Mental Library: Poetry: Introduction to Poetry

Hello, Poets!

Today, we are going to start a new series. We are going to talk about poetry. After all, it is a type of literature, even though it is not my favorite type of literature.

Before we can go any further, we have to learn the basic structure of a poem.

Verse- One line of poetry

Hot Cross Buns

Stanza- A group of verses

Now, on to rhyming.

There are two types of rhymes: Internal and external.

External rhymes are easier to understand because they always rhyme at the end of the verse.

Example:

I had a dog.

He sat on a log.

The last word of each verse rhymes.

Internal rhymes rhyme on the inside of a poem.

Example: 

My dog was on a log.

A word in the verse rhymes with the end word.

Next month, we will learn about rhyming patterns. Which type of rhyming do you like better: internal or external?

Post in the comments!

Spruce Nogard

 Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/bakery-hot-cross-buns-buns-rolls-1367348/

Topic of the Month: Consistency*

Hello, Friends.

First of all, sorry this post is up late. I had a busy week last week.

Anyways, this topic applies more to writers than readers, so sorry about that.

Have you ever read a book that was inconsistent in some way? Doesn't it just bug you to no end? I once read a fairy tale twist of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," and with twelve sisters, I know it can be hard to keep them straight. However, in the next books in the series, not only the order of birth was different from the original book, but also the number of years in between each character. Honestly, authors should make sure their stories are consistent, and if the authors themselves can't do that, at least the editors should be able to. I know sometimes authors have contracts and have to get books done by a certain time, but it would be better to get it done late than have a not as high quality book.

Sorry for ranting about that. It's just something that really bugs me.

In any case, what can you do about this?

Answer: Make calendars and timelines.

One or the other might work better depending on what you need to check for consistency. For example, if you had a timeline of when all the daughters in "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" twist were born, you could just look at that whenever you couldn't remember the order. However, if you had events or the book took place over multiple years, it might work better to do a calendar. I once knew someone who, after reading her manuscript and finding too many full moons, got a calendar from a few years ago and put the events in her book on the calendar so the phases of the moon would be right.

I wish more people would be this meticulous and care about consistency this much.

Even though it's a pain to put your entire book on a calendar, it pays off. You don't get the reviews that take stars away for the lack of consistency. Not to mention, if you really want to share something so amazing with other people, don't you want to do your best?

What books have you read where the lack of consistency detracts from the book as a whole?

Spruce Nogard

*Post actually written on July 31st. See here for details.

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/diary-pen-teacup-writing-calendar-2116244/

Creative Complex: Stories

Hello, Friends!

Today, I have a question for you: What stories did you make up when you were little? Would you still use aspects of those stories in your writing now?

Why or why not?

Spruce Nogard

Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/homework-girl-education-studying-787270/

On My Mind: The Hidden Meaning*

Hello, Friends!

Here are just a few basic codes (kind of) for you to solve.

1)

Enwhay ethay arkday omescay isingray,

Ixsay allshay urntay itway ackbay.

Eethray omfray ethay irclecay,

Eethray omfray ethay acktray.

2)

4, 12, 12, 23--25, 9, 12, 13, 1, 22--18, 9, 12, 13

4, 26, 7, 22, 9--21, 18, 9, 22--8, 7, 12, 13, 22

21, 18, 5, 22--8, 19, 26, 15, 15--9, 22, 7, 6, 9, 13

26, 13, 23--12, 13, 22--20, 12--26, 15, 12, 13, 22

3)

Yadhtrib eht rof nori,
Gnol deirrac eznorb.
Gninrub eht morf doow,
Gnos fo tou enots.

4)

Fi-iv fr-ln th-v can-wov ri-mt,

Wat-vi fr-ln th-v th-zd.

Si-c sig-mh th-v cir-xov,

An-w th-v Gra-ro go-mv bef-liv.

