Aeriel surveillance commencing!
got a word in your sights?
The word is chosen. Of course, I'm not going to tell you what it is, I love to torment you!
And don't forget the prize for this contest is a damn good one!
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Contest #100 looms
and we still need one more prompt word.
Aeriel surveillance commencing!
got a word in your sights?
Please, bombs away in the comments column.
The word is chosen. Of course, I'm not going to tell you what it is, I love to torment you!
And don't forget the prize for this contest is a damn good one!
Aeriel surveillance commencing!
got a word in your sights?
The word is chosen. Of course, I'm not going to tell you what it is, I love to torment you!
And don't forget the prize for this contest is a damn good one!
ReplyDeleteedge
I've just learned 'palimpsest', which is a manuscript written over earlier ones. Seems appropriate for our group!
ReplyDeleteSuggestions: sniffy, smug, odious, piffle, dishy, drowsy, gaunt.
ReplyDeleteWhat are the other four words? Or will we have to wait for #100 to be posted? (Something tells me it's this Friday. CAN'T WAIT!)
As my dear departed Uncle Dutch often said,
ReplyDelete“In promulgating your esoteric conjugations please try to jejune all bafflement.”
Take you pick.
The only word from the original list I remember is "gaze." So, I might be in trouble when the contest approaches.
ReplyDeleteSam: That word doesn't flow off the tongue so well, but I love the definition and that there is, indeed, a word for that! That's basically my process for editing/revising.
My vote for the last word goes to "looms" from the title of this post. Sides nicely with gaze and can have a few meanings.
Can you review what the current words are??
ReplyDeleteWell, the queens hundredth contest, on HIS 100th day, I'd say trump is the word.
ReplyDeleteKitty, we've got "gaze", "scapegrace", "scram", and "forti". Still mighty tickled about the last one there.
ReplyDeleteSince the contest looms, how about "pending" or "impending"? Or just throw a dart at a dictionary and get a random word like "cement".
The words so far:
ReplyDeleteGAZE
SCAPEGRACE
SCRAM
FORTI
Not that I've been taking notes... :)
As for word five... how about "the"? Or perhaps "and"? ;)
Draconian - an old favourite of mine. It has so much texture.
ReplyDeleteGnash, bite, chop, tear, rend, mutilate, devour, swallow, jaws
ReplyDeleteThings a shark might do or utilize upon an unwary swimmer in the Reef.
Contest 100. Shivers. Oh dear, oh dear..
Yes, let's have Colin choose :)
ReplyDelete"Chimera" and "halcyon" are two of my favorite words. Sam's 'palimpsest' is a fun one too - long but you could make a few different things out of it.
ReplyDeleteVoting for 2Ns' suggestion of trump. It's too perfectly timed to resist.
ReplyDeleteGAZE was my suggestion, way back when. May I still chime in on word #5? Yes?
ReplyDeleteI'm with Susan on "looms"...
I step to the podium. Butterflies. Knocking knees. I am asked to nominate a word for the 100th contest. I look out onto the multitudes of expectant faces before me. I adjust the microphone, turn my lead, clear my throat, turn back. I tap the mic, a loud click tells me it is on.
ReplyDelete"Reiders," I say with a strong voice bereft of fear, and sure of asset, I nominate the word,
“COLIN”
Silence descends on the crowd like mist on a southern meadow.
And then:
They stand, this humble group of Reiders, so appreciative of Colin’s efforts.
They cheer, as one voice rises above the rest, and then another and another…
“I second the nomination,” they say in unison.
Considering all the anticipation, I was going to go with 'end' or 'finale', but then my Canadian side took over and I want to go with the much more apt:
ReplyDeletefin.
Um, I hate typos.
ReplyDelete"The". The word "the". That'll be easy to use.
ReplyDeletepug
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI like THE but in case you don't like that one, I vote for YOWL.
Cent? Because of its connection to 100, and this will be the 100th contest. And because we could do a lot with cent.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI'm with the others on "looms."
I also like "maps" in honor of the prize.
ohhh! Fin! I like fin!
ReplyDeletealso pug.
short and not just one definition is key here.
Second 2Ns nom of COLIN - he does maintain the treasure chest and the list of past FF winners.
ReplyDeleteI think THE is rather inspired ;-)
Was about to suggest CENT, but I see Amy beat me to it.
What about some of the common words from the blog, like:
QUERY
HAMSTER
WHEEL
SHARK
NORMAN
Or ATLAS in reference to the most awesomest of prizes.
