by Naomi L. | January 19, 2015 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: eponymous
Pronunciation: ə-PAH-nə-məs
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition:
- (of a person) giving their name to something
- (of a thing) named after a particular person
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Here’s a word that every writer should know, and most prolific ones probably do. I come across the word “eponymous” almost exclusively when reading Wikipedia articles, as I often read about stories titled after a person’s name. Interestingly, whether its definition is active or passive depends on if it’s used to describe a person or a thing, so be sure to pay close attention to that detail!
An “eponymous” person is someone whose name has been given to something. An “eponymous” thing, in contrast, is something named after a specific person. This word is the adjective form of “eponym”, meaning “a person after whom a discovery, invention, place, etc., is named or thought to be named”. This noun comes from the Greek adjective epōnumos “given as a name”, which is comprised of the preposition epi “upon” and the noun onuma “name”.
“Eponymous” is what I consider to be one of those “specialist” words: limited to a particular use, but highly useful when the need for it arises. Therefore, as I said, it’s a word that’s especially important for writers; if not to use directly, then at least to understand. If you make a habit of naming the things in your stories after people, then “eponymous” is definitely the word for you! Have fun getting creative with your names!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | January 16, 2015 | J.C. Wolfe's Writing, Poetry |
Give me light,
And I will have sight.
I will see the world
And try to learn its ways.
Give me passion,
And I will have spirit.
I will grow and change
As I find my own path.
Give me wisdom,
And I will have mind.
I will form my own ideas
And create my own life.
Give me courage,
And I will have heart.
I will stand for my beliefs
And fight for my true rights.
But above all,
Give me freedom
To see,
To feel,
To think,
To speak,
And I will have a voice.
And I will at last exist.
Freedom is a basic human right, not a privilege. My thoughts and prayers are with all the people affected by the senseless tragedies in France. May our free voices never be silenced. #JeSuisCharlie
by Naomi L. | January 14, 2015 | Blog, Creative Writing, What If? Writing Prompts |
Here’s a new bunch of “What If?” Writing Prompts for you. This week’s post consists of prompts in a genre that has yet to be featured in this segment: paranormal. What stories can you spin around the phenomena lying just outside the scope of normality? Good luck!
What if… you could use your mind to move objects… as long as they were your own possessions?
What if… you found out your dreams about the future were actually visions?
What if… you could divine a person’s greatest dreams and worst fears just by looking into their eyes?
What if… psychic abilities were scientifically proven to be real?
What if… you discovered a way to bridge the gap between the spirit world and the material world?
Have fun turning out tales of the paranormal!
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. | January 12, 2015 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: sartorial
Pronunciation: sar-TOR-ee-əl
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: of or relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Barney: Suits are full of joy. They’re the sartorial equivalent of a baby’s smile.
Ted: “Sartorial”?
Barney: “Of or pertaining to tailors or their trade.”
– How I Met Your Mother (Season 2, Episode 14 – Monday Night Football)
Here’s another word I’ve heard exclusively on How I Met Your Mother. Every fan of this series is well familiar with Barney Stinson’s love of suits. His popular catchphrase “Suit up!” pretty much says it all. It makes perfect sense, therefore, that a character like Barney would know exactly what the word “sartorial” means while the rest of his friends remained clueless.
“Sartorial” refers to anything related to clothing and/or tailoring. The word arose in the early 19th century and comes from the Latin noun sartor (“tailor” or “patcher”). This noun is derived from the verb sarcire, meaning “to patch” or “to restore”.
Despite having learned this word fairly recently, I can already imagine a few contexts in which it could work well, such as when a character demonstrates “sartorial” elegance. Writers who are particularly fond of elaborating on details of clothing may find it especially useful. If you often draw attention to your characters’ clothes to help define their personalities, I’m sure you’ll have no problem finding a good place for this word somewhere in your writing. And if you don’t, I strongly encourage you to experiment with the “sartorial” details of your stories, as they can reveal much about a person’s character! Have fun!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | January 9, 2015 | J.C. Wolfe's Writing, Poetry |
Reds, blues and greens
Arched across the sky
Illuminate the heavens in
Numerous brilliant hues.
Beauty in a spectrum
Of seven vivid colors is a
Wonder of nature’s perfection.
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