by Naomi L. | September 18, 2017 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: ineluctable
Pronunciation: in-ə-LƏK-tə-b(ə)l
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: unable to be resisted or avoided; inescapable
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Today’s Word of the Week was suggested by Judith from I Choose How I Will Spend the Rest of My Life. She actually provided several words, all of which I found interesting, so expect to see at least one more of them appear in my vocabulary segment. When I think about it, it’s funny how well today’s word describes my approach to vocabulary; for me, the lure of an interesting new word is simply “ineluctable”!
“Ineluctable” describes something that can’t be avoided, resisted, or escaped. The word arose in the early 17th century and comes from the Latin adjective ineluctabilis, meaning “from which there is no escape”. This adjective comprises the prefix in- “not” and the verb eluctari “to struggle out.”
Though I’d never heard the word “ineluctable” before Judith suggested it for this segment, I’m sure it could easily be used as a substitute for such synonyms as “inevitable”, “irresistible”, and “inescapable”. If you want to broaden the word’s use in your writing, you can also use its derivative forms: the noun “ineluctability” and the adverb “ineluctably”. If your characters often run into situations they simply cannot avoid or resist, you may have fun writing about their “ineluctable” predicaments!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | September 15, 2017 | J.C. Wolfe's Writing, Poetry |
Lost among the noise
Music takes no shape or form
Until these lips part
Silence falls, one voice rings out
And they watch my song take flight
My response to Colleen Chesebro‘s Weekly Poetry Challenge #50: Voice & Watch. Once again, I chose to write a tanka for this week’s entry. I hope you enjoy the poem! Thanks for the prompt, Colleen!
by Naomi L. | September 13, 2017 | Blog, Creative Writing, What If? Writing Prompts |
This past week saw yet another anniversary of the September 11 attacks as well as the destruction left in the wake of a record-breaking hurricane sweeping the Atlantic, the second to hit the U.S. in less than two weeks. Remembering watching the news in school 16 years ago and wondering how much more devastating the effects of climate change can become have gotten me thinking a lot about the past and future of our world, so this week I was inspired to share another set of “What If?” Writing Prompts in the theme of history. What sorts of stories about historical events can you create from these ideas? Good luck!
What if… global political leaders had started working to address climate change decades sooner?
What if… the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, had never happened?
What if… America had never started the Iraq War?
What if… Europe hadn’t begun to form what would eventually become the European Union after World War II?
What if… the Founding Fathers had established America as a direct democracy instead of an electoral college?
Enjoy writing more stories about history!
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. | September 11, 2017 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: hegemony
Pronunciation: hə-JE-mə-nee / HE-jə-moh-nee
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
So funny story: the other day I stumbled upon a reminder to write a Word of the Week entry for today’s vocabulary word, but I neglected to add a note about where I first learned it. I want to say it’s another word I picked up from a game in the Elevate – Brain Training app, but it could just as easily have come from a recent political article. In any case, if it isn’t the latter, it very well could be soon; I wouldn’t be surprised if shifting perceptions of “hegemony” became the next hot topic of debate!
“Hegemony” is a form of dominance or leadership, typically of a state or social group over others. The word arose in the mid 16th century and comes from the Greek noun hēgemonía, meaning “leadership”. This noun stems from the noun hēgemṓn “leader”, which in turn derives from the verb hēgéomai “to lead”.
While “hegemony” refers specifically to political states or groups in formal contexts, it can just as frequently refer to the dominance of a certain social group over another, though it’s worth noting that this form of rule stipulates a level of consent from the subordinate group as opposed to dominance by pure force. If you want to expand this word’s use, you can also use the related noun “hegemon”, meaning “a supreme leader”. If your characters are divided into dominant and submissive groups on any scale, “hegemony” may be a good word to use in your stories!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | September 8, 2017 | J.C. Wolfe's Writing, Poetry |
The wind on my face
Sings adventure and freedom
Yet the fall is great
Still, life will not wait for me
So I spread my wings and soar
My response to Colleen Chesebro‘s Weekly Poetry Challenge #49: Soar & Wait. The form I chose for my first entry is the tanka. I hope you enjoy the poem! Thanks for the prompt, Colleen!
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