Off to bed but will be back in the morning to see what craziness you guys have come up with.
I love PUG because my Frankie is a pug.
ReplyDeleteFin works well as an end to all things.
2Ns: Thanks, but we already have one honoree in the list, and well-deserved. :) I was going to second FIN, but I see it already made it to Janet's short list. So... short and with more than one meaning... How about getting back to the basic commodity around which this community of writers and readers is based?: BOOK, NOVEL, PAGE, LETTER, ALCOHOL... ;)
ReplyDeleteI like the suggestion of LOOM and MAP too, in addition to FIN and PUG.
ReplyDeleteAnd what about WASH? It goes with water, etc.
Uh, shark?
ReplyDeleteI'd advise against trump. It'll become rump, and Janet could end up in the gulag.
ReplyDeleteHow about a truly evil word: ailurophobia. This is the next thing to 'psychopath'. No, it's the same thing just more evil.
ReplyDeleteHow about "blue"? Short, with at least a couple of different definitions. :)
ReplyDeleteSnark in honor if Miss Snark.
ReplyDeleteHope, because it always springs eternal here.
Bruit, because even the slightest one of good news sends everyone into gales of congratulations and well wishes.
Egad! Is Frain murdering someone again? Did anyone frain who it was?
Rime, because no response means no reply still elicts a rimed reply from the shark. Yay!
Rede abounds here every day.
Wag, because silliness does too and it wouldn't without the wags.
Orison, because heaven knows we need them at times.
Posy, if a short story leans our writing skills, what does a posy do?
Lief, I'd lief sit around drinking tea or beer with any of you on my favorite porch and swapping lies as anything I can think of.
Cinquain,Fonzie,Sable,Cumulus Dogfish
ReplyDeleteIf the contest falls on Friday, April 28, I nominate quinquagenery-septennial as a prompt word. My motivation is...wait for it...I really want to see how Steve will Fortify either one of those words. That would be a story to read, especially with his talents.
ReplyDeleteToo obscure?
The alternate word for quinquag(mire)enery is the word, jubilee.
Here in Ohio, there's always some little town or berg celebrating an anniversary of something or another. Usually, it's some Quasi-Sasquatchian or Hemi-Demi-Semi-Quaver Saskatchewanian birthday of a founding father.
So my nomination is in the vein of the Centennial Flash Fiction contest.
Not really an anniversary or birthday, but nonetheless, important as well.
Kregger
OT: H-D-S-Q won me fifty bucks in a bar trivia contest.
kerfuffle, chicanery, onerous, wan, cushy, nincompoop
ReplyDeleteI was gonna say yowl, but Dena got there first.
ReplyDeleteSo I second her suggestion: YOWL.
100th looms? Let the hand wringing begin.
ReplyDeletePug. Fin.
No need to feel as if we're in a pressure cooker about to blow.
Wring
Hand
Blow
OT: Kathy Joyce Haha. Yep, life goes on! I scrubbed out Mom's tub the other day too. AND, she had me take a toothbrush and pan of soapy water and go around her new place scrubbing all the baseboards.
:>/
Ashes' fin gave me a moment of frisson there. It has the rightest rightness to it, even moreso than trump (and kathy joyce may be right). Plus, the puns and permutations there have been done to death perhaps.
ReplyDeleteI suggest the word "rue".
ReplyDeleteIt is the first thing that popped into my head after seeing that fabulous map book. Then again, I might have been reading too much Gail Carriger.
(Spotted Custard, anyone?)
ohhhh!!!
ReplyDeleteLief!
Rue!
Lief? Rue? Yes - ohhhhh.
ReplyDeleteAs in, "Oh help!!!!!"
Dear heavens...this is going to be interesting :-)
cardinal - like the cardinal directions given out by the shark.
ReplyDeletechart-to chart a course in the reef.
rogue- term used for the shark that swims alone.
reef-because it totally has more than one meaning
writ? (as in writ of habeas corpus or writ large)
ReplyDeleteor
book? (multiple meanings)
I guess I should have explained my answers
ReplyDeleteDogfish- Is a type of shark, dog fighters, sharks are kind of a fish
Cumulus- a type of cloud, mutiple a sharks, a "cumulus" of them
Fonzie-Jumping the shark, sharks in air
Sable-they're black, it's a shade of black, best I got
Cinquain-A five line Stanza is a Cinquain, five sharks in a line
Cameron
ReplyDeleteI use sables, because they are also mourning clothes.
