by Naomi L. | August 19, 2015 | Blog, Creative Writing, What If? Writing Prompts |
I hope you’re up for some more “What If?” Writing Prompts! For a lighter theme this week, today’s set features more prompts in the humor genre. See what funny tales you can spin around these ideas, and feel free to add more of your own! Enjoy!
What if… you woke up one day to find your life were the setting of a movie?
What if… you set up a camera in your house to find out what your pets do when you’re not home?
What if… you knew an animal that talked… but only when you were both alone?
What if… your school/workplace turned into a circus for a day?
What if… there were a strange disease going around that randomly gave people the urge to sing and dance?
Have fun writing your own silly stories!
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 17, 2015 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: inundate
Pronunciation: IN-ən-dayt
Part of Speech: verb
Definition:
- overwhelm someone with things or people to be dealt with
- flood
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Next up on my advanced vocabulary list, here’s another word with dual concrete/abstract meanings. “Inundate” is a word I’ve come across several times, equally in the sense of literal floods of liquid and of metaphorical floods of responsibilities. Of course, being a grad student who studies aquatic ecosystems, it’s no wonder I’m well familiar with this particular uncommon word!
To “inundate” someone is to overwhelm them with people or things to deal with, while to “inundate” a place is to flood it. The word arose in the late 16th century and comes from the Latin verb inundare, meaning “to flood”. This verb is composed of the preposition in “into” and the verb undare “to flow”, the latter of which is derived from the noun unda “wave”.
Because “inundate” is basically an advanced form of the verb “flood”, it may often come off as unnecessarily complex in its literal definition. For fiction, I would recommend using it mostly in the abstract sense of overwhelming someone with obligations, though you needn’t hesitate to use its concrete meaning for a scene involving an actual water flood. If your stories frequently involve floods of liquid, things, or people, “inundate” is a good word to add to your list! Good luck!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | August 14, 2015 | J.C. Wolfe's Writing, Poetry |
Study books and papers every day.
Constantly seek original ideas and approaches.
Innovate your methods in practice and
Experiment until you get results.
New theories are always emerging, so
Contribute all you can to the knowledge of humanity.
Endless discoveries are waiting to made!
by Naomi L. | August 12, 2015 | Blog, Creative Writing |
By now, I’ve written quite a few “five reasons” posts for my blog. I’ve talked about the things I love about flash fiction and poetry, and I’ve listed my reasons for loving romance and science fiction. Now I’d like to get into another of my favorite genres of fiction, if not my absolute favorite: fantasy! This is a genre I fell in love with when I was a child and that I haven’t stopped loving since. So without further ado, here are the reasons I love fantasy. Enjoy!
1) It’s a testament to the boundlessness of human imagination.
Fantasy is the epitome of human creativity. The very word “fantasy” originates from a Greek word meaning “imagination” (literally “to show at the mind”). In fact, one of the reasons I love reading ancient mythology is that it offers an insight into human imagination from an early point in history. Since prehistoric times, people have been telling stories about the fantastic events that could very well have shaped the world as we know it, and while today we know that such incredible stories about deities and monsters never actually happened, it’s still interesting to see what amazing tales the human mind is capable of dreaming up. And that’s probably why fantasy remains such a popular genre to this day. For me, reading fantasy isn’t just about enjoying a good story; it’s about the thrill of being transported into another person’s imagination. How wonderful is that?
2) It’s the ultimate escape from reality.
Whenever I feel stuck in the monotony of reality (which is often), I like to take a break by indulging in fiction. When I’m really fed up with the real world, I dive headfirst into fantasy, because nothing takes me away from the pressures of life like indulging in a little magic from time to time. Whether it’s writing short stories about dragons, reading a seven-book novel series about young wizards and witches, or playing the hero in a medieval-themed video game, fantasy offers the thrill of escapism like no other genre can. Because what better way to escape from reality than by losing yourself in a world where absolutely anything is possible?
3) Other genres bend the rules; fantasy breaks them.
Two of my favorite genres of fiction are science fiction and fantasy, but sometimes when I compare the two, it’s hard to find the line that distinguishes them. They both feature intricate worlds, highly improbable plots, and characters who are capable of amazing feats. Perhaps the best way to distinguish fantasy from science fiction (or any other genre for that matter) is to consider how they compare to reality, because fantasy is the only genre that makes the truly impossible possible. Alien encounters, artificial intelligence, and dystopian futures technically could be a reality given exactly the right circumstances, but you’ll never see wizards casting magic spells or fire-breathing dragons soaring across the sky. Some things exist purely in our imagination, and that’s exactly what I love so much about fantasy: it pushes boundaries like no other genre can. In a nutshell, science fiction bends the rules, but fantasy breaks them.
4) It brings back the magic of childhood.
Remember when you were a kid, how you loved reading fairy tales and watching animated movies about magical characters who did amazing things? Naturally curious and free of responsibilities as children, we all enjoyed engaging in the wonders of magic, even if it only ever existed in our minds. But growing up has a way of forcing us to put aside our fantasies so we can prepare to face the real world. One of the greatest reasons I’m so fond of fantasy is that it often takes me back to the simpler time of my childhood, a time when it was okay to believe that magic was real and anything was possible if I only wished it with all my heart. Sure, nowadays I don’t longingly watch the skies for an owl carrying my acceptance letter from Hogwarts or feel a twinge of anticipation that I might find a golden ticket whenever I open a chocolate bar, but it’s still nice to keep in touch with that little girl inside who once did. She is, after all, one of the loudest voices that make up the writer in me.
5) It’s incredibly fun to read, write, and play!
Yes, I always end my lists with this reason, but what can I say? It’s always true! Fantasy, when written well, is engaging, exhilarating, stimulating, liberating, and all-around awesome! So the next time you feel stuck in the humdrum of the real world, try taking a break to indulge in a little fantasy. You never know what sorts of amazing adventures await in the imagination until you explore! Enjoy!
What about you? Why do (or don’t) you like fantasy?
by Naomi L. | August 10, 2015 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: corroborate
Pronunciation: kə-RAH-bə-rayt
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: confirm or give support to a statement, theory, or finding
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Continuing on the theme of scientific vocabulary, today’s word is one that comes up a lot in academic writing. When proving a hypothesis correct, researchers need to provide evidence that strongly supports their conclusions. Hence, it’s common to read statements in the results/discussion section of research papers claiming that Findings X “corroborate” Hypothesis Y. Because why use a general verb like “support” when you know a more specific term for research?
To “corroborate” a theory or statement is to provide evidence that supports or confirms it. The word arose in the mid 16th century in the sense “to make physically stronger” and comes from the Latin verb corroborare, meaning “to strengthen”. This verb stems from two roots: the adverb com “together” and the noun robur “strength”.
I haven’t encountered the word “corroborate” much outside of scientific contexts, but I still think it could work in fiction. A good example might be when one character needs to “corroborate” another’s story with an additional eyewitness account of events. If your characters often find themselves needing to prove a statement or theory true, you may want to write some evidence into your stories to “corroborate” their claims! Good luck!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
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