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There's a Word For It

Learn something new every day

By Judey Kalchik Published 8 months ago Updated 8 months ago 2 min read
Top Story - June 2025
There's a Word For It
Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash

I have dribbled

I have dabbled

There've been times I gushed and babbled

Sometimes even won at Scrabble,

Turned the channel to avoid drivel and gabble,

Smiled and played nice to not inflame the rabble,

I know life is a game often played through wit and hardscrabble,

Or late at night online, blowsy and in dishabille,

Experienced? Sure. But perplexed by the sudden flood of Drabble.

~

I've stood in line to get a ticket

Avoided learning the rules of cricket

Know a scab won't heal unless I no longer pick it.

Lost many a shuttlecock in the thicket

Start the car only after my passengers click it,

Used to laugh at a Not Necessarily the News' Sniglet

Won't bite hard ice cream (would rather lick it)

Have been told I have a quick wit

But just learned about a FicLet.

~

I've done Flash Fiction, have I not?

A slice of story and a hint of plot

Tried to avoid spilling all that I've got

Not move to a gallop but stick to a trot.

In Hide and Seek I'm generally caught

I like to learn but dislike being taught

Sometimes my words end up tied in a knot

I think I know, but I don't know squat

Like today I found that there's a story One Shot.

~

Now this musing isn't any of those

Not quite poem, I suppose it's prose

Not a complaint, guess it just shows

Like a watched pot doesn't boil, a closed mind never grows.

It's ok to admit, ok to disclose

No need to pester, no need to pose

I see the Drabbles on my homepage appear in rows

The talent of those that I follow GLOWS!

~

Some definitions I discovered:

One shot: a fic that has only one chapter, regardless of length

Ficlet: a short fic, but there's no firm definition, usually 1000 words or less

Drabble: 100 words exactly (variations exist such as the double drabble (200 words), triple drabble (300 words) etc.)

Flash fiction: very short fiction, like with ficlet there is no set word count but typically less than 1000 words

InspirationPromptsStream of ConsciousnessWriting Exercise

About the Creator

Judey Kalchik

It's my time to find and use my voice.

Poetry, short stories, memories, and a lot of things I think and wish I'd known a long time ago.

You can also find me on Medium

And please follow me on Threads, too!

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Comments (13)

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  • Imola Tóth7 months ago

    I definitely learned some new words from this. Congrats on your TS!🥳

  • KURIOUSK8 months ago

    This is such a delightful and witty exploration of the ever-expanding world of short-form writing! Your playful rhymes and clever observations perfectly capture that feeling of discovering new terms and formats, even when you thought you knew the landscape. It's a fantastic, relatable piece that celebrates both the learning process and the "GLOWING" talent of other writers.

  • Delightful end rhyme & fascinating definitions… I definitely learnt new things from this read.🤔🙃

  • Dana Crandell8 months ago

    Cleverly penned, Judey! I can't decide which part or line I like best; I just like it! Congratulations on Top story. Well deserved!

  • Geek Peek8 months ago

    Great story. Loved the read. :)

  • Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊

  • JBaz8 months ago

    Congratulations Judey Learning is fun Being told ..not so much

  • "I like to learn but dislike being taught" I especially loved this line. And thank you for teaching me what one shot and ficlet are!

  • Andrea Corwin 8 months ago

    Loved this - it very clever. My fave lines are: Lost many a shuttlecock in the thicket Start the car only after my passengers click it, Used to laugh at a Not Necessarily the News' Sniglet Won't bite hard ice cream (would rather lick it) Have been told I have a quick wit But just learned about a FicLet. Shuttlecock is a word I have not used since I remember- but we played badminton and loved the game and the word brought it back! 💕

  • And now we've all learned that one thing new for the day.

  • Mother Combs8 months ago

    Well, now, you are always teaching me something new. So many terms in literature.

  • Rasma Raisters8 months ago

    I applaud your creativity.

  • Lamar Wiggins8 months ago

    I know you had fun writing this. It turned out great and I loved this line: -Like a watched pot doesn't boil, a closed mind never grows.-

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