by Naomi L. | August 6, 2014 | Blog, Creative Writing, What If? Writing Prompts |
Last week, I shared my thoughts on why I believe “What if?” should be every writer’s favorite question. In the interest of running with that idea, today I’m opening a new segment on my blog based on this fascinating “gateway” question: “What If?” Writing Prompts!
The purpose of this is to create a more interactive portion of my blog where anyone can contribute their ideas for collective creativity. With a hectic schedule coming up in my real life that will definitely keep me from writing as often as I like, outside contribution will be a big help to keeping my blog an active source of inspiration for readers in the near future. So please, don’t be shy about sharing your ideas; I would love to feature your prompts in future “What If?” posts, always with full credit and a link to your blog, of course! Thank you!
To start this segment off, here are five prompts I came up with based on the theme of reimagining classic fairy tales. See what you can do with these and how many more you can think up yourself! Have fun!
What if… certain fairy tales were set in a different time/place/culture?
(Source: various reimagined adaptations of my favorite fairy tales)
What if… that fire-breathing dragon the knight slew was really a divine guardian keeping an evil princess captive in order to protect the kingdom?
What if… the Fairy Godmother had actually sent Cinderella to the ball on a mission to kill the Prince?
(Source: music video for “Cendrillon“, a VOCALOID song by Signal-P featuring Hatsune Miku and KAITO)
What if… witches and wizards didn’t use magic to make amazing things happen, but real science instead?
What if… characters in fairy tales never fell in love at first sight?
Sure, these may not be outstanding, but at least they’re a start. Good luck reimagining your favorite fairy tales!
If you have any “What If?” writing prompt suggestions (for any theme), please feel free to share them in the comments below. Ideas I like may be featured in future “What If?” posts, with full credit and a link to your blog (if you have one)! Also, if you’ve written a piece based on an idea you’ve found here, be sure to link back to the respective “What If?” post. I would love to see what you’ve done with the prompt! Thank you!
by Naomi L. | August 4, 2014 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: verbatim
Pronunciation: vər-BAY-təm
Part of Speech: adjective; adverb
Definition: in exactly the same words as were used originally
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
I must give credit to Beth Teliho of Writer B is Me for reminding me to add this word to my list (even if she didn’t realize it). This is a word with which everyone who writes frequently should be familiar. Some writers often quote the sayings of others word for word, and when they do, they sometimes need to make it clear that said quote is not their own. Fortunately, there’s a word that fits that very need.
To cite a quote “verbatim” is to use exactly the same words as in the original. Likewise, a “verbatim” citation is a word-for-word passage. The word arose in the late 15th century and is rooted in the Latin noun verbum, meaning “word”.
While I rarely read the word in fiction, I have seen “verbatim” come up quite a few times in technical writing. Its Latin origin seems to make it a great word for academic composition, so you may want to consider that if you choose to work it into your stories. Whether you use it as a technical term for citation or a dialogue indicator of a particular character’s intelligence, “verbatim” is indispensable to any prolific writer’s vocabulary!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | August 1, 2014 | J.C. Wolfe's Writing, Poetry |
What is the best kind of love?
Is it love at first sight?
That rush you feel
When you first set eyes
On that beloved person?
The idea that fate
Brought you together
And nothing in the world
Could tear you apart?
Is it love based on mutual interest?
The safe path of dating
Until you find someone
Who matches you perfectly?
The comfort of knowing
You’ve finally found
That one person
Who makes you truly happy?
Is it love that started as hate?
The endless passionate fire
Turned upside-down?
The surprise of discovering
That someone you could
Never live with
Becomes someone you could
Never live without?
Or is it love born from friendship?
Knowing your partner
From the inside out?
Having someone with whom
To share your deepest thoughts,
Your greatest dreams,
Your darkest fears?
Always believing
You have somebody close
Who you can trust completely?
Being one half of a whole
Who have nothing to hide
From one another
And who love each other
For exactly who they are?
Yes, love comes in many forms,
But the best kind of love
Is a love that was
Always true from the start.
Dedicated to my parents, who taught me that the best way to fall in love is with your best friend. May your Happily Ever After truly last forever! I love you both so much!
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