5)

Fish-iguana-rabbit-elephant fish-rabbit-octopus-monkey turtle-horse-elephant monkey-octopus-unicorn-narwhal-turtle-aardvark-iguana-narwhal,

Snake-horse-aardvark-lion-lion fish-iguana-narwhal-dog turtle-horse-elephant horse-aardvark-rabbit-pegasus octopus-fish giraffe-octopus-lion-dog.

Pegasus-lion-aardvark-yak-elephant-dog turtle-octopus whale-aardvark-kangaroo-elephant turtle-horse-elephant snake-lion-elephant-elephant-pegasus-elephant-rabbit-snake,

Octopus-lion-dog-elephant-snake-turtle octopus-fish turtle-horse-elephant octopus-lion-dog.

6) 

Pweor form the Gereictnwh,

Lsot beaenth the sea.

All slahl fnid the Lgiht at lsat,

Sevilr on the tere.

So, here are your codes. Some you can't really call "codes" even though they are word puzzles, but others are codes. Can you find the hidden meaning?

Spruce Nogard

*The answers will be posted on Friday, August 4th.*

*Post actually written on July 31st. See here for details.

Recipe: [Fancy] Homemade Hot Chocolate

Hello, Cooks!

Today, we are making homemade, absolutely fabulous, hot chocolate. (Disclaimer: This is not powder.)

Again, obviously not one I made.

The recipe is from: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1092/deluxe-hot-chocolate-with-marshmallows

Ingredients: 

• 600ml milk 
• 142ml pot double cream
• 100g chopped chocolate

Directions: 
Pour the milk, double cream and chopped chocolate into a pan. Bring gently to the boil, whisking until smooth. Serve in individual cups or mugs topped with mini marshmallows and a little grated chocolate.

The recipe says it makes four cups, and nutrition information is on the website.

I wish I had time to actually make these more often.

Now here's the fun part: You can add whatever other spices you want. You can add cinnamon, vanilla, maple, peppermint (or just get peppermint candies and let them dissolve in the hot chocolate), chili spices, cardamom. . . whatever you want. However, add a tiny amount, taste it, then add more. Spices are a lot stronger than you think.

Also, you can use different types of chocolate for a wider variety.

What's your favorite spice?

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/hot-chocolate-drink-coffee-122740/

Creative Complex: Flowers

Hello, Friends!

This is a guessing game. Which flower goes with which story? (Okay, so sometimes I get bored of just making you do something to do with writing.)

A) Rose
B) Golden Flower
C) Flower

Here are your hints:

• One is from a fairy tale twist. (But does not appear in the original story.)
• One you should know right away.
• Two are from princess stories.
• One has been transformed into a flower.
• The previously mentioned one is found in Grimm's fairy tales.

What's your guess? Post in the comments!

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/red-rose-rose-rose-bloom-blossom-320892/

Dragons: Dragons Through Cultures: Asian

Hello, Friends!

Today, we are continuing our Dragons Through Cultures series. Last month, we talked about European dragons, which were generally seen as evil. They blew fire, had wings, and had a reputation for killing knights.

However, Asian dragons were completely different. Asian dragons are wise, benevolent creatures. They brought rain to water crops and manipulated the seasons, and were a symbol of spring. Asian dragons are also seen as religious figures sometimes, and once upon a time in Japan during droughts, Buddhist monks would practice religious rites to try to convince the dragon to bring rain. Also, the new year in China is celebrated with a festival, in which dragons take part.

Asian dragons can fly, but do not have wings, and look very different than European dragons. Like European dragons, however, they are still being used in literature today.

What do like about Asian dragons? Was there anything you found unexpected? Post in the comments!

Spruce Nogard

Source: http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/mythic-creatures/dragons-creatures-of-power/asian-dragons/

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/dragon-lantern-chinese-decoration-1631064/

Gardening: Cautionary Tales: Soil

Good Day, Gardeners!

Today, we will be talking about soil. Why talk about such a boring topic? First of all, it's not boring. It's interesting. Second of all, because this is useful and important information.

