I write for young children, mainly picture books, so when presented with the words: imago, lacuna, oscitate (not found in my British dictionaries or in my Winnie the Pooh collection!), miasma and synchronicity, for Rach’s second campaign challenge, I hesitated. However, not one to quit without a fight, I decided to stretch my age range up to MG and launch into some Sci Fi. Here is my 200-word piece of flash fiction. (#1 can be read here).
“Gloria virtuti resonat tamquam imago”
“I know it’s Cicero, but heck, I almost flunked my Latin exam last summer,” Matt said, unrolling the scroll.
“Geez, what sort of a loser of a Junior High teaches Latin?” asked Jed.
“Don’t ask,” groaned Matt, “but it may come in handy if we are to get any clues from this manuscript as to where Jenna is.”
“Woah, you really believe she’s there don’t you? In Ancient Rome?” Matt ignored the scorn in Jed’s voice.
“Look, Jenna and I have spent hours in the Met Library and, well, she was convinced she had found one of those manuscript lacunas. If the synchronicity is right, a time vacuum is created,” Matt tried to explain.
“Dude, what century are you in?” Jed derided.
Matt coughed, and began to translate:
”No virtue could hide the vile miasma of the omen. Decaying and corrupt, only the sacrifice of one fair and far removed from this epoch, can hope to free the populous from this curse.” Matt’s finger traced down the scroll, beyond the hand-scribed letters, into the lacuna. The scroll oscitated a nano-second of void.
The boys jumped backwards to avoid the quadriga chariot clattering over the cobbles of the via Appia.
Thanks for reading.. I am #88 if you want to visit the link on Rach’s page.
In my 20's, with only my guitar and a rucksack, I wandered the continents, immersing myself in the lives of some wonderful people, projects and stories, which changed the way I view my responsibility to others and this earth. Right now I'm a European transplant in the US who writes books for children and young adults. Stories can help us not only navigate our world but can connect us to others, and allow us to inspire and help each other. I believe that equity and empathy should be at the core of our all actions, words, and stories.
I am also a school librarian and I get a kick out of book-matchmaking! And I use the pronouns she/her.
Wow! very cool, very cool indeed and in dialogue! Comes naturally for you Joanna. I couldn’t find the words in my “Famous Five” Series either….lol.
Thank you, Diane. This campaign is proving great for me to attempt to write outside my genre, with MG this time, and adult last time. I guess I shall have to try some YA for the third challenge!
Impressive! *flounces off in a jealous huff*
Can I employ you to write awesome comments on a regular basis? 😉
This is lovely, and it reads as if it’s part of a much longer story. I like the way you effortlessly weave in the words.
Thank you, Katharina. Yes, I am kind of interested to see what the three of them (assuming they find Jenna) get up to in 1st Century BC Rome
I liked the time slip element in this one. Well-written with convincing dialogue. I agree, it could definitely be turned into a longer story.
Thank you, Helen. I never really got into time travel books as a kid, but maybe there’s a first.
Now *THIS* is how to write with those words! That was excellent, Joanna. May I join the throng in clamoring for the rest of this story?
Aw, Beth, thank you. If I keep on listening to your encouragement, I may finally get together the courage to start a MG novel by the end of the year 😉
Yes, do! I’m finding so much more space to manoeuvre in MG versus picture books. And you definitely have a gift that needs to be shared widely. MG, YA… the sky’s the limit. Or perhaps even the sky won’t limit you.
I loved this – but I love anything Roman 🙂
Mine is #3
Me too. Actually I have already read, commented on and voted for yours, Jen 😉
Wonderful story. I like idea of going back in time.
Thanks, Sonia. We both went for Middle Grade I see!
A very delighting read that has no trouble provoking the mind to extend the story before and after the scene.
Thank you, that was indeed the intent!
Very nice! I think I’d like to read a fleshed out version of that story!
I enjoyed this! I always like a little time-travel! I’d love to hear more.
The Write Soil
My entry is #50.
Very intriguing! I wanted to read more! ; )
That’s a great take on this challenge. Mine is #29
This has got a serious, but lighthearted feel to it. It sounds like it would be fun to read the rest of the story about these guys as they try to solve whatever the curse is. 🙂
Nicely done. It reads as a great piece of flash *and* a possible novel opening. Wonderful use of the words and great dialogue!
sounds like the second chapter opening in a grand time travel adventure!
