Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Creative Complex: Doodle

Hello, Friends!

Today, pick a doodle or a simple drawing, then see how many ways you can change it but still keep it the same in essence. Or, I suppose, since this is supposed to be about writing, you could do a simple story and then change it in as many ways as possible but still keep the essential story.

For example: (Drawing-wise):
  • Pirate ship
  • Fairy
  • Crown
  • Dragon
  • Tree
  • Etc.
Think of questions like:
  • Are there different textures I could use to make my picture different?
  • Are there different details I can add?
  • What are distinguishing characteristics of types of my picture (species of tree, color, etc.)?
  • How can I be more creative?
For example: (Writing-wise):
  •  A princess story
    • Many different types of princess stories; pick one
  • A fable
  • A description
  • Etc.
Think of questions like:
  • How can I change the story?
  • Point of view?
  • Are there different details I can add?
  • What are distinguishing characteristics of types of my story?
  • How can I be more creative? 


This is a good mind exercise. It'll help you think more creatively. :)

Spruce Nogard
Attributions:
https://pixabay.com/en/fairy-tale-disneyland-disney-paris-1788212/ 
https://pixabay.com/en/stained-glass-stepmother-fairy-tale-1788211/
https://pixabay.com/en/ship-boat-pirate-buccaneer-corsair-146312/
https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/01/29/19/45/boat-2019184_960_720.jpg
https://pixabay.com/en/pirate-ship-ship-pirates-sail-2028574/
https://pixabay.com/en/cyprus-cavo-greko-cruise-ship-1374775/
https://pixabay.com/en/pirate-ship-sea-moon-fantasy-ocean-1719396/
https://pixabay.com/en/sailing-vessel-coast-sea-ship-1740721/
https://pixabay.com/en/cannon-fire-pirate-ship-sailing-ship-296555/

Monday, March 27, 2017

My Writing: The Adventures of Emily Hattinkson: A Collection of Beautiful Days

Good Morning, Friends!

This week is an extra week, so here is another of Emily Hattinkson's adventures. Here is her first one, but you don't really need to read the first one to read the second one. Also, here is a link to a picture of Emery's Cross.

Emily, our dear bus-rider, had been riding the bus for many months now. She was accustomed to the new people, and did not miss the old people. Throughout her many bus rides, Emily saw many different days, with many different suns. She liked to keep track of the different days she was fortunate enough to perceive.

One type of day was when, as Emily liked to say, “The sun wakes up.” On this day, Emily paid her fare, and, luckily, got two chairs to herself. Emily pushed her sweatshirt sleeves up and swung her backpack onto the chair next to her. The traffic was flowing smoothly, and Emily could hear the roaring of the noise the bus makes when it is not aware it is making noise, noise too loud to talk to the person next to you. To Emily, it felt as if the noise was trapped inside her ears, echoing and trying to find a way out. Finally, it grew less and less, until it finally subsided.

Just then, the bus came into view of the city. The stretching sun danced over the lady across from Emily's white, pristine, jacket, resting a moment on Charles the Accountant's sleeping face, before running to reflect on the window, then disappearing like the evanescent dew.

Another day, which Emily only experienced once, she christened the “Magical Day.” The sunlight that day was very much like the sunlight when the sun wakes up, but much richer, and tinged with the rose-gold color few are blessed enough to see. The sun danced even more grandly and wildly than it ever had before, and as they entered the city, the sun's rays colored the buildings the colors fairies paint in a child's dream, a color none can describe, and one would only remember in the back of one's mind, the part whispering: “Remember when. . . Remember when. . .”

In the city, a man was locking a garage, still bathed in the beautiful rays of the sun, and people were beginning to stir, to come out of their sleepy night and enter the glorious day. Each person was a small part of a giant mechanism, like each tiny gear that makes a clock run, or each ant in an anthill, working to keep the hill running. And, as Emily said, there was a magic there none can describe, and very few will have the opportunity to witness.