How about
ReplyDeleteweb
try
plot
plan
act
And ClaireB did you see your comment in the header of the blog? You have been crowned by the Queen!
I love Sam's and Susan's suggestions.
ReplyDeleteI nominate the word "twist" because I fear Janet has some other twist up her sleeve.
ReplyDeleteJust curious, be honest now, how many are already working on a story with the first four words? I am. Maybe the fifth word should make us scramble.
ReplyDeleteLove map, fin, cent.
ReplyDeleteWord
Sky
Bud
Jaw?
ReplyDeleteShort and has multiple meanings - though I like rue too!
Wow. Over 50 comments, full of possible words already. At this time of morning (or any time, really) my vocabulary is failing me, so I'll leave that discussion to those of you with brains (which, by the way, is all of you, just not me.)
ReplyDeleteKregger: They celebrate Saskatchewanians in Ohio? Lovely! I'd move there, but then I wouldn't be a Saskatchewanian anymore...
Kathy of the perfect surname seems to be wanting to get into trouble with her fellow reef-dwellers... But I do think it would level the playing field for those who haven't caught all the previous words.
(Of course, how do we know Janet is really going to incorporate all those previous words? She is a shark. She could be toying with us. Right before she attacks...)
FIN!
ReplyDeleteBJ, thanks for the shout-out on my surname. Long proud history, but having a first name as a last name does have its challenges...
ReplyDeleteWait - what? No, I did not see that!!
ReplyDeleteJanet - wow! - that is so cool. Strike that. YOU are so cool, and you really are SOME AGENT!!
"Fin" gave me chills, Ashes.
ReplyDeleteIlaria votes for "bait", as in food, because she is hungry. I'm drinking Earl Grey out of bone china while she devours third breakfast.
That makes me sound so civilized...just have to pretend I'm wearing pants and that my first breakfast was before noon.
Delete*laughing* My kids are almost 15, but, oh, this brings it all back! Enjoy every minute. It goes so fast. Today she's precious, tomorrow hormonal, Friday off to college...
DeleteOff topic, though semi-on topic with yesterday's post, which included a lovely graphic from Charlotte's Web, today's post on The Kill Zone is about The Lessons for All Writers
ReplyDeleteWoven into ‘Charlotte’s Web’.
She doesn't speak to the marketing aspect, though. She talks about the novel and how it works, and what writers can glean from it's beauty. (Note: There are spoilers in the article, but if you haven't read Charlotte's Web by now... especially as a child... please do. It deserves all the acolades.)
And an off-topic side note to Kathy J: What do you think the 'J' in BJ stands for?
ReplyDeleteAh! :) Then I'll dig out the history for you. I believe the original Joyces invaded Ireland from...somewhere.
DeleteSooo. Maybe I'm dense. I believe I've only just realized...would La QOTKU being planning to have the 100th contest on the 100th day of President Trump in office?
ReplyDeleteSurely not. As my mother in law (Shirley) would say.
?
And to the question about writing something with the four words already. Not I. I haven't had time! Yikes.
I'll say it a hundred times, two hundred if necessary
ReplyDelete"Hundred" is the word (see-it rhymes)
Kathy Joyce: Cool! We're descended from others who invaded Ireland. I wonder if that's where the name comes from. It's been in the family for generations already. I wonder if it goes back further...
ReplyDeletecrunch
ReplyDeleteThere are so many beautiful words out there, how do we pick just one? But some of my favorite words include 'socks', 'blubber', 'morbific' and 'mukluk'. Just say them and feel how nice they are as they roll off the tongue...
ReplyDeleteelectroencephalographically
ReplyDelete(adverb) An instrument for recording the electrical activity of the brain, usually by means of electrodes placed on the scalp: used to diagnose tumors of the brain, to study brain waves, etc EEG See also brain wave.
Also the longest word in Websters dictionary (Not antidisestablishmentarianism)
Now let's see you 'forti' that Steve!
For those who counted – "antidisestablishmentarianism" is not in Webster dictionary :)
ReplyDeleteYou guys may be testing my limits. But I'm always up for the challenge! (Now I'm seeing ways to work in electroencephalographically.) In a nerd admission, I did once use "floccinaucinihilipilificational" in a high school paper. Probably shouldn't day that out loud.
