by Naomi L. | January 18, 2016 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: raconteur
Pronunciation: rak-ahn-TƏR / rak-ən-TƏR
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: a person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
As long as we’re discussing people who love words, books, and reading, why not learn a word for lovers of storytelling too? A writer can never have too broad a vocabulary when it comes to telling tales, especially with words that add a poetic charm to their work. Surely we all know someone who’s good at telling funny stories, so it’s easy to find inspiration for a “raconteur” in our writing!
A “raconteur” is a skillful storyteller, usually of amusing anecdotes. The word arose in the early 19th century and is originally French. This noun stems from the verb raconter, meaning “to relate” or “to recount”.
Pretentious as this may come across, I admit that I love the word “raconteur” for how French it sounds. After learning words like “bibliophile” and “raconteur”, I find it interesting how many artistic words in the English language are borrowed from French, and in my opinion, they help to enhance our vocabulary. So don’t be afraid to include this word in your writing, even if (or especially if) it’s used in an ironic sense. If you like to write humorous pieces, you may be a natural “raconteur” yourself!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | January 15, 2016 | J.C. Wolfe's Writing, Poetry |
Quakes
Beneath
The ocean
Break the water
Into one
Massive
Wave
Wave
Rising
From the sea,
Wash everything
Away from
The cold
Earth
by Naomi L. | January 13, 2016 | Blog, Creative Writing |
Ah, January, the month of new beginnings. I’m all for making New Year’s resolutions, even if most of them never make it past February. One of mine for this year is to read more books, and while it’s too soon to tell what new stories will have everyone hooked in 2016, there are some classics still sitting on my shelf that I’d love to start with.
So in no particular order, here are five books on my to-read list for 2016. Enjoy!
1) A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Late to the party? You bet. I received A Game of Thrones for my birthday in 2014 and started reading it a little over a year ago, but with all the scientific texts constantly taking priority on my list, progress has been slower than I’d like. Still, it’s been a captivating read so far, and I’d love to be able to finish the book this year. Maybe then I’ll finally get into watching the series!
2) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
This one has been on my to-read list forever, but I can never seem to get around to reading it. Pride and Prejudice is a timeless classic, and while I’ve seen the 2005 film more times than I can count, I imagine Ms. Austen’s literary masterpiece must be even greater in its novel form. If I’m going to read more period dramas in 2016, there’s no better book I’d love to start with!
3) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Speaking of period dramas, this one’s another book given to me as a birthday present and that I’ve been meaning to read for a while. I received Jane Eyre last year after my mother recommended it to me, and since my copy is in a pocket edition, I can at least keep it in my bag and do some light reading while I’m out and about. I’m sure I’ll enjoy this one too; a Victorian feminist coming-of-age story seems right up my alley!
4) The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
This book I received as a Christmas present a few weeks ago, which turned out to be a pleasant surprise as I have yet to indulge in the works of Oscar Wilde. The Picture of Dorian Gray was also recommended to me by my mom, and though it doesn’t seem like the first book I’d grab off the shelf in the store, the reviews of this Gothic classic have certainly left me intrigued. Knowing it was an incredibly racy work that pushed the boundaries of moral sensibility in its time, I can only imagine what an exciting read lies ahead!
5) Tree Thinking by David A. Baum & Stacey D. Smith
Yes, one of these books is not like the others. Tree Thinking is a nonfiction book that serves as an introduction to phylogenetics, and though I’ve already read part of it just to get my foot in the door of my field of study, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have as much knowledge of the subject as possible under my belt. It’s proven to be quite a pleasant read so far, which isn’t surprising for me; if I learned anything in my college years, it’s that evolutionary biology is fascinating!
What about you? What books do you plan to read in 2016? Any other resolutions you’ve made for the new year?
by Naomi L. | January 11, 2016 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: bibliophile
Pronunciation: BI-blee-ə-fyl
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: a person who collects or has a great love of books
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Since last week I shared a word that defines people who love words, today I thought I’d continue on that line to discuss another word for a certain kind of enthusiast. If you consider yourself a “logophile”, then you likely qualify as a “bibliophile” too. It’s only logical to assume that with a love of words comes a love of books!
A “bibliophile” is someone who loves and/or collects books. The word arose in the early 19th century and is originally French. This noun comprises two Greek roots: the noun biblion “book” and the adjective phílos “loved”.
While “bibliophile” isn’t a word I see or hear too often, it may be one of my favorites for describing people who are passionate about reading. Book lovers keep our magical world of creative writing alive, so it makes sense that there’s a perfect vocabulary word to define them. If you’re a novelist whose characters are book enthusiasts, you can no doubt have fun writing as much for the “bibliophiles” in your stories as in your audience!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | January 8, 2016 | Flash Fiction, J.C. Wolfe's Writing |
Stella was the loneliest girl in the whole town. But she was also the most hopeful. No matter how many boys overlooked her or how many young couples she saw holding hands, she never lost faith that her turn at romance would come.
Especially now that someone had finally noticed her.
She sighed as she gazed longingly out her window. The night sky was speckled with stars, not a cloud in sight. It was the perfect setting. Now all she had to do was wait. Just one, she thought eagerly, glancing around the sky. Come on, just one…
And then she spotted it: a shooting star falling down the sky, its tail shimmering brightly against the dark backdrop of the night. It shone only for a second before it vanished, but it was enough.
Smiling, Stella closed her eyes and scrunched up her nose. Time to believe in magic.
I wish for him to see me the way I see him. She urged the thought into reality with all her heart. Please, please, please…
Suddenly, a ping on the glass brought her back to her senses. Stella opened her eyes and lifted the window pane to peer outside. Her heart skipped a beat when she looked down into the yard: standing on the grass below, gazing up at her with an innocent gleam in his eyes and a rose in his hand, was the boy who had smiled at her.
Jimmy grinned as the girl appeared in the window frame. Her heart racing as she leaned over the sill, Stella glanced up at the night sky with a smile and whispered, “Thank you.”
Never again was Stella the loneliest girl in town, not since the night she discovered the magic of shooting stars and the joy of one heartfelt wish come true.
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