This last day, this day, Emily entitled: “Fairies' Day,” for this day was full of the good neighbors' fog. The fog covered the top half of the buildings, and so densely that one could not even see the hint of an outline. After Emily had been dropped off at her bus stop, she breathed in a deep breath of the crisp, cold, air, full of the heaviness only fog can bring. As she walked to school, it was difficult to see just across the street, that was how thickly the fog had descended. Emily knew the fairies were planning mischief, maybe to punish someone for a bad gift, or forgetting the wee folk last Saint Patrick's Day, or maybe, as her uncle had told her once, they were helping someone along to find their place.

If Emily closed her eyes, she could just imagine the fairies twisting the fog, and then, Emily would open her eyes, and be in a field, or maybe under a tree of Emery's Cross. Or, maybe the wispy tendrils of the mist would slowly, quietly, wrap around her, and bring her to a far-off land. Whatever the case, the Fairies' Day held adventure for some charmed soul.

These days and many others graced Emily's time riding the bus. For, adventure can always be found if one has enough courage.
Spruce Nogard
*Post written on 3/28/17


Saturday, March 25, 2017

Genre of the Month: (Not Really): Themes and Messages

Hello, Friends!

How are you this lovely day?

We are switching the topic for this category slightly, because, well, there are only so many genres and if we repeat them it gets kind of, well, boring.

So, instead, we are going to talk about themes and messages. I don't know if this will be every time there's a post in this category, or if this is just once. . . we'll see.

Anyways, we've all read books that have themes or messages in them. In fact, it's rare to find a book without a theme.

However, why do books have themes (and messages)? What purpose do they serve?

Think of books you've read with particularly strong themes, or not-so-strong themes, and think about this question. What do you think?

Spruce Nogard
*Post written on 3/28/17


Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Creative Complex: Character Constructing: Reactions

Hello, Friends!

Today, we are studying reactions.

Everyone reacts differently, depending on their background, age, experiences, etc. The way one person acts to a specific action can be the complete opposite as another person.

For example, someone bumps into two different people. The first person says: "Oh, I'm sorry." (Even though they didn't do it.) The second person starts yelling at the person who bumped into them.

We always need to ask the question: Why?

So, today's character constructing is to think of a few situations where people would react. They could be anything from:

  • Tripping
  • The news
  • An announcement (at school, work, etc.)
    Reaction as in explosion? Nope. Wrong kind.
  • Etcetera
 Or:
  • Accidentally running into someone
  • A conversation with someone else
  • Etcetera
*Note: These are harder because you are dealing with two (or more) people, which means you have to account for the reactions of both people, not just one person.

Next, pick a character.

Then, decide how they would react.

Finally, ask: Why did my character react this way?
Try to analyze the situation from as many angles as possible, keeping in mind how other characters would perceive the character's reaction.

Another thought: You could also do this with real people. It might help you understand them better. :)

Happy Wednesday!

Spruce Nogard


*Post written on 3/27/17

Monday, March 20, 2017

On My Mind: Beauty and the Beast

Hello, Storybook Characters!

Today, I am excited about Beauty and the Beast. The old Beauty and the Beast movie was my favorite princess movie when I was younger. Actually, it still is. I loved Belle because she was a reader, just like me. Also, I loved the songs, and, well, everything else. :)

I remember when I first heard they were making a live-action Beauty and the Beast, in 2015. I remember thinking 2017 was so far away. But now, here it is. I'm seeing it tomorrow, and I can't wait!

I also am excited Emma Watson is playing Belle. Emma Watson is such a great actress, and seems the perfect fit for Belle. Not to mention, as someone online remarked, Hermione and the Beast's library has got to be a wonderful scene.

Are you excited for Beauty and the Beast? Are you nervous about it? What was/is your favorite Disney movie?

Spruce Nogard

*Post written on 3/27/17 

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Recipe: Irish Soda Bread

Hello, Friends!

