Writing: Mental Library: Accents

Happy Halloween, Friends!

Today, we are taking a break from our Postmodernism series.

Instead, we will be talking about accents and personal mannerisms.

Everyone has an accent. It's usually based on many factors, but the most prominent one is where you live. The reason for that is fairly complicated, so we're not going to deal with it. :)

I'm going to use my accent as an example. I am a Minnesotan. Minnesotans have an interesting habit of saying "cool" all the time. This is part of my accent, but also, Minnesotans always say "cool" in two syllables. We can't really say it in one. If you're from Minnesota, or live around Minnesota, you might know what I mean. If you're not, I'll try my best to explain. Basically, we say "coo-uh-l." It doesn't sound exactly like this. . . there aren't really words to describe it. Anyways, this is an example of an accent.

Now, we are going to talk about personal mannerisms, or how each individual person talks. An example of one of my personal mannerisms is: I say "in any case" a lot. However, my mom says "at any rate." They both mean the same thing, but are different personal mannerisms. Other types of personal mannerisms are: volume (Do they start talking softly and get louder, etc.), stuttering, etc.

You might be wondering how this relates to writing by now. Well, characters are people (or. . . living creatures) too, so they also need accents and personal mannerisms. If you are writing a historical novel, or novel that takes place in our world, you can use the language we use now or look up language used in the past. However, fantasy writers can use this too. Do different regions speak differently? Do certain groups tend to have similar mannerisms?

Post about your writing or accent in the comments!

Also, sorry if my posts have been really short or late recently. I have not had time to pre-schedule a lot of posts at once, and I have a lot of homework. Sorry!

By the way, have fun trick-or-treating (or passing out candy. :) ).

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/earth-globe-map-maps-north-america-1567610/

Genre of the Month: Picture Books

Hello, Friends.

This month, the genre is picture books. I was thinking about picture books, because of Adam Gidwitz's article on what picture books reveal about one's personality, and then, lo and behold, Lands Uncharted wrote about their top three favorite picture books. (To access Adam Gidwitz's article, click here, and to access Laura's top three picture books, click here. To access Erin's top three picture books, click here.)

What are some of your favorite childhood picture books? What are some more recent ones you like?

My favorite childhood ones are: The Runaway Bunny, and Goodnight, Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, My Dream Bed, by Lauren Child, Sometimes, I Like to Curl Up in a Ball, by Charles Fuge and Vicki Churchill, Tell Me What We Did Today, by Rick Kupchella, What Do You Do With a Kangaroo, by Mercer Mayer, and Today, I Feel Silly, and Other Moods that Make My Day by Jamie Lee Curtis.

Some picture books that have come out recently that I really like are: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, by William Joyce, Day Dreamers: A Journey of Imagination, by Emily Winfield Martin, How to Find a Fairy Tale, by Libby Hamilton, and Mirror Mirror, Marilyn Singer. (I talk about this book here.)

There are tons of other picture books I love, but it would take forever to mention all of them. :)

Post about picture books in the comments below!

Spruce Nogard

Attributions:
https://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Flying-Books-Morris-Lessmore/dp/1442457023 
https://www.amazon.com/Day-Dreamers-Emily-Winfield-Martin/dp/1101935227
https://www.amazon.com/How-Find-Fairytale-Libby-Hamilton/dp/1848777418
https://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Book-Reverso-Poems/dp/0525479015
https://www.amazon.com/Runaway-Bunny-Margaret-Wise-Brown/dp/0064430189
https://www.amazon.com/Goodnight-Moon-Margaret-Wise-Brown/dp/0064430170
https://www.amazon.com/My-Dream-Bed-Lauren-Child/dp/0340779136
https://www.amazon.com/What-Do-You-Kangaroo/dp/0590448501/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1477711759&sr=1-1&keywords=what+do+you+do+with+a+kangaroo
https://www.amazon.com/Tell-Me-What-Did-Today/dp/0972650407
https://www.amazon.com/Sometimes-Like-Curl-Up-Ball/dp/140270870X
https://www.amazon.com/Today-Feel-Silly-Other-Moods/dp/0060245603

Creative Complex: Character Constructing: You Are Falling

Good Day, Friends!

Today's Creative Complex is, well, you are falling. You are falling, and you have no idea how long you will continue to fall for or what will happen when, if, you stop falling.

