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The Word

Vehemence

Welcome to The Word! Either a story beginning, a story ending, a piece of flash fiction, a poem, painting, dance move—inspired by the word, vehemence, where does it take me? Where does it take you?

[ vee-uh-muhns ]

Noun

    • Great or excessive passion; eagerness or fervor of personal feeling, action, expression, etc.; passionate force, intensity, or excitement.
    • An instance of this; a vehement impulse or action.
  1. Great physical force, violence, or vigor. Also: loudness, intensity, or violence of sound.
    • Intensity or strength of heat, color, smell, etc. 
    • Severity or virulence of pain, disease, etc.

Let’s Create!

** Either a story beginning, a story ending, a piece of flash fiction, a poem, painting, dance move—inspired by the word, vehemence, where does it take me? Where does it take you?


Sweat beaded upon her forehead and dripped down her cheek. Her muscles taught, and her movements precise. The goggles over her face and the gloves on her hands offered her all the protection she needed, but it was still hotter than Hell. Yet, her mind never considered the heat anymore. 

Categories
The Word

Pellucid

[ puh-loo-sid ]

Adjective

  1. Translucently clear.
  2. (of music or other sound) clear and pure in tone.

Let’s Write…

** Either a story beginning, a story ending, a piece of flash fiction, a poem–inspired by the word, pellucid, where does it take me? Where does it take you?


Henry packed up his tent with little help from his five-year-old son, Lionel. That was expected, but the excitement in the air was so palpable that he didn’t care to turn it into a teaching moment. 

 “Today’s the day, Lionel!” Henry said as the line tightened closer now that everyone’s tents were away.

 “Really, daddy?”

 “Really.” 

 Henry looked behind him in awe at the endless curving chain of people, all waiting their turn. Soldiers, with their famous curved swords and plumed helmets, outlined the people like river banks. Surprisingly, Henry hadn’t witnessed any outbreaks of fighting in the entire week they’d been waiting. 

 “Breakfast!” came a voice a hundred yards up the line. 

 Various food carts and vendors paraded up the line selling their goods, and some even put on small performances of dancing or singing. Lionel loved those, but Henry’s eyes were now fixed ahead.

 He could see it…

… They were only five people away from their chance to look through the window phenomenon that no-one could explain. Scholars in white robes and equally flowing and white beards had simply concluded that what they’d see was on our world. Just the other side of it. Something to do with the stars.

 Two people ahead. Every person or group was given five whole minutes to gaze. One person ahead. A line of five soldiers blocked Henry and his son to wait their turn. The soldiers opened like a gate, and Henry and Lionel moved forward. 

 On the ground was a giant circle of glass. As Henry peered into it, others stared back at him. People like Henry had never seen with pale skin, round eyes, and even color to their eyes. They were so different, and yet there was something familiar about these people from the other side of the world. 

 Together, Henry, Lionel, and the people on the other side must have made the same conclusion for Lionel giggled, and they all smiled. Their smiles could have been a reflection of Henry’s as his cheeks felt scrunched in the broadest grin of his life. They weren’t so different, after all. 

 Four minutes left.


Notes/Thoughts/Ideas

 I hope this one made you feel good. Perhaps this one is influenced a little by the present state of the world? A window to see the other side, people different from us. Yet, our smiles are all smiles. We’re all looking for the same things right now. Connection.

 My favorite part of the story is actually the very last line. “Four minutes left.” Meaning, the realization Henry and the others made happened quickly. They connected almost instantly. I love that idea. If we all stop to look, we’re not so different after all. 

 I’m not sure if there would be a novel-size story here, but there could be. The culture created by these huge lines. There could be some interesting things to explore there. But, I think it works best as is. I’ll leave it at that. 

What do you think of Pellucid?

 Did it make you smile? I hope so. 

Leave your thoughts, your own story beginning/ending, flash-fiction, or whatever in the comments! Where did pellucid or my story take you?

If you want to read something that goes into our human connection, check out my short story Ripples.

Today’s word is from Word Genius.

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Enjoy a One-Minute Story, Learn a New Word, and Create With Me! Delivered to you every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

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The Word

Deflagrate

def-luh-greyt ]

Verb

  1. To burn rapidly with intense heat and sparks being given off.
  2. To cause (something) to burn in such a manner. 

Let’s Write…

** Either a story beginning, a story ending, a piece of flash fiction, a poem–inspired by the word, deflagrate, where does it take me? Where does it take you?


There was life born from the violence before him, and he loved to think about it. A spectacular and dangerous reaction of iron oxide and aluminum that melted the tips of the steel rail. Sparks shot in all directions like miniature fireworks. 

 His heart raced as he watched through a pair of heavily shaded glasses. It was like looking at the Sun. Another bit of violence and fire that gave life–he thought. 

 The sparks began to die, and the light dimmed drastically. Teddy removed his glasses to watch the remaining flames fade away.

 Nodding his head, and two other men stepped forward to complete the weld, inspected that the two ends of the steel had now melted together. Teddy didn’t need to be there, really. His men knew what they were doing, but he couldn’t resist. Sometimes, he needed to watch to remind himself of the smallest steps, the smallest links in the giant chain that was their final goal. 

 Teddy walked away and looked towards the horizon. The steel rail would connect, one link at a time, and soon his view would hold two straight lines coming to a point in the distance, like an arrow pointing to the future. 

 All roads lead to Rome–he thought, and then laughed. He didn’t care for the center of this operation, New York. Teddy didn’t look back at the rail they already laid. He didn’t look at where they came from. Teddy dreamed of where they could go next. 


Notes/Thoughts/Ideas

 Well, that was fun for me! A little nod to the novel Atlas Shrugged–a controversial story in terms of philosophy. The essence of that novel, to me, is in my short story here: a celebration of innovation and creation. All the rest aside, that’s what I take from it and love about it.

 That’s sort of what this #everyday exercise is all about. It’s not to dive into issues of politics or philosophy, although I may at times dip my foot in the waters there. It’s about celebrating and embracing creating every day.

 And, celebrating your creations as well! That’s why I ask you to share whatever it is you do. Inspired by the word, let it prompt a bit of art with no real thought of “where is this leading me?” Just a chance to create for the sake of creating.

What do you think of Deflagrate?

 Did I hit the right emotion in my story to celebrate innovation and creation? Let me know what you felt from it! 

Leave your thoughts, your own story beginning/ending, flash-fiction, or whatever in the comments! Where did deflagrate or my story take you?

If you want to read something that celebrates creating, check out my short story The Man From Nowhere.

Today’s word is from Merriam-Webster.

Get THE WORD Every Day!

Enjoy a One-Minute Story, Learn a New Word, and Create With Me! Delivered to you every Tuesday and Thursday morning.