nidification!’ 😉
    Loved the story!

    • Michelle Wallace on February 1, 2015 at 2:50 pm

      Nice to see you here, Corinne! 🙂 Thanks for the tweet!

  10. Beth on January 28, 2015 at 3:10 pm

    love the flash fiction! Nidification–a vacation where you’re not required to bring i.d.

    • Michelle Wallace on February 1, 2015 at 2:51 pm

      Aha. I like it. 🙂
      Clever definition. Very clever.

  11. Peaches Ledwidge on January 28, 2015 at 4:56 pm

    Flash fiction seems like a lot of fun.

  12. Loni Townsend on January 28, 2015 at 5:03 pm

    I love your fiction. It’s so powerful!

    Nidification – The induction verification into the society of Nids.

    • Michelle Wallace on February 1, 2015 at 2:54 pm

      Great definition, Loni.
      Lends itself to a brand new story idea, incorporating the secret society of Nids! 🙂

  13. Mary Pax on January 28, 2015 at 6:01 pm

    Ooo, I want to know more about that house. Great five lines.

    Nidification – It’s a police procedure in which the police person reads the miranda rights backwards in order to ward off the headless horseman.

    • Michelle Wallace on February 1, 2015 at 2:56 pm

      LOL Reads the miranda rights backwards? Headless horseman? Is it sci-fi or fantasy based?

  14. Cherie Reich on January 28, 2015 at 6:03 pm

    That last line is haunting considering the setting. I want to know what happens next.

  15. Al Diaz on January 28, 2015 at 6:44 pm

    Nidification sounds like Nido (Spanish word for nest) and edification. So the word means the act of building nests. We can form an association for reforestation and nidification 🙂 Dragon Hugs!

  16. Jemi Fraser on January 28, 2015 at 10:07 pm

    Nidification is a small, yet growing grass roots movement to raise money and awareness of the nidifs and their terrible plight. Hopefully someday soon, the nidifs will be free of the dangers inherent in living in Yeti fur.

    Love your imagery in abandon!

    • Michelle Wallace on February 1, 2015 at 3:00 pm

      Wow! I like the idea of a grass roots movement. It always suggests voluntary work for a good cause…
      (See Loni’s answer above. Maybe they are connected in some way?)

  17. Tyrean on January 28, 2015 at 10:22 pm

    The Knights of Ni gathering together for their initiation ceremony. 🙂

  18. Carol Kilgore on January 28, 2015 at 11:06 pm

    Wow, that middle one is some sentence!

    Nidification … sorry, I got nothing on this. Maybe that’s what nification means, LOL.

    • Michelle Wallace on February 1, 2015 at 3:02 pm

      Hey Carol! 🙂
      Maybe it’s a moment of “blankness”

  19. Christine Rains on January 29, 2015 at 2:22 am

    Love that flash piece! I want to read more.

    NIDIFICATION: The art of massage for gnomes.

  20. joylene on January 29, 2015 at 2:08 pm

    Ooh, you got some brain children visiting your blog this morning. How can one possibly out do KNITTING VACATION! Hah. Okay, here’s my seroious attempt at defining nidification. Nidification is when you’ve made 3 serious traffic violations and now have to wear a balaclava when you’re driving that has DUNCE knitted across the top to warn others that you’re a BAD DRIVER.

  21. Shell Flower on January 29, 2015 at 2:46 pm

    I love your last line in that flash fiction. *shivers* As for Nidification, it is when you have watched so many shows in a row on Netflix that you can barely see anymore.

  22. elizabeth seckman on January 29, 2015 at 5:19 pm

    Nidification. Oh my. My dog is barking his fool head off and I’m drawing a blank. Maybe nidification is a random stupid excuse for lack of execution?

    Excellent short fiction. I am horrible at those flash fiction challenges. It takes some real talent, which you so obviously have oodles of!

    • Michelle Wallace on February 1, 2015 at 3:05 pm

      Thanks Elizabeth!
      Have you tried writing flash fiction?

  23. Toi Thomas on January 29, 2015 at 9:46 pm

    Love your flash fiction. Sounds like a cool way to come up with new stories.

    Wish I had something to offer for Nidification, but I think Tyrean is on to something.

    • Michelle Wallace on February 1, 2015 at 3:07 pm

      I suppose it IS a great way of generating story ideas… which is the easiest part (for me)

  24. Jocelyn Rish on January 29, 2015 at 10:01 pm

    Uh oh, I think I suffer from your definition of NIDIFICATION. 🙂 As for my definition, how about: The result of a boring meeting that causes your head to bob as you fall into micro-naps.

    Very evocative flash story!

    • Michelle Wallace on February 1, 2015 at 3:11 pm

      Your head nods/bobs through boredom? Yep.
      Nidification = nodding + napping… 🙂

  25. Nick Wilford on February 1, 2015 at 9:43 pm

    I jumped at the last line! Great job.

    Darn, I thought of the Knights of Ni too but Tyrean beat me.

    OK, in that case nidification is a shortened form of “needification” meaning… becoming needy. That’s all I’ve got!

  26. C. Lee McKenzie on February 2, 2015 at 6:19 pm

    the Nids are my next door neighbors. I had no idea they had a vacation going. I just thought they were avoiding me.

    I’ll have nightmares about that place for a while. Thanks.

    • Michelle Wallace on February 4, 2015 at 1:43 pm

      Very clever… 🙂
      Nightmares? Then I did something right…

  27. Julie K Pick on February 3, 2015 at 8:30 am

    Another suspenseful five sentence fiction, Michelle!

    NIDIFICATION: A certifiable nitwit!

  28. Michelle Wallace on February 4, 2015 at 1:47 pm

    Validation of a nitwit! LOL
    Lots of people I know need qualify for the nidification procedure.

  29. Crystal Collier on February 4, 2015 at 4:48 pm

    I loved your post on the IWSG site. Didn’t comment there because it was an off day, but I wanted to let you know. I LOVE flash fiction too.

    • Michelle Wallace on February 4, 2015 at 6:46 pm

      Thanks Crystal! 🙂
      It’s quite addictive – like cheese, eh?

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