Chortlecloud
A Word You Wish Existed: Unofficial December Challenge
Chortlecloud (noun) – The bubbly, contagious mood that spreads when laughter hangs in the air, leaving everyone grinning for no reason at all. Like a happy fog of giggles floating through a room.
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Why Chortlecloud?
We’ve all felt it—that invisible wave of shared laughter that makes even the grumpiest person crack a smile. Chortlecloud gives this joyous phenomenon a name.
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Microprose:
"Under the Chortlecloud"
It started with one giggle. A tiny hiccup of joy escaping Grandpa as he tried to retell an old story. The words came out wrong, his face scrunched in mock seriousness, and that’s when Dad snorted.
The sound was so unexpected, Mom doubled over, cackling like a bird. Then the kids joined in—first as polite chuckles, but soon full-blown belly laughs, as if the air itself had been tickled.
“Why are we even laughing?” someone wheezed between breaths.
Nobody could answer.
They were all caught under the chortlecloud, an invisible bubble of joy that refused to pop. For a few minutes, the world outside didn’t exist. There was no rush, no worry—only the sound of their laughter filling the room.
When it finally subsided, they sat in silence, catching their breath but still smiling. Grandpa adjusted his glasses and grinned.
“Well,” he said, “I didn’t even finish the story.”
The chortlecloud returned!
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Author's Note:
This is my first time participating in an unofficial challenge, and I couldn't be more excited to join in!
My inspiration came from Lana V Lynx's entry in this very challenge, which already earned Top Story recognition. Seeing her creativity come to life made me want to give it a try and share my own words with this incredible community.
Here's the WOA's unofficial challenge:
About the Creator
Komal
I write poems and stories that hit the feels.
When I’m not lost in my own plots, I’m either daydreaming about the next big idea or just winging life with a grin.
𝕀 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℙ𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕒𝕟 𝕀𝕄ℙ𝔸ℂ𝕋
Reader insights
Nice work
Very well written. Keep up the good work!
Top insights
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
The Town That Forgot Tomorrow
The town of Bellmere had one strange rule: no one talked about tomorrow. At first, Maya thought it was a joke. She had arrived in Bellmere on a rainy evening, her car breaking down just beyond the town sign. The sign itself was old and rusted, with faded letters that read: Welcome to Bellmere. Nothing unusual until she asked the mechanic when her car would be ready.
By Asghar ali awan2 days ago in Fiction
Comments (17)
Brilliant ♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️
This was nice I really liked it. thank you for sharing.
Love love love this word!!!! 🙃😁😆😊 Great idea! 💡 So great!
Hey, girl! When are you gonna upload the part 2 of that story...? And are you gonna complete it or other plans?
Thank you for teaching us a word you made up, this word sounds funny when I say it. It's living up to its name. As the story unfold I could feel the laughter coming up from my belly bottom. 'Cackling' is making it harder not to laugh. Grandpa didn't finish the story lol, that story will never be finished at this point. This was a heartwarming read, and I am actually so glad I clicked on it. It gave me the medicine I needed, the medicine of laughter, and the sense that everything will be alright. 👏🏽👌🏽🤗♥️
This was so enjoyable to read! It's easy to forget those moments where you are just laughing, especially during this time of year when everything is so stressful. Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece!
An experience that we all experienced no matter where we are from, what language we speak. This reminded of some great memories although I don't remember exactly what we laughed about 🤣 Good job! Enjoyed reading this short, yet a very meaningful piece.
I really enjoyed "Under the Chortlecloud"! It brought back memories of family gatherings where laughter just takes over, making everything else disappear. The way you described those joyful moments felt so real—like I could almost hear the giggles and see the smiles. Thanks for sharing such a delightful story!
This is so cute, I love it! Chortlecloud should absolutely be a thing
I've experiences chortlecloud sooo many times before hehehehehe. Loved your word and story!
This beautifully illustrates how a single giggle can spark an unstoppable wave of joy, enveloping everyone in its path. It's a delightful reminder of the simple, yet profound, power of laughter to unite and uplift.
The way you capture the unexplainable nature of shared joy - phenomenal! Love this, Komal! 💌
Awesome i like it
Great story and how you used this word!
An effective use of the word in the story, Komal!
Thanks for introducing me to a new, intriguing word I'll definitely use in the future Komal!💕✨ I never heard of it before, but I do love words that describe very specific things or situations. Your lovely story showed how laughter is so contagious, even when you don't have a reason😆 Keep it up sister!💗
Idk about the Oxford Dictionary or Merriam-Webster; I'm definitely adding Chortlecloud to my list. It's such a fun word to pronounce. I mean, when you say the "Chhoh" Your vocal chord gets this weird satisfaction. I've pronounced these words 10 times and now unintentionally it's in my vocabulary. What an exceptional girl you are! ✨💖 ATM is all the time, under the influence of Chortlecloud 😆🤝