Sorry I haven't posted in half a month. School has been really stressful. I understand if you're exasperated.

Anyways, yesterday was Saint Patrick's day, so let's do a recipe in that spirit!

I had some Irish soda bread for the first time this Saint Patrick's day, and it was so good! I'm not sure what recipe the bread I had was, but this recipe is from allrecipes.com.

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Creative Complex: The Irish Stories

Hello, Friends!

As usual when posts are up late, I apologize. (I'm writing this on Thursday, despite what the above date says.)

Next, go dig out your musty volumes of Irish folklore! Of course. It is almost St. Patrick's Day.

If you have the misfortune not to have books of Irish fairy tales, check out these websites.

This digital library is insane. There are so many fairy tales, from so many places. I love fairy tales, but it makes me feel a little overwhelmed looking at them all. :)

This link is a "digital library" of "Folklore, Folktales, and Fairy Tales from Ireland."

http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/ireland.html

This link, however, is another library of tons of fairy tales from everywhere. The ones that say "Ireland" after the title in parentheses are, obviously, the Irish ones.

http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/folktexts.html#i

Now, spend some time curled up somewhere listening to nice music and enjoying a cup of tea (or other drink) and just reading some Irish fairy tales.

After you have read a few, you can:

  • Write a story based on one or multiple of the tales you read
  • Write a story which alludes to a story you read
  • Analyze the tales
    • Find patterns, points of interest, themes. . . 
  • Use a quality of one of the tales in your story
  • Write/draw/compose/etc. a:
    • Poem
    •  Piece of music
    • Piece of art
    • Anything else
  • Anything else you can think of!
Have fun!

Spruce Nogard

Monday, March 13, 2017

Dragons: Features: Scales

Hello, Friends.

First of all, sorry this post is up late.

Second of all, I know I already talked about dragon skin, but now I'm talking specifically about dragon scales. Each substance has a picture attached to it. :)

Types of scales:

Precious Stones:

Other Stones:


Precious Metals:
Are dragon scales a material unknown to earth? What other types of scales can you think of?



Spruce Nogard 

Attributions:

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Gardening: What do You Prefer?

Hello, Friends!

Sorry this post is up late. (I'm writing it on Monday, despite what the top says.)


Do you prefer:

Flower gardens or vegetable gardens?

Fruits or vegetables?

Shade plants or sun plants?

Starting from seed or starting from seedling?





Spruce Nogard



Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Creative Complex: Rebellion

Today, think of a time when a Rebellion took place. It could be in a book (fiction or nonfiction), a movie, a song, a play. . .

That Rebellion, though, must stir in you the respect, the awe, and the belief of it. I don't really know how to explain it. Ponder what makes it draw those emotions out of you. Why? Can you relate this to writing?

Think of the connotation, not the denotation.

Spruce Nogard

Monday, March 6, 2017

Books: Favorites: The Secret Keepers

Hello, Friends.

I recently read The Secret Keepers, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Trenton Lee Stewart wrote The Mysterious Benedict Society, which is one of my favorite series. (Here is a link to my post about them.)

The Secret Keepers is about a boy who finds a magical watch. However, some evil people are looking for it. . .

I really liked that the explanation for the watch was so logical, yet not overly sciency on explaining how it worked. (I especially liked the comparison to magnets.)

I also really like that in this book, along with his other books, the main character is eleven, so it's supposed to be for around that age group. However, the books are really long, and don't seem "simplified." (This book is 501 pages.)

Another thing I like is the atmosphere The Secret Keepers creates. I don't know how to explain it better than that.

And, of course, you must just absolutely love the Meyers.

Spruce Nogard


Saturday, March 4, 2017

Writing: Mental Library: Postmodernism: Baudrillard's Stages of the "Loss of the Real" (Part 1)

Hello, Friends!

As Dragomir's post reminded me, we haven't talked about Baudrillard's stages of the "Loss of the Real." If you managed to understand Dragomir's elaborate explanation, you already know a little bit about the stages.