Feel free to finish the prompt, but the Character Constructing comes in when we get inside your head. Is the "you" you? What would be going through your head in this situation? What would any other of your characters be thinking if they were falling?

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/skydiving-jump-falling-parachuting-658405/

On My Mind: Walking

Hello, Friends.

Sorry for another late post.

I was just thinking about walking. Walking in the fall. Walking where your feet lead you. Talking to your dog. Thinking. Speculating. Getting slightly chilled in the tips of your fingertips.

Do you like to walk?

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/trees-street-autumn-fall-leaves-178659/

Recipes: Fresh Pumpkin

Hello, Harvesters!

Fall is the harvest season, so today's topic makes sense. This post could also be titled: How to make pumpkin puree from a pumpkin.

Before we start, though, wouldn't it be so wonderful to grow pumpkins in your garden? If you already do, you are so lucky. I love pumpkin so much. :)

First, cut your pie pumpkin in half and scoop the seeds out. You can save these to roast later. Also, make sure to get most of the stringy stuff.

Then, spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray. Cover it in tinfoil, and put half of the pumpkin on the cookie sheet. Make sure the flat side is touching the tinfoil. Poke the pumpkin skin with a fork three or four times.

After this, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook the pumpkin for 45 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the size of a pumpkin. The pumpkin is done when you can easily poke it with a fork.

Next, scrape all the pumpkin flesh off the skin, and put it in a cooking bowl. Use a hand mixer (or a stand mixer, if you have one), and mix the pumpkin until it is all the same consistency.

Finally, put it in bags, (I recommend deciding on a specific amount per bag), put it in the freezer, and use when needed.

The pumpkin will last six to eight months technically speaking, but it will probably be fine for up to a year. :) We've done this before, but unfortunately, I don't have pictures of when I've done it. People in my house already complain that I take too many pictures of things now. :)

With your pumpkin, you can make: pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin everything!

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/pumpkin-orange-fall-autumn-harvest-1683635/

Writing: Creative Complex: A Riddling Tale

Hello, Angels.

Sorry--reference to a book. (I'm not telling you which book on purpose. Hee hee. :))

Last week, we started a series of Creative Complexes called the "Family Tree." However, I decided to do this series differently. Instead of having a post in the series every week until it is done, whenever we have a post that falls under the "Family Tree" category, we will add it to that series.

Today, we are solving a riddle. The riddle, actually, comes from a very excellent source. It comes from Grimm's Fairy Tales. It goes like this:

"Three women were transformed into flowers which stood in a field. However, one of them was allowed to be in her own house at night. One time when day was approaching, and she would have to go back to her companions in the field and become a flower again, she said to her husband, "If you will come this morning and pick me, I shall be set free and stay with you from then on."
And that is what happened.
Now the question is, how did her husband recognize her, for the flowers were exactly alike, and without any difference?"

The Creative Complex for today is:
1) Solve the riddle.
2) Make up a story/context for the riddle.

Clarification/Example:
 -The women were transformed into flowers because . . .
-She became free for one night because. . .
-And etcetera!

I know the answer, because I was too impatient to figure it out on my own. If you are like that, I challenge you to be creative, and more patient than I was. :)

Let your imagination run away with you, at least, a little bit!

Post in the comments!

Spruce Nogard

Source: http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm160.html
Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/mack-flowers-flowers-of-the-field-198240/

Writing: Creative Complex: Family Tree Part 1

Hello, Generations.

Today's Creative Complex is something my Spanish teacher actually had us do. We'll keep it simple, so it won't be overwhelming. Basically, we are making a family tree. Today, we'll start with just getting the idea into your heads.

• What type of family are they?
• Are they big or small?
• Are they fantastical, futuristic, realistic, etc?
• Are there pets?

Good luck!

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/family-children-woman-man-happy-591581/

Dragons: Skin

Hello, Dragon Riders.

First of all, sorry this post is up late. :(

Second of all, we are talking about dragon "scales" today. Which version of "scales" do you like the best?

Dragons can have many different types of skin. Which will you use in your story?

Do they have hard, glittery, stone-like scales?

Do they have leathery skin?

Do they have soft, snakelike scales?













Do they have fur?

What else could dragons have for skin?

