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Welcome to my blog! Please join me as I journey towards finding an agent for my first young adult novel. Between writing, endless snapping of photos, sleep deprivation, taking care of two adorable little girls, and oh yes, the laundry, I'm sure it's going to be a bit crazy on the way to the awaited publication.

I'm open to any tips, critique, or random musings about the things I write or the photos I take, so feel free to email me or comment below.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Second Campaigner Challenge


Today is the second Challenge of Rachel Harrie’s Platform Building Campaign!


The rules are to write a blog post in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, whether flash fiction, non-fiction, humorous blog musings, poem, etc. The blog post should include:

Imago – Last state of development of an insect.
Miasma – A noxious form of “bad air”.
Lacuna – Is a gap, ditch, hole.
Oscitate – To gape.
Synchronicity – Is the experience of two or more events that are observed to occur together in a meaningful manner.

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional and included in the word count), make reference to a mirror in your post.

For those who want an even greater challenge (optional), make your post 200 words EXACTLY!

Here is my 200 word count entry. Enjoy :)


******
The Imago Serum


(Source)
After rappelling down, I swiped away the sweat stinging my eyes; the miasma heat of the tropical forest was deadly itself, let alone rappelling down the side of a waterfall during the worst of it.

The lacuna behind the falls is where they lived, the venomous coralflies, fresh from their imago stage. The suffocating heat helps them fully mature and secrete chemicals from their glands. If Jake can extract some, he can make the serum and save Lilly’s life.

The waterfall was like a mirror, showering me with my reflection as I reached through it, but couldn’t feel any insects.

Without hesitation, I took off my glove and reached back in.

Slimy and wet from their recent molting, I grabbed a few and shoved them in my bag before attempting to climb back up the slick rocks. When Jake noticed the bite marks all over my arm his mouth began to oscitate.

Which each pull on the rope, my eyes watered as the venom pulsed and raged through my body and was in synchronicity with each beat of my heart.

Jake pulled me over the ledge and my last thoughts were of my Lilly and her new chance at life.

******

So there you have it. Feel free to let me know what you thought of it. If you liked it enough to vote, please look for me here and click the "like" button. I'm #11.  :)





©Alynza Smith 2011
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58 comments:

  1. AnonymousSeptember 22, 2011 at 8:06 AM

    Hi Alynza, I am enjoying how there is so much variety with the words on this challenge and like how you are choosing to write about a life saving serum. The waterfall photo is beautiful and accentuates the story nicely ;)

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  2. Alynza SmithSeptember 22, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    Thanks Christy. Yes so far there is such a variety in this particular challenge. I think it's absolutely great to see so many takes on these words.

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  3. elizabethanneSeptember 22, 2011 at 8:10 AM

    Taking a life to give life. Powerful images, and great takes on the meaning of those unusual words!

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  4. Alynza SmithSeptember 22, 2011 at 8:26 AM

    Thanks Elizabeth. These words sure are unusual!

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  5. AnonymousSeptember 22, 2011 at 9:07 AM

    I think the words are difficult to use and don't contribute to this wonderful piece of flash fiction. Other more familiar words would have been just as meaningful. But then would it have been as challenging? I like how you used them after all that's said and done.

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  6. Alynza SmithSeptember 22, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    Haha Thanks...I think? lol The words were very difficult to use and retain any type of "flow" in the story. It was fun trying to figure out how in the world to use them. :)

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  7. K.T. HannaSeptember 22, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    Oh I love that you used the insect version. Well combined and well written :D
    So much more variety this time round.

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  8. Angela BrownSeptember 22, 2011 at 11:04 AM

    Oh, you did a wonderful job weaving together a lovely fiction piece on self-sacrifice.

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  9. Alynza SmithSeptember 22, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    Thanks K. T. Hanna & Angela!

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  10. Nadja NotarianiSeptember 22, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    That's so sad...she gave up her life to try to save her friend Lilly. Love how you worked in the mirror with the waterfall! ~ Nadja

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  11. David P. KingSeptember 22, 2011 at 11:51 AM

    Tragic! Loved the stakes and sense of loss at the end. Very moving and adventurous at the same time. I'm always a sucker for tropical settings, too.

