Submissions for Stirring Words are open May 12th - June 20th

​

with guest editor, Jennifer Thomas

Join us for an exploration into the wonderful world of words! 

​

Share with us the words that stir you—the words that inspire your dreams, put a lump in your throat, or make you snort with laughter. If you happen to know your dog's or your lamp's or your toenail's favorite word, why not stir it into a story? Does your family use a beautiful word or expression from another language that doesn't have an equivalent in English? Help it bloom in a poem.

​

Bring us stories that stem from intriguing idioms, poems showcasing surprising definitions and humorous homophones. We are looking for writing that celebrates the way words sing and soar and that introduces out-of-the-ordinary words to today's generation of young readers. Bring us electrifying and affecting words, words with multiple meanings, words that leave you marveling at the majesty of language.

 

Stir up some ideas from the list of words and expressions below, or choose your own sparkling, spectacular, silly, stirring words.

 

We are also looking for artwork that brings the world of words to life. Please include a note with your artwork submission that explains the word or expression you are depicting and offers a definition of your chosen word when appropriate.

​
 

​

Jennifer Thomas is a Canadian poet and professional medical editor. Her children’s poetry has been published in Little Thoughts Press, The Dirigible Balloon, Tyger Tyger, Paddler Press, and The Toy, and she was a semi-finalist in the 2024 Madness! Poetry children's poetry tournament. She has been interviewed by Little Thoughts Press and has been a guest poet on Brian Moses's blog. She's a card-carrying word nerd — the kind of person who enjoys reading centuries-old dictionaries in her spare time. Visit her at jenniferthomaswords.com.

 

Jennifer has generously offered up the following list of words and expressions to help spark ideas, but your submissions do not need to be limited to this list!

​

​

 

Some familiar words: 

Akimbo

Aurora

Bamboozle

Bedraggled

Bloom

Bluebell

Chatterbox

Dappled

Dillydally

Doozy

Elfin

Gizmo

Gloaming

Gobbledygook

Gusto

Hiccup

Hogwash

Hullabaloo

Jujube

Lullaby

Murmur

Pandemonium

Pollywog

Quirky

Ragamuffin

Serendipity

Skullduggery

Whippersnapper

 

Some less familiar or long-lost words:

Abracadabrant (inconceivable or stupendous)

Argle-bargle (meaningless nonsense)

Balter (to dance clumsily)

Bedewy (moist with dew)

Betwattled (surprised or bewildered)

Chasmophile (someone who loves nooks and crannies)

Crinkum-crankum (something that’s full of twists and turns or elaborately decorated)

Day-peep (dawn)

Elf-locks (bedhead)

Hum durgeon (an imaginary illness) 

Kyoodle (to make loud, useless noises, like a dog chasing a rabbit)

Idea-pot (the brain)

Mumpsimus (someone who obstinately refuses to change their mind despite clear evidence they’re wrong)

Murklins (in the dark)

Pirr (a light breath of wind)

Prandicle (a snack or small meal)

Puggle (a baby echidna or platypus)

Purting glumpot (someone who’s sulking)

Snirt (the noise you make when you’re desperately trying not to laugh)

Starrify (to decorate with stars)

Wamblecropt (overcome with a queasy stomach)

Word-hoard (a person’s vocabulary; their treasure chest of words)

Zyzzyva (a group of tropical weevils; famous for being the last word in several dictionaries)

 

Expressions:

Cool as a cucumber

Fly by the seat of your pants

Get cold feet

If I had my druthers

In a dither

In a nutshell

Let the cat out of the bag

Out of the blue

Piece of cake

Steal someone’s thunder

Two heads are better than one

Wet behind the ears

When pigs fly

​

​

​

​

​