Spruce Nogard

Attributions:

https://pixabay.com/en/leather-textures-background-fabric-1251772/ 

https://pixabay.com/en/dragon-head-reptile-scaly-animal-1571287/ 

https://pixabay.com/en/leather-snake-bag-materials-stuff-506757/ 

https://pixabay.com/en/gray-fur-grey-texture-fabric-791625/

Gardening: Not Yet Done

Hello, Gardeners!

Surprisingly, my gardens are still green. I've had a few more things, but not many. Also, I have four

Unfortunately, I did not make this beautiful pie. :)

little cucumbers on the vine. My herbs are doing wonderfully. It's fall, and that starts me thinking of fall recipes. Pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes, squash, beautiful colors of yellow, orange, and red. When I have a bigger yard, I would love to have pumpkin and squash in my garden as well.

What are some plants you wish to have in your garden but can't?

What are your favorite fall foods?

Spruce Nogard

Attributions:

https://pixabay.com/en/forest-autumn-forest-colorful-trees-63279/ 

https://pixabay.com/en/pumpkin-pie-autumn-holiday-baked-520655/

Creative Complex: Recirculating

What happens next, Friends? This is the question always asked or implied in writing prompts.

Today, I am recirculating a writing prompt from Lands Uncharted, which I think is amazing and, obviously, that you should see. It is based on the game you used to play as children, where someone would start a story, and someone else would continue it, and so on.

Here it is: http://www.landsuncharted.com/2016/08/your-turn-story-starter-erin.html#comment-form

Don't forget to read the comments. . . the story continues.

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/rain-drops-drip-shower-scene-863339/

Books: Favorites: The Door by the Staircase

Hello, Magical Beings!

Today we are talking about a book called The Door by the Staircase. The Door by the Staircase, by Katherine Marsh, is about Mary, an orphan, who goes to live with a mysterious old lady. They live near Iris, a town full of "magicians," or, according to Madame Z, Mary's new guardian, frauds, and con-artists.

Mary meets a friend, Jacob, and soon, they begin to explore the town. But the town is more than one might think. . .

This book is a juvenile fiction book, but that doesn't mean it's not good. In fact, it's wonderful. Also, Marsh bases it on fairy tales. As you know, I believe there is nothing better than fairy tales. By the way, for an article talking about what makes a children's book good, click here. (You may be wondering where that seemingly random comment came from. The article partially talks about why fairy tales are so fantastical.) Also, the fairy tales are Russian fairy tales, which makes them that much more fun. :)

Have you read this book? What do you think about it? Comment below!

Spruce Nogard

Attributions:
https://www.amazon.com/The-Door-Staircase-Katherine-Marsh/dp/1423134990

Fairy Tales: Difference Between Fairy Tale, Folktale, Tall Tale, Myth, Fable, and Legend

Hello, Mythical Beings!

Today, I am going to explain the differences between, well, fairy tales, folktales, myths, fables and legends.

This topic is hard to find information on on the internet, so this is kind of iffy. These sound about right to me, but don't base any in-depth essays based on factual evidence on them. :)

Fairy Tales (Google): a children's story about magical and imaginary beings and lands.
Fairy tales are much more than this, though. They weren't all children's tales, as Grimms' Household Tales prove. In order to really know what fairy tales are, you have to read a lot of them. They are full of an indescribable something-something unable to be found in folktales, myths, legends, fables, anything else. Go read them.

Folktales (Google): a story originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth
Folktales and tall tales are really hard to tell apart. Folktales were originally only spoken, so this is the main difference between folktales and tall tales. Also, they do not have to be overly exaggerated.

Tall Tale (Merriam-Webster): a story that is very difficult to believe, a greatly exaggerated story
An example of this would be Paul Bunyan, or Johnny Appleseed. Paul Bunyan is exaggerated because he wasn't  
actually as enormous as he's made out to be.
 



Fable (Google): a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral
This definition, at least, makes sense. An example would be Aesop's Fables (obviously).
 














Myth (Google): a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events. 
A myth is usually a story that is religious, or explains something. For example, Greek mythology was actually considered to be true a long, long, time ago (religious). Also, for example, a story that explains something would be like the story of Persephone (look it up), which explains why we have winter as a season.







