I am using the second campaigner challenge for my Friday flash. Please like me, I am number 38 on the list.
The idea is to write something 200 words long; use the word “imago” in the title; use these words in the text: synchronicity, miasma, lacuna and oscitate.
I had to look up some words:
Imago: The fully developed adult stage of an insect; an idealized mental image of someone, esp. a parent, that influences a person’s behavior.
Lacuna: An unfilled space or interval; a gap; a missing portion in a book or manuscript; a cavity or depression, esp. in bone
Oscitate: (Oscitation) A yawn (from the Middle English yanen, an alteration of yonen or yenen, which in turn comes from the Old English geonian ), is a reflex of simultaneous inhalation of air and stretching of the eardrums, followed by exhalation of breath.
Small baskets of eggs sat on the desk in front of him. The test was to hatch an egg and grow it into an insect.
He’d failed last year. This year was no different.
“Begin!” the instructor demanded.
Prace wiped sweaty palms on his uniform pants and said the words. “Imago miasma lacuna oscitate synchronicity.”
A tiny crack appeared in one basket. A small sickly-white larva crawled out.
Behind him, his classmates snickered.
The instructor sighed and pinched the larva off. “Again, Prace.”
Prace knew this wasn’t going to work. But he took a deep breath and centered himself. Magic was a deep pool inside his head or so the instructor said. The right language could release it. Only he never got the language right and he couldn’t leave school until he failed again.
“Synchronicity lacuna miasma oscitate imago.”
Another basket cracked up and a brown-wrapped bundle flopped out.
The instructor deposited it into a bag. “Better. Once more.”
As if all he needed was one more chance. But he said the words again.
“Synchronicity miasma lacuna oscitate imago.”
This time a beautiful black and blue butterfly came out and flew into his palm.
Prace stared in disbelief. “It tickles.”
Related articles
- How is lacuna used in writing (wiki.answers.com)
- Synchronicity (dorothybinder.wordpress.com)
- The Theory Behind My Flash Fiction (pittsburghflashfictiongazette.com)
- First Campaigner Challenge: The door swung open (storytreasury.wordpress.com)
Story Treasury 
Not bad at all. Those are some strange words to work with.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Thanks Arlee!
A very clever twist on the challenge. Making all of the words a magical phrase was a great idea.
Really like this one. Well done!
Thanks KT! I liked it better than the other idea
Hi Sonia. Like the way you’ve used these obscure words. I missed the challenge this time. I will ‘like’ you now. Good luck.
Thanks for reading my #fridayflash #RFWer story on http://flashquake.blogspot.com
Denise
Thanks so much L’Aussie! You can still enter if you want.
Brilliant! And what’s this? A magic school? I thought that was a writing taboo for a while (kidding). That was great! Loved the “it tickles” at the end.
Great job! 🙂
Hey, there were magic schools even before Harry Potter. Though afterward it may be a little cliché.
Very creative using magic and the words for a spell! Nicely done. By the way, LOVE the colorful blog you have. 🙂
Thank you Alynza! I love colors.
Very clever thinking. I enjoyed it. Good way to weave those words in there.
Thanks Miranda!
Very creative to use the list as a spell! Well done! ; )
Thanks Sheri!
Nice story! Reminded me of Harry Potter (in a good way). 🙂
Thanks! As it happens I was reading a post on Harry Potter right before I wrote this.
Very sneaky! I love how you used the words as a spell. I also loved the ending though! “It tickles.” Beautiful!
Thanks Jen! That last line comes of a childhood spent chasing butterflies.
I loved what happened in the end, so fun!
Thanks Jennie B!
Very nicely done Sonia! I liked how you used the words and that the boy surprised himself in the end by achieving the spell! Magical! ^__^
Thanks Helen! Yep, he didn’t think he could do it. Had to be an eye-opening event for him.
Great idea to lump them all together. (why didn’t I think of that, she mutters.)
LOL I don’t know. It was actually my second idea. The first one involved a cliff and a dragonish insect.
Ha! Using the words as a spell…well, I agree with Melodie…why in the heck didn’t I think of that? Definitely added whimsey to your entry. And I like the name Prace, too. I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before. ~ Nadja
I made up Prace out of whole cloth. I was between Pace and Race so I mixed them together.
That’s a great way to get all of the words in. Really clever. Mine is #29
Thanks Bridget!
Heads up Sonia, the list takes you to a middle-page on Linkytools.
I’ll be honest, using all the words as one magical phrase feels like cheating on your challenge. But they do make a heck of a magical phrase, one I can buy into. You sort of have to say it out loud; it’s too fun.
Thanks, I fixed it. I hope.
Honesty is always good, John! Yeah, it is, which is why I wrote this after the other. (I saw how they looked altogether in word.)
Very creative using the words for magic. This was a fun way to use those words. I loved your story.
Thanks Maeve!
They are hard to pronounce too!
Great work Sonia!
You met the challenge nicely.
They are lol I just through them in one breath and if I don’t say them right, well, that just makes it more perfect.
Great use of the words! Liked the ending very much, as well.
Thanks Kurt!
awe- this was totally cute!
Thank you Creepy! LOL
Turning the words into a spell–brilliant 🙂
Thanks Angie!
I could just see them all sitting there in class at Hogworts trying to do this! Where’s Hermione??!! 🙂 Love your take on the challenge!
Hermione is probably in the advanced classes! Thanks Jai
I agree too! I like the idea of turning the words into a spell — we weren’t told how we had to use them, after all. And frankly, trying to work those words into narration nowadays is difficult — they stick out and stab the reader in the eye unless, like in this case, they’re woven into a perfect little ball.
