by Naomi L. | September 30, 2015 | Blog, Creative Writing |
It’s time for another infographic from our good friends at Grammarly! Today’s campaign is dedicated to those special people who have had an impact on us all: teachers! October 5th is World Teachers’ Day, a day to celebrate educators across the globe. Teaching may be one of the most important jobs in the world, yet over half the countries and territories in the world have a shortage of teachers. To raise awareness of the value that teachers have in our society, Grammarly has put together an infographic detailing statistics about teachers and education around the world.
Enjoy this infographic, and be sure to spread the word to help draw attention to the importance of teachers! And while you’re at it, don’t forget to thank your favorite teacher for the influence they’ve had on your life! Happy World Teachers’ Day!
Today’s creative writing post is brought to you by Grammarly, the World’s Best Grammar Checker. For more information on Grammarly, visit https://www.grammarly.com/plagiarism-checker. Thanks for reading! Happy writing!
by Naomi L. | September 28, 2015 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: eloquence
Pronunciation: E-lə-kwəns
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: fluent or persuasive speaking or writing
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Today’s Word of the Week is featured thanks to my mother, who recently sent me a list of the 100 most beautiful words in English. There were plenty of excellent words to choose from, some of which will appear later in this segment, but I chose “eloquence” first because: (a) it’s one of my favorite writing-related words; and (b) it’s fitting of the woman who showed me the list. My mother has always had a way of charming people with her words!
“Eloquence” refers to a person’s ability to speak or write in a fluent and/or persuasive manner. The word arose in late Middle English and comes from the Latin noun eloquentia, which in turn is derived from the verb eloqui, meaning “to speak out”. This verb is composed of the preposition ex “out” and the verb loqui “to speak”.
Truth be told, I’ve always loved the word “eloquence”, so when I saw it had made the list of most beautiful English words, I had to jump at the chance to feature it in my vocabulary segment. I see it as one of those words that apply equally to fiction and to real life, for to be “eloquent” is a goal that every writer should strive to achieve. Being able to captivate your audience using only your words is key to your success as a writer. Whether it’s a description of the skill your characters have to persuade their peers or a reminder of the standard to which you should hold your stories, “eloquence” is an excellent word to keep on your vocabulary list! Good luck!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | September 25, 2015 | J.C. Wolfe's Writing, Poetry |
How can I thank you for
All the ways you care for me?
Praise you for being my role model, and
Pray for you every day, because
You deserve all the joy in the world!
Bless you for being so wonderful!
I wish you all the best in the world:
Respect for all the hard work you do,
Time to enjoy all the things you love,
Happiness every day of your life, and
Days full of laughter and sunshine.
Always be the amazing person you are, and
Your family will always love and appreciate you!
May you always be blessed with
Only the brightest, most wonderful days!
Mom, Happy Birthday! I love you!
by Naomi L. | September 23, 2015 | Blog, Creative Writing |
Have you ever been in the middle of reading and suddenly discovered a word so beautiful you just had to make a note of it? Whether it’s in sound or meaning, the English language is full of beautiful words, many of which we as writers go out of our way to include in stories or poetry to add that special artistic touch to our work. But do you ever wonder what the most beautiful words in the English language are?
Fortunately for the curious among us, someone else has already had the same idea! Dictionary writer and poet Robert Beard has compiled a list of what he believes to be the 100 most beautiful words in English. See how many of these you know and/or want to work into your stories/poetry! Enjoy!
Do you agree with the list of the most beautiful words in English? What are your favorite words from this list? What other words would you include?
by Naomi L. | September 21, 2015 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: hyperbole
Pronunciation: hy-PƏR-bə-lee
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that today’s Word of the Week made it into my vocabulary list because I only recently discovered that I had been pronouncing it wrong since the first time I read it. Yes, for the longest time, I assumed this word was pronounced exactly the way it’s spelled: “HY-pər-bohl”. It wasn’t until after I downloaded the Elevate – Brain Training app to my iPad and started playing the Pronunciation game that I learned it’s actually pronounced “hy-PƏR-bə-lee”, and while I did feel a tad foolish for getting that wrong, the feeling was overshadowed by my fascination with the sound of the word. So I looked it up, and sure enough, it turned out to be a rather fitting word for my stories. They do contain their fair share of wildly ridiculous statements!
“Hyperbole” refers to claims or statements that are exaggerated and thus shouldn’t be taken literally. The word arose in late Middle English and comes from the Greek noun huperbolē, meaning “excess” or “exaggeration”. This word is composed of the preposition hupér “above” and the verb bállō “to throw” (literally “I throw”).
Regardless of pronunciation, “hyperbole” is often a good word to describe grand statements made in fiction and in real life alike. We’re all guilty of exaggerating our claims from time to time, such as when we refer to a major failure as a “train wreck” or to a huge game loss as a “massacre”. I’m sure we all know at least a few people who constantly exaggerate their stories, those people whose accounts we can rarely trust but who often make great inspiration for the blowhards in our fiction. If your characters make a habit of stretching the truth for dramatic effect or as a rhetoric device, you may have plenty of “hyperbole” floating around in your stories! Have fun!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
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