Legend (Google): a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but unauthenticated.
This is like the legend of King Arthur. King Arthur could have been real, but no one knows for sure. Also, there are aspects of Arthurian legend that aren't true; for example, Merlin is a wizard, but wizards aren't real.

Now, you may be confused no more over various types of stories!

Spruce Nogard

 Attributions: 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691173222/ref=pd_sbs_14_img_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=17KFX9CXY00DQRBRS5ZR 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1450502954/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=6AQBS8032QX3FKBHPFSS 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/157912867X/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=RFKDVCSCCR88Y6MPEPCD
https://www.amazon.com/Knights-Leatherbound-Classic-Collection-Leather/dp/1435133463/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475704728&sr=1-4&keywords=king+arthur+howard+pyle
https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Osborne-American-Tales-Paperback/dp/B00RWQ48EY/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475704837&sr=1-6&keywords=american+tall+tales

Creative Complex: Knock Knock

Hello, Friends.

As you are sitting at your desk, you hear a timid knock on the door. When you open it, it is a frail old man. He asks if this is a detective agency. What happens next?

Spruce Nogard

Attributions:

https://pixabay.com/en/door-knob-vintage-antique-house-1110670/

Writing: Mental Library: Postmodernism Part 2: Irony

Hello, Postmodern Readers!

Today, we are focusing on irony. As Dragomir appreciates this, he is writing today.

Greetings, Readers. If any of you still store the information given in the Literary Devices Mental Library Post, in your mental library, you will conclude I did not speak of irony i
n that post.

Irony, as defined by the esteemed search engine Google, is: the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite.

There are, three distinct categories of irony used in literature.

1) Dramatic Irony

Defined as: When the person or persons watching a movie or play or reading a novel knows something one or more characters in said movie, play, or book, do not know.

This is seen in the marvelous work entitled: "The Cask of Amontillado" by Mr. Edgar Allan Poe. At the commencement of the story, the reader learns that the character of Montresor has "vowed revenge" on the other character, a Mr. Fortunato. The reader knows this information, but the character of Fortunato is unaware of his imminent destruction.

2) Situational Irony

Defined as: Irony which occurs when the opposite of the predicted situation happens.

To continue with our estimable work, "The Cask of Amontillado," the character of Fortunato's name is exceedingly similar to the word of "fortune," causing the reader to believe he is, fortuitous. But, as known, he is murdered at the end of the marvelous work. This, as seen, is not fortuitous.

3) Verbal Irony

Defined as: Irony perceived in speech.

This is discerned when Montresor tells Fortunato: "And I [drink] to your long life." In truth, however, Montresor desires to murder Fortunato.

These, the second aspect of Postmodernism, have part in alternative genres, as well. 

Thanks, Dragomir! We had lots of fun learning about irony. Friends, do you know of any books that use irony a lot? Post in the Comments!

Dragomir Volkov

Spruce Nogard

Source: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper/poe/cask.html

Attributions: 

https://pixabay.com/en/portrait-edgar-allan-poe-1848-62996/ 

https://pixabay.com/en/shamrock-four-leaf-clover-green-510482/ 

Books: Genre of the Month: Historical Fiction

Hello, Time-Travelers!

I used to read historical fiction a fair amount when I was younger, but I don't as much now.

Historical fiction is fiction, but it takes place in a time period in history. For example, a historical fiction book might take place during World War II.

Some historical fiction books I have read are:

The Dear America series. Some of them were horribly sad, but they all were diaries from a character in a different time period. This is one I read.

I read some of The Little House on the Prairie books as well.

I also read Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry.

I've read a quite a few more, but I'm trying to stick to the more famous ones/series, such as the wonderful children's series: Magic Tree House--some of which were based on historical time periods.

The last book I wanted to tell you about is one I can't remember the title of. I wish I could remember it. :(

Do you like historical fiction? What's your favorite historical fiction book?

Spruce Nogard

Attributions:
https://www.amazon.com/Across-Wide-Lonesome-Prairie-Campbell/dp/0590226517 
https://www.amazon.com/Little-House-Prairie-No/dp/0064400026
https://www.amazon.com/Civil-Sunday-Magic-Tree-House/dp/067989067X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1472420880&sr=1-1&keywords=magic+treehouse+civil+war
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/number-the-stars-lois-lowry/1100128561