    Great job, Alynza! :)

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  12. AnonymousSeptember 22, 2011 at 2:22 PM

    Very nicely done. You make it sound as if you actually understood all those words from the start! mine is #29

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  13. Alynza SmithSeptember 22, 2011 at 3:15 PM

    @Nadja - Thanks! Actually Lilly is her daughter. I tried to squeeze that in there, but couldn't fit it in.

    @David - Thanks! I love tropical settings just as much as the creepy ones. :)

    @Bridget - Glad you thought so! I was hoping for that effect but just wasn't so sure. :)

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  14. Gwen GardnerSeptember 22, 2011 at 3:18 PM

    Nicely done! I knew it wasn't a good idea to take that glove off! I'm #34 and a new follower!

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  15. Alynza SmithSeptember 22, 2011 at 3:57 PM

    Thanks Lady Gwen! I'm doing the happy dance. Love new followers!

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  16. JenSeptember 22, 2011 at 4:16 PM

    Very nice! I liked how you got those words in seamlessly.

    I am # 3

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  17. Sonia LalSeptember 22, 2011 at 4:58 PM

    Good job on using the words! I was going to do something similar but decided I didn't want to deal with a cliff riddled with hole homes for the bugs.

    She must love Lilly very much!

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  18. Michael HaynesSeptember 22, 2011 at 4:58 PM

    I like how you used a non-literal mirror. A lot of the mirror references (including mine) have been literal. I also liked the use of the insect-meaning of Imago. Good work!

    If you'd like to check mine out, I'm #42.

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  19. Miranda HardySeptember 22, 2011 at 4:59 PM

    Nice! Very interesting and exciting. Great ending!

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  20. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 22, 2011 at 5:09 PM

    Very interesting! I also love the waterfall image that you chose. ; )

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  21. Christine RainsSeptember 22, 2011 at 6:55 PM

    Wow. That was lovely and kept me on the edge of my seat. A nice emotional end too. Well done!

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  22. F.E. SewellSeptember 22, 2011 at 9:14 PM

    Oh noes! She sacrificed herself. I hope the serum can save her life, too!

    Good job!

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  23. HeatherSeptember 22, 2011 at 9:47 PM

    Oh I really like this one! The idea of sacrifice for love... FANTASTIC!

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  24. AnonymousSeptember 22, 2011 at 10:58 PM

    What a powerful piece. The MC is amazing for what she's doing, and I hope she survives.

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  25. Alynza SmithSeptember 23, 2011 at 4:57 AM

    Thanks everyone! I really appreciate you taking the time to read it. :)

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  26. Creepy Query GirlSeptember 23, 2011 at 6:09 AM

    awe- really great tension filled piece here! Great job!

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  27. CrystalSeptember 23, 2011 at 7:19 AM

    Nicely done! It's going to be tough squeezing those words in, I can tell!!

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  28. UnknownSeptember 23, 2011 at 8:27 AM

    awwww so beautifully sad!

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  29. JoannaSeptember 23, 2011 at 9:16 AM

    I love this story and want to know more of the back story.... It is very visual and I think could be movie material! Loved it!

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  30. FairviewSeptember 23, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    Loved it! Nice world and story using all those weird words.

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  31. Alynza SmithSeptember 23, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    @Creepy - Thank you!

    @Crystal - It was very tough. lol Good luck with yours!

    @LadyJai - Thanks for reading!

    @Joanna - Wow Thanks! Glad you liked it!

    @Fairview - Thanks!

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  32. Cortney PearsonSeptember 23, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    Your descriptions are excellent, I really pictured this. And I cringed when the MC took the glove off and felt the bugs--bleh! Nice ending, too, very touching.

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  33. Alynza SmithSeptember 23, 2011 at 10:38 AM

    Thanks Cortney! Glad you liked the descriptions. I had to cut so much of it out I was worried there wasn't much left there. :)

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  34. Kurt HartwigSeptember 23, 2011 at 12:19 PM

    Great turn and pull at the end!