Now, I have four main cautionary points to talk about.

1) Beware! Non-organic Fertilizers
Although you may not know it, a lot of soils actually contain artificial fertilizers, which are not good. I shall have to have a whole post about fertilizer sometime. Anyways, fertilizers often give plants a boost, but using chemicals. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't prefer eating chemicals with my food, especially when studies have shown they have less-than-desired side effects.

2) The Shocking Truth: The Diet of Vegetables
Not all soil is okay for vegetables to grow in, because soil used for flowers sometimes contains chemicals that are even worse for humans to eat. As long as you know the soil in your backyard hasn't been used as a toxic waste dump or anything, you should be fine. This is more for buying bags of soil at the store. Be sure to check the back!

3) Danger Ahead! Direct Contact with Soil
At the store, some bags of soil, although fine to grow vegetables in, have tons of warnings about how to always wear gloves when coming into contact with the soil, and always wash your hands afterwards, and never touch your face. . . If you have pets or children, then you should probably be wary of this type of soil. Also, when you think about it, if a vegetable ends up resting on the dirt, is it okay to eat it, even though you rinsed it? I mean, you were supposed to wash your hands whenever you touched the soil. . . However, I have found bags of soil that are certified and promise they are "clean." This means the organic fertilizers they use are safe to touch, and safe for children and pets to be around. (You can use the less expensive soil, you just have to be careful.)

4) A Word of Warning: The Relationship Between Tomatoes and Manure
In short, tomatoes grow really giant and huge in manure, which is great, until you realize none of your tomatoes are turning red. So, don't grow tomatoes in manure. :)

So, here's our (somewhat devious) gardening post for today!

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/caution-sign-safety-warning-risk-454360/

Creative Complex: Idiomas

Hola, Amigos!

Today, we are going to explore different languages. First, pick a word. I'm going to pick bird.

Then, pick a few languages. They can be real or made up. I'm going to do Spanish, Elvish, Irish Gaelic, Russian, and Romanian.

Next, translate the work into each of the languages.

English: Bird

Spanish: Pareja (pronounced "pah-ray-ha")

Elvish: Aew (sorry, can't find a pronunciation)
Irish Gaelic: éan (pronounced "ain"-rhymes with "rain")

Russian: птица (pronounced "ptitsa")

Romanian: pasăre (pronounced "PAS-ah-ray")

What sounds the most smooth? Rough? Air-y? Flow-y? Why? How is this useful in writing, or even real life?

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/hummingbird-bird-nature-tropical-1823829/

Book Reviews: Woodwalker

Hello, Creatures!

Okay, so today was supposed to be the review of The Last of August, and although the review is written, I have to consult with someone to make sure I'm not being too harsh. I mean, I don't want to make anyone who liked the book feel awful. So, instead, I am reviewing Woodwalker, by Emily B. Martin. By the way, sorry this post is up late.

Woodwalker is about a former Woodwalker, Mae, who has been exiled from her home. In the
Silverwood, Woodwalkers are the highest level of the Wood Guard (or Forest Guard? I can't remember.). When Mae suddenly comes across the monarchs of Lumen Lake, who were deposed when their country was annexed, she is offered wealth for one task: Get the royal siblings through the Silverwood. Risking execution, Mae, filled with longing for her home, accepts.

This book was a four star book. I loved it!

Pros:

I really enjoyed Mae's love of the Silverwood. I loved learning about the different plants and animals. I also loved the whole theme of the Light, and Mae's vigor in protecting it. I appreciated Mona's questioning, which made perfect sense, especially in her circumstances. The world Woodwalker takes place in is a wonderful world, one I wouldn't mind living in, and while each country is uniquely different, they all share the same wonder and base, the Light. I also loved the ending. I wish I could say more about the ending, but I really can't.