ReplyDeleteBut I also vote for "fin". So much flexibility with that one.
Perhaps, QOTKU should simply send Steve Forti that lovely book of Maps and be done with it. :/. Have we considered chasmophyte just to see what Forti does with it?
ReplyDeleteWhat if we had a contest that ONLY Steve Forti could enter?
ReplyDeleteWith words like chasmophyte?
ohhhh!
I'm so evil I'm scaring myself!
Oh! The map book!
ReplyDeleteI may have to put on my big girl pandys and enter finally.
:-)
No, that was not a typo.
I can't think of any word suggestions. I'm still trying to figure out whether "aeriel" surveillance is a mashup of aerial (something sharks never achieve) and Ariel (the mermaid sharks should never chomp). Is this a test? Has Janet been eating fermented buckets o' chum? How can you get surveillance right (took me three tries) and mess up aerial?
ReplyDeleteFin. Let's go with fin. Or the. Or a.
Obsequiously the avaricious rapscallion sucked up to the Queen.
ReplyDeleteOne word more? I have spent time, on an off, for the last month trying to mold those other four words into something that could be built into the base of a story.
That hasn’t happened yet so I will go with obsequiously just to mess with everyone else.
I second rue. I heart Gail Carriger!
ReplyDeleteI was going to suggest mnemonic as a good Forti word. But you could have a solemn emo ice lady--too easy. :)
ReplyDeleteFins Up!
ReplyDeleteOnly woodland creatures (aka reefers) would get so excited about words that they may or may not win a prize with.
(please do not edit that sentence -whew)
Mary Poppins said,
ReplyDelete"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
if you say it loud enough it almost sounds atrocious!" pause "if you say it backwards it's; dociousaliexpilisticfragicalirupes"
But really it's Suoicodilaipxecitsiligarfilacrepus,
Colin: this sounds like latin!? Suo-ico-dila-ipx-ecit-si-li-gar-fila-crepus
ok my three post allotment is up,
A contest only I can enter? So you're saying I automatically win? Sweet!
ReplyDeleteTaboo
ReplyDeleteSteve: So that would be a change, how? :) I'm kidding. Sort of.
ReplyDeleteOff topic (unless it's still yesterday, which it might be for some of us): For those who were recently bemoaning the fact that they're writing "unpopular" werewolf stories, this link might be of some comfort. Clearly, they're still being read and reviewed, although this reviewer had some issues with the books/movie mentioned. I only skimmed the reviews, but maybe they'll provide some insight about things to avoid?
http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/overall-c-reviews/c-plus-reviews/what-janine-is-reading-and-seeing-in-the-theater-werewolf-edition/
There will always be readers for well-told stories. You might just have to search a bit harder to connect with some of them.
KD's link: http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/overall-c-reviews/c-plus-reviews/what-janine-is-reading-and-seeing-in-the-theater-werewolf-edition
ReplyDeleteI don't think the lack of current popularity for anything has to do with good writing, unfortunately. Yes, you'll probably find readers, but it seems that many readers are growing tired of certan genres/ideas. That's why something new and interesting has to be done with those genres/ideas, to get people interested.
I haven't started with the four words, because I'm not as skilled as others here and for sure and for certain the fifth word would render my use of the first four useless.
ReplyDeleteI like FIN from those suggested overnight.
My only other suggestion is ANT. A bazillion ways to Forti it and I've always felt that's what we're like here. We scurry in different directions with our writing and opinions, but we form a cohesive, supportive group.
I wonder if our Queen will tell us the last word in advance? And when is this contest going to happen? I need to know so I can clear my diary to make sure I have time to work on my entry. There are going to be some doozies for sure! (and Janet is going to rue the torment she has put us through in the lead-up because she will then have to narrow it down to a winner *grin*).
May I suggest one of my oddball faves: Ultracrepidarian
ReplyDeleteI can't outdo FIN, but I'll throw out what I consider to be fairly appropriate for this contest: EVIL.
ReplyDeleteYes, this contest is evolving into what promises to be a harrowing contest of sinister design. Evil would be an appropriate word choice.
ReplyDeleteI can hardly wait. But for scapegrace. Ugh!
But Steve, what if you LOST? You'd never live that down.
ReplyDeleteI think 'evil' is an appropriate choice! >:)
...Although I do love Kate's reference to Mary Poppins.
I think
ReplyDeletecurious
maps
atlas
chord
data
are all excellent choices.
Terri