What’s funny, too, is that every one of those words could be used to describe some aspect of the hatching if you think about it! Great job, and a fun little story, Sonia!
Yes, the words are what gave me the idea for the test. It has to match the words, somehow, right?
That’s cheating! Just kidding, (really)! I loved how you combined the words as a magical phrase! 😀 And my favorite was his victory in the end and the phrase, “It tickles.”
Thanks Cortney!
What an awesome strategy for whipping the obscure words into shape! They go together so well, I honestly can’t blame you for turning them into a spell.
Thanks Sewell. That was my thought too
Awesome ending! A butterfly of hope:) loved it! I’m #34.
Thanks! I love butterflies
Very nice. Creative use of those darned words. I giggled. You got my vote!
Thanks for the vote Fairview!
What an odd challenge, but you handled it nicely. And the last line is great.
Thanks Tim! Hey, I learned some new words, which is always a good thing.
Every entry is so different. It’s amazing how the mind works. Very creative 🙂
I know, right? Some people have really awe inspiring entries.
What a creative and fun way to use the words. I loved the ending.
Thanks Carrie!
Yes! I love making the words into an incantation–I mean, these words are begging for some sort of ethereal use. Great job!
Thanks Julie! Appreciate it.
Enjoyed that Sonia and I think a magical phrase is the only way I could have incorporated those words without sounding contrived, lol.
Ha! Sounding contrived with those words would been all too easy. No one uses them much.
This brought a smile to my face. Perfect setting for those words.
Glad I made you smile!
Cute! It seems our magician may have more skills than he thought. Nice job!
Yeah, here’s to persistence. Thanks Chuck!
I love the ending! Great use of the words, too. 🙂
Thanks Eagle!
Great story. You were smart to the put the definitions to preface it. I thought these were the most obsure words ever! 🙂
Me too! I never imagined there would be such a complicated looking word for yawn.
It’s amazing how only the right words will do the trick sometimes. I’m so glad he eventually got it!
Me too! Third time’s the charm.
That is a seriously odd combination of words you were given as a prompt. I love how you put them all together in one phrase. Nicely done.
Yeah, I think it was to challenge us.
This is a really cute story, and I like how the butterfly tickles him at the end 🙂
Thanks Christy!
A gently entertaining story Sonia. I googled the ancient bug spell…
It’s IMAGUS LACUNUS OSCITATUS BUTTUS FLYUS, but it only works if spoken underwater. 🙂 🙂
LOL That’s fantastic! Sadly, only mermaids can speak under water.
It tickles works as a great closing for this story. I like how the words worked in order to define the magic.
Thanks Aidan! I will admit I did wonder what order he should say the words in.
Hoorah for Prace!
The Write Soil
Mine is #50.
He succeeded at last! Thanks Dawn
Cute story and clever use of the words. 🙂
I’m partial to happy endings and loved how you got there. Everyone has mentioned how cleverly you used the words, but I want to know if Prace has any significance.
I liked the story but would have liked it even more if the words had been used with their real meaning.
I thought the protagonist’s final comment was lovely!
Great story Sonia — I’m sure he had his own ref. to a magical dictionary before he finally got that spell right. Did enjoy that final, real-seeming: ‘It tickles’. St.
Hehehe! Nice original use of the words. I love how you drew out the tension and finally gave us the butterfly. Good job!
You did such a wonderful job with all those unusual words! I love the twist – all the words compiled into a spell! How fun 🙂 You got my vote!
Ahh, this made me smile. I like the idea of the words as a magical incantation.
Loved this!
How creative! That’s a unique way to get those pesky words in. ; )
A clever way to use the words – I’m glad he passed the test!
Very clever to go Harry Potter on us. I know someone earlier said she would have liked the words used in their real meaning. However, Rowling mixed real and made up words a lot in the magic spells the characters spoke.
I really like your entry here. Very clever! Great use of the required words. I enjoyed the story too. Good job!
LOL. Nice. I should of thought of that. LOL. It does sound like a spell, or martian space talk. =)
Awww, sweet!
“It tickles” at the end was sweet. Good for him! Fun way to get the words in.
I love that you used yours as magic words too 🙂 Great flash fiction!
Great flash fiction piece. I enjoyed the sweet ending. Thanks for stopping by to read mine.
Love your flash! Such a brilliant use of the words!
Also, your blog and header designer are lovely. A joy to visit!
Really smart idea Sonia….made me smile…..thanks for stopping by…..
Now that was a clever way to include all of the words. It was also a very cute ending. Good job!
I love that you used this meaning for “imago”. This is a fun piece!
Ha ha ha! Love the way you worked the words in. And I’m glad it worked for Prace 🙂
Aha, very smart way of using the words, well done! Nice story too 🙂
What a clever way of using the words in the challenge without having to come up with a contrived plot. Good job!
Hah! Oh, you’re clever. Very clever… *grins* Loved it! 🙂
Ha! Using the words as a spell…love it. Fun take on the challenge.
Cool scene! The most original one I’ve read so far. You built it up nicely, and used the vocabulary so well!
A good take on the challenge, love magic school idea!
So wonderfully unique. I love how you used the words in a spell, and a test on making butterflies hatch? How do I apply for that school?
Ok, so now I have two favorites. Brilliant idea and brilliant execution of words.
#188
This is a very new way of dealing with these words and I enjoyed it. I felt sorry for Prace and glad when he succeeded.
#189