Cons:

This book has a slower beginning, and lots of traveling in the woods. I didn't mind this at all, but in a day and age where people are being conditioned more and more to see/read fast-paced movies/books all the time, I thought I'd better warn you. Also, Mae and the royal siblings fight quite a bit throughout the first main chunk, and I finally had to skip to the ending to make sure they got along eventually, because I so wanted them to. :) Then I proceeded to read the rest of the book. :)

I loved this book overall, and I loved the dynamic characters. I liked how they were all different, and all had unique perspectives. I also liked the pearl-diving and forest-protecting. I loved the Wood Guard's job, and I wish we could do the same thing in real life for all wildlife.

Have you read this book? What do you like about it?

Spruce Nogard

Attribution: https://www.amazon.com/Woodwalker-Creatures-Light-Book-1-ebook/dp/B017H7FUJO

Fairy Tales: Tropes

Hello, Magical Beings!

I know we've talked about archetypes before, but today we're going to talk about tropes. I've written a few posts about archetypes:

Mental Library: Archetypal Hero Journey

Mental Library: Critical Lenses: Archetypal Lens

Mental Library: Archetypes

These might help you understand tropes a little better.

Tropes are like archetypes, but smaller. This means they only exist in a certain culture's fairy tales, or they are not common enough to be archetypes.

*Disclaimer: I have not studied these matters thoroughly. This information is based solely on what I have read and observed from reading fairy tales.

Some of these include:  

-The three dresses, each more beautiful than the last

These are sometimes described as one being as beautiful as the moon, another being as beautiful as the sun, and the last being as beautiful as the stars. Anyways, girls keep showing up wearing these three dresses, mostly throughout Grimm's fairy tales. (The dresses would be much more beautiful than this one, and ball gowns, but I was having trouble finding pictures.)

-Witches who live in huts with bird feet

This is mostly Baba Yaga in Russian fairy tales.

 

Now imagine bird feet on the bottom.

-Iron shoes

These have appeared in multiple cultures. The wearer usually has to walk until they've worn out all three pairs before they can find what they are trying to find.

-Disobedient wives who suffer as a result

If you've read the post about "The Robber Bridegroom," "Fitcher's Bird," "Bluebeard," and "Mr. Fox," you know what I'm talking about. These wives appear in multiple collections of fairy tales.

What tropes have you noticed in fairy tales?

Spruce Nogard

Attributions:

https://pixabay.com/en/background-page-template-old-1659622/

https://pixabay.com/en/bower-cottage-witch-s-house-2259199/

https://pixabay.com/en/shoes-metal-modern-iron-wear-1982935/

https://pixabay.com/en/castle-ominous-sky-turret-1246628/

Creative Complex: Parody

Hello, Friends!

Today, I am going to teach you how to write parodies. Even though this might seem slightly useless at first, it really is another creative exercise. A variety of creative exercises helps stretch your brain, even if you don't like music. Plus, it's fun and different. :)

So, yes, parodies are replacing the words of a song with your own words. However, there are a few rules.

Rule #1: Always go line by line. Don't try to do the entire thing all at once.

Rule #2: Keep the number of syllables in each line the same as in the original song. I'm going to use "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" as an example.

First of all, the original song goes:

Row, row, row your boat,--5

Gently down the stream,--5

Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily,--12

Life is but a dream.--5

So for the first line, I have to have five syllables, etc. My first line is:

Love, love, love your kids

Rule #3: Keep the same word scheme. For example, the third line has to have four three-syllable words. It probably makes most sense to have it be the same word each time. I will use the word "tenderly."

Rule #4: Keep the same rhyme scheme. 

Row, row, row your boat, A

Gently down the stream, B

Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, C

Life is but a dream. B

So, the last word of the second line and the last word of the fourth line have to rhyme.

These are the basic rules. Here is my parody:

Love, love, love your kids,

Each and every day,

Tenderly, Tenderly, Tenderly, Tenderly,

Life is naught but play.

What did you come up with?

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/boot-lake-water-rowing-boat-1620452/  

Mental Library: Show and Tell

Hello, Friends!