Wow! What a fun story! I think you should definitely extend this into a MG novel. I would read it.
This was great – I loved your creativity in weaving the words so they added to your setting/genre.
@Roger, @Dawn, @Sheri, @Bridget, @Mel, @Cheryl, @Tara, @FE, @Melodie
Thank you all for your comments. Tara, I think you are right, this would be the second chapter. I have made my way through about 3/4 of the entries so far!
Wow, Joanna, I am impressed! As a fellow picture book writer, I too have been struggling with how to write this challenge in my genre and have been considering stretching up to MG – but haven’t done it yet! Great job with the challenge!!! 🙂
Thanks, Susanna. I look forward to reading some MG from you too, then 😉
What happens next?? Great job!
Gee, isn’t that the fun thing about writing… I now want to finish the story to find out! But as the catacombs were starting to be dug in the 1st century BC, I am pretty sure they will find themselves underground at some point!
That’s by far the most imaginative use of “imago” ever! And it actually took me back to my own Latin-learning days, when Mr. Handy used to do cheerleading routines to help us remember Amo, Amas, Amat.
I have vivid memories of latin class too, Gail. I was great at modern languages, but couldn’t get the hang of a language I couldn’t go out and use in the street 🙂
Oooh! Yes. This is the kind of story I like to tell. You accomplished so much and drew my in so quickly. Awesome. Loved the voice of your characters.
Great job! 🙂
Haha, maybe because it’s kind of a boy story, David!
Wow, excellent use of the words. They sound totally natural in your story.
Thanks, Catherine. I took a while to come up with a context where I felt the words could slide in surreptitiously.
Very nice, Joanna! I really enjoyed it. 🙂
Thank you, Carrie.
Great work shifting the words around and still making their register work throughout the story.
Thank you so much, Kurt.
Oh, I love time-travel 🙂 This reads as though it’s part of a longer piece…at least I hope so because I’m hooked and want to read more!
Raelyn, thanks for dropping in… and I am seriously wondering about pursuing the story 😉
Clever story. Different from any of the others I’ve read. I like it.
Thanks, Richard, that was my hope!
You’ve whetted my appetite. I want to read the rest of this. Impressive!
Lee
Tossing It Out
Thanks, Lee.
Fun!! And I agree with everyone else, this is just begging to be turned into a longer story.
Thanks, Jocelyn.
Love your blog….being a children’s writer must be wonderful.
In this entry, liked the way you recreated Rome for the gen X….
Neel, Hi. I do LOVE writing for children… not sure I’ve fully made it into adulthood yet 😉
Great entry! I like the way you used Latin, and the dialogue between the characters was fun to read. 🙂
Thanks for coming by my blog!
Thanks ‘Golden’, I shall be checking out your blog again!
That was neat! Nice use of the worlds and creative little time traveling piece.
Thank you, Christine, once I had decided on the latin scroll, a bit of time travel seemed appropriate.
I’m impressed! I really enjoyed reading your entry. You used the words with such ease. And, I’m glad you did something along the lines of YA. Very creative entry.
Pat
Thank you, Pat, I enjoyed my first attempt at MG.
Please make this a longer story – it’s begging you for it! great use of the words
Looks like I may know what my next project is!!
Great story! You have a terrific MG voice. If this was a book opener, I’d definitely read more!
PS: I liked 🙂
🙂 I still have around 60 to read, which I plan on doing tonight!
Wow, thanks, Cheryl!
Awesome use of the words and what a great entry!
Thank you, Alison.
This was fabulous! It stands alone but could also be fleshed into a longer story. Wonderful job!
(Bo, bis, bit…that’s about all I remember of Latin anymore; a few conjugations!)
Jes, thanks for the enthusiasm. I can’t remember much more than Amo, Amas Amat 😉
I love the way you used the words Joanna. It’s such a shame you had to stop at 200 words though – I’m keen to read more. Well done! 🙂
Excellent and fun! You tackled using the difficult words in dialogue with wonderful effect. Congrats. And thanks for stopping by Depression Cookies to read my piece. I appreciate it.
Congrats, a very successful piece.
Hi Tia, thanks for dropping by. Than you for your encouragement, this was fun to write, once I had got over the BIG-WORD fear!
You have a wonderful knack for dialogue. This sounds like it could belong in a bigger piece. Great job!
#189
Thank you, Karen!