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  35. Maeve FrazierSeptember 23, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    You did a wonderful job of weaving these words into this piece!!!

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  36. Zan MarieSeptember 23, 2011 at 4:44 PM

    You get a vote from me! BTW, I love your name--Alynza.
    From one interesting name (Zan Marie) to another. ; )

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  37. Dawn M. HamsherSeptember 23, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    Yeah, it didn't sound good when he took off his glove. That seemed like a bad idea to me.

    The story made me think of John 15:13: Love has no greater gift than to lay down the life for his friend.

    The Write Soil

    Mine is #50.

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  38. MyneSeptember 25, 2011 at 11:09 PM

    Oh no! You got me rooting for her now. Hope she makes it through.

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  39. AnonymousSeptember 26, 2011 at 8:05 AM

    oh my goodness, so moving and a very clever way of writing the selected words into the piece. WELL DONE.I still need to do mine yet, but time has gotten away from me. I hope to get on it tomorrow all being well :) Thankyou so much for stopping by my blog and for your offer of help, if I ever get stuck again i will give you a yell Alynza.THANKYOU>
    Hugs eve.x

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  40. Claire HennessySeptember 26, 2011 at 1:07 PM

    Good job! Nicely done and wonderful photo.

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  41. DoreenSeptember 26, 2011 at 4:54 PM

    I've been waiting for insects to make an appearance. Such a sad and deeply touching story...good job!!

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  42. AnonymousSeptember 27, 2011 at 2:14 PM

    Excellent use of the challenge words. Her dying to save Lilly...aw, what a bittersweet story!

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  43. Francesca ZappiaSeptember 27, 2011 at 6:44 PM

    Great job! I loved your imagery and the way you used the words.

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  44. Catherine StineSeptember 27, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    Nice exotic situation and description. I'm here from the challenge.

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  45. Carrie ButlerSeptember 28, 2011 at 2:44 PM

    *Sniffles* ...But I want more! :(

    Great work, Alynza!

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  46. Alynza SmithSeptember 28, 2011 at 6:02 PM

    Wow, thanks everyone!

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  47. Barbara V. EversSeptember 28, 2011 at 8:28 PM

    Glad to see true imago in this one. I hoped someone would go for the literal meaning of that word.

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  48. CarlaSeptember 30, 2011 at 11:52 AM

    Wow...this could easily be my favorite so far! I love that you used a real imago, the vocab felt flawless, and the exchange of lives was so real. Nice work!

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  49. Sher A. HartSeptember 30, 2011 at 8:18 PM

    I finally made it to follow your blog, and I'm not so late after all. I really like this story, turning death into life. Making the supreme sacrifice always shows the greatest love. Guess nobody noticed I used a real imago too, disguised by the other meaning. Ha! Only Cheryl Collier knew before the end.

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  50. Elizabeth Varadan, AuthorOctober 1, 2011 at 4:14 AM

    Powerful! Nice use of the challenge words, and a gripping scene!

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  51. JeighOctober 1, 2011 at 10:57 PM

    Good job! I like the way you used "lacuna", especially.

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  52. WritingNutOctober 2, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    Beautifully written..you did an amazing job incorporating those words :)

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  53. the wild magnoliaOctober 3, 2011 at 7:05 PM

    This is the best I have read so far. Spectacular story, very well written.

    #188

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  54. Avery MarshOctober 3, 2011 at 7:14 PM

    I loved the action and the suspense. You weaved the words in seamlessly, too. Great entry. ;)

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  55. kjmckendryOctober 4, 2011 at 8:03 AM

    Very nice! I love the setting and the fact that she gave her life to save her daughter.

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  56. E. ArroyoOctober 6, 2011 at 3:46 PM

    Great use of those words. Loved it.

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  57. Jessica TherrienOctober 7, 2011 at 8:14 PM

    Gosh...way to suck me in and leave me hanging...lol. Great entry.

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  58. StephanieOctober 12, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    Great turn at the end. I was afraid something like that would happen. I love the way you've described the setting.

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