Today, we are going to play a little game called "Show and Tell." Our game might be a little different than the one you played in elementary school, though.

In order to play this game, we need to know what showing and telling are.

Telling: Explaining what happened.

• Example: Andre was cold.

Showing: Demonstrating what happened.

• Example: Shivering, Andre wrapped his coat tighter around him.

This is a vital concept in any creative writing. If all your story read: Andre was tired. He had been swimming for hours, and it was nice to finally be in his room. . . ., you would have a very boring story. Your story might be okay, and have lots of good qualities, but the actual writing would not be good.

If, though, your story read: Andre's brain was already asleep as he stretched his sore muscles. The comforting mess of his room somehow penetrated his drowsiness, and made him sigh. He grabbed his pajamas, shaking the last water drops off his hair. He couldn't shake the scent of the chlorine off, though. Nowadays, he always smelled like it. . . ., that not only gets your point across, but is better, more wholesome, and more realistic writing.

Okay, now I have a few exercises for you to try:

Exercise 1: Determine which statements are showing and which are telling. S for show, T for tell.

1. Andre hated running.
2. Andre glared at his coach. Why did they have to run?
3. (Those were easy. Now, here are some harder ones.)
4. Andre loved being in the water. He loved feeling weightless, being surrounded by water, moving through the water like a fish. He loved his breath pattern in the water, so natural he felt like he was breathing underwater.
5. Andre's body was too tense. He took a few deep breaths, ignoring his rioting stomach. The whistle startled Andre, and he jerkily stepped up. 
6. The horn beeped, and Andre dove.
7. After the race, Andre's mom congratulated him on placing sixth.
8. Andre's parents were the best. It was so nice they took him out for pie whenever he improved his time.
9. When the server came, Andre didn't even have to look at his menu. The combination of chocolate and cream was paralleled by none in the world.

All right, next exercise. (The answers for this one are at the end.)

Exercise 2: Switch the statement. If the statement is telling, switch it to showing, and vice versa.

1. Andre's next doodle depicted a man with a lightning bolt chasing a swimmer. Of all days, why did he have to work with Eric today? It's as if someone wants to ruin my day, he thought.
2. Andre's favorite stroke was freestyle. (Front crawl.)
3. (Okay, here are harder ones.)
4. Eric was a bully. To make it worse, he was also on the swim team, and faster than Andre, and he never passed up a chance to bully anyone slower than him.
5. Andre made clear sections for each point of the project, and when his teacher came by, she smiled. "I didn't even think of adding statistics, or visuals, or, well, everything not on the rubric. Good job."
6. Andre grinned. Even though he had to work on research with Eric, he forgave his teacher. She always appreciated his hard work, and was always thinking of fun projects for his class to do. Andre hoped he had her again next year.

Of course, some telling is good in stories, but all telling is bad. We tend to do more telling than showing, so hopefully these exercises help you.

Have fun!

By the way, here are the answers.

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/swimming-competition-swimmers-pool-659903/

Topic of the Month: Mythical Creatures

Hello, Friends!

This month, look for mythical creatures in the book you're reading. How does the author use mythical creatures? Are they made up, or already established?

What I mean is, in DragonSpell, by Donita K. Paul, Paul creates her own races: Doneels, Emerlindians, Kimens, Mariones, O'rants, Tumanhofers, and Urohms.

Tolkien, on the other hand, created some of his races, but used already established ones as well. Although he created hobbits, he used elves, but still changed the common perception of elves just enough to make them his own.

How do authors you're reading use mythical creatures? Post in the comments!

Spruce Nogard

Source: http://dragonkeeperchronicles.wikia.com/wiki/High_Races

Attributions: https://www.amazon.co.uk/DRAGONSPELL-Donita-Author-Paperback-Published/dp/B005IDRW46/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1498556579&sr=8-2&keywords=dragonspell+donita+k+paul

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Hobbit-There-Back-Again/0261102001/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1498556755&sr=1-13&keywords=the+hobbit