by Naomi L. | August 8, 2016 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: eldritch
Pronunciation: EL-drich
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: weird and sinister or ghostly
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Like many other writers who seek to better understand the various devices used in fiction (and/or are total nerds who enjoy getting lost in an endless vortex of information now and then), I spend much of my time browsing TV Tropes. Recently, while researching a video game I had just finished, I came across a trope known as the Eldritch Abomination, defined as a type of creature that disregards the natural laws of the universe and usually manifests as some grotesque monstrosity. Given that the creature being referred to is probably one of the most horrific and ghastly things I’ve ever seen in a video game, I’d say “eldritch” is a pretty accurate description!
Anything described as “eldritch” is weird, sinister, or ghostly. The origin of the word is uncertain; it possibly consists of the Old English root el- (“foreign” or “strange”) and the noun rīce (“realm” or “kingdom”). Another possibility is that the word is a variant of the Scottish adjective elphrish and derives from the Old English noun aelf, meaning “elf”.
When I first read about the Eldritch Abomination on TV Tropes, I actually assumed that “eldritch” was a name. I had never seen this word being used to describe something before, so I thought the trope might have been named after some character in a creepy story that I would never read or watch because I’m not a fan of horror. Having learned what the word really means, I’d now consider using it in some poetic verse or suspenseful science fiction story to describe a creature so ominous or otherworldly as to be beyond comprehension. If you like to write about beings, objects, or ideas that are strange and sinister in nature, you may have fun spinning stories around your “eldritch” creations!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | August 5, 2016 | J.C. Wolfe's Writing, Poetry |
Magic may seem
Like the stuff
Of fantasy
And fairy tales,
But I know
For a fact
That it really exists.
Real magic comes
In the form of
Sweet kisses
And affectionate hugs,
In gentle words
And selfless acts.
Real magic
Is respect
And trust
And loyalty.
It’s devotion
And kindness
And overwhelming joy.
Real magic
Is waking up
Every day
Next to someone
Who makes you smile,
Falling sleep
Every night
Beside someone
Who shares in your pain,
And spending
Your whole life
With someone
You could never
Live without.
How could I not
Believe in magic
When I grew up
Seeing it every day
In the form of such
True love?
Dedicated to my parents, whose love has always been a huge inspiration for my writing and my personal life. Thank you for teaching me what real magic is! I love you both so much!
by Naomi L. | August 3, 2016 | Blog, Creative Writing, What If? Writing Prompts |
How about some more “What If?” Writing Prompts until I get back into my regular writing swing? I just realized I haven’t shared a set of mystery and suspense prompts in over a year, so here are some more for you to enjoy now. What strange stories can you create from these ideas? Have fun!
What if… you found a strange box in your storage unit containing a valuable piece of jewelry and a note warning of its “curse”?
What if… you woke up in an old empty house with no memory of how you got there?
What if… every time you went to sleep at night, you woke up into yesterday instead of tomorrow?
What if… there were a door in your house that kept opening by itself, no matter how many times you locked it?
What if… you kept receiving letters from someone you knew had died years ago?
Good luck spinning some more mysterious and suspenseful 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 1, 2016 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: nuance
Pronunciation: N(Y)OO-ahns
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Flynn: Frankly, I’m too scared to ask about the frog.
Rapunzel: Chameleon.
Flynn: Nuance.
– Tangled (2010)
How about learning a word from a Disney movie this week? In the above scene from Tangled, Rapunzel and Flynn have just evaded the guards in the Snuggly Duckling pub and are making their way through a secret tunnel to escape. On the way, Flynn decides to ask Rapunzel about her story, though he first builds up to his question by mentioning the questions he won’t ask, including anything to do with Pascal. When Rapunzel corrects his mistake, pointing out that Pascal is a chameleon and not a frog, Flynn dismisses it as insignificant. Pascal might disagree, of course; the difference between a frog and a chameleon is much more than a “nuance”!
A “nuance” is a subtle shade of or difference in a meaning, expression, or sound. The word arose in the late 18th century and is originally a French noun meaning “shade” or “subtlety”. This noun stems from the verb nuer “to shade”, which in turn comes from the Latin noun nubes, meaning “cloud”.
In the above example from Tangled, Flynn uses the word “nuance” as a sort of synonym for the expression “same difference”, hinting at the word’s connection with the concept of subtlety. I’ve probably read the word most often in poetic contexts, where it usually refers to the various shades of a given image or slight differences in meaning for certain ideas. Note that “nuance” can also be used as a verb to mean “give nuances to”. If you like to include subtle differences in your scenery, actions, or ideas, you may want to consider mentioning such “nuances” in your stories!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
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