Before we start, though, there are two main terms you need to know:

Sign-an item that causes you to think of something else, but is not that thing. It's really hard to explain, so here are a few examples:
  • A painting of Abraham Lincoln is a sign. The painting is not the real Abraham Lincoln, it just represents the real Abraham Lincoln. 
  • A word is a sign of something. An example is the word "hat." The word "hat" is not actually a hat, it just makes you think of a hat.
  • A nonfiction book is a sign. Say the book is about Amelia Earhart's journey around the world. The book is not actually Amelia Earhart's journey around the world, it just represents it.
Signifier- the thing the sign represents. Again, this is better explained through example:
  • Abraham Lincoln is a signifier. The sign (the painting), represents him, but he is the real thing.
  • A hat is a signifier. A hat is, well, a hat, which its sign (the word "hat"), represents. However, a hat is the actual thing.
  • Continuing with Amelia Earhart, Amelia Earhart's actual journey around the world is the signifier, because it is the real thing.
I know these terms are hard to wrap your brain around, but hopefully they mostly make sense? You can take awhile to digest this, if that would help.

Now, for the stages!

Stage 1: The sign represents the signifier, and it represents it accurately. Let's continue with the painting and book examples. The word example gets too confusing.
  • The painting of Abraham Lincoln (the sign) represents him correctly. This means Abraham Lincoln in real life looks exactly like the picture of himself.
  • For Amelia Earhart's journey around the world, this means the book would give all the correct facts about her flight.
Stage 2: The sign misrepresents the signifier. This means the sign distorts, romanticizes, etc. the signifier, but still in some way represents the signifier.
  • This would be like if Abraham Lincoln was painted with green skin, a green suit, and a pot of gold next to him. (I'm already thinking about St. Patrick's Day!) Abraham Lincoln did not actually have green skin, so this sign, (the painting), is a misrepresentation of him. However, it is still a representation of Abraham Lincoln because, well, you know the painting is supposed to be Abraham Lincoln
    • This would be more commonly seen in a romanticized painting, like if someone painted the alleyway outside the place where Shakespeare lived without including the gross trash.
  • For Amelia Earhart, it would be like if someone wrote a book about her journey around the world, but said that, in the process, she met cats who lived on clouds and took one home with her. The sign, (the book) misrepresents the signifier (Amelia Earhart's actual journey.) 
    • This would more commonly be seen in memoirs, where the person writing remembers an event differently than it actually happened.
This is the first part! The next part is soon to follow! (And pictures will be added also.)

Spruce Nogard
Source: Peter Barry's chapter "Postmodernism" in Introduction to Theory

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Creative Complex: The Peculiarity of the Third Stage of "Loss of the Real," As Clarified by the Acclaimed Baudrillard

Greetings, Readers.

As a preface to this small note upon Baudrillard's stages of the "Loss of the Real," we must first confess our utmost apology at the lateness of this post. Spruce, I am afraid, has had too large a variety of work from the illustrious foundation entitled School, and hence, has not slept enough. Thus, she asked me the slight favor of writing this post.

Spruce, as she has informed me, has yet to dedicate an entire post to the elucidation of Baudrillard's stages of the "Loss of the Real," a topic under the category of postmodernism. She will do so in due course.

On this conventional day, nonetheless, we shall endeavor to stretch the capacity with which our minds operate.


The third stage, complicated as it is, is clarified by the usage of a metaphor.

In this metaphor, you, a preeminent painter, paint a picture of yourself painting the picture. However, in the picture, you are in an elaborate room. There is no truth in this representation because, at this moment when you are painting, you are not in a room full of grandeur, but your small, ill-functioning upstairs.

The question presently proposed is this: what does this self in the painting find within the imaginary world created?


Dragomir Volkov
Source: Peter Barry's chapter on Postmodernism in Introduction to Theory