Creative Complex: Fire

Hello, Friends.

Today, we have a story starter. Enjoy!

The fire is dancing, turning, writhing. It has a strange lure, almost like the push and pull of the Sea. It has a strange energy, almost like the wrath of the North Wind. It has a power, almost like the might of Time.

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/fire-flames-bonfire-sweden-night-123784/

Creative Complex: One

Hello, Friends!

Today, I have given you a writing prompt. Go do what you want with it. :)

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/09/18/15/38/moon-2762111_960_720.jpg

Creative Complex: The Forest Comes Alive

Hello, Dryads.

Today, the forest comes alive. What does this mean? What happens next?

Spruce Nogard

Attributions:

https://pixabay.com/en/trees-fir-forest-nature-conifers-3410830/

Creative Complex: Five Senses

Hello, Friends!

Today, remember to use all five senses in your writing.

1) Sight

It's easiest to describe things using sight. Here's an example: The blue sweatshirt brushed against the girl's brown hair.

2) Smell

Example: The smell of freshly baked cookies wafted into the room.

3) Hearing

Example: The sound of rustling filled the air as the bats flurried into flight.

4) Taste

Example: The cake tasted too sweet, like over-ripened berries.

5) Touch

Example: The kitten curled up on his chest, its purr sending warm vibrations through his body.

The more aspects of touch you use, the better. Pressure, pain, movement, and aching are some of them.

Now, write a description of something, a person or a setting, and use all five senses. Good luck!

Spruce Nogard

Attributions:

https://pixabay.com/en/cat-animal-cat-s-eyes-eyes-pet-1285634/

https://pixabay.com/en/cow-nose-mammal-nature-portrait-3350522/

https://pixabay.com/en/fuchs-puppy-young-curious-ears-3430373/ 

https://pixabay.com/en/labradoodle-schnauzer-labrador-3397769/

https://pixabay.com/en/baby-handle-tiny-father-family-428395/

Creative Complex: Daring Escape

Good Day, Criminals!

You have just heard of a secret plan circulating through your prison block, and you are desperate to leave this horrid place behind. A guard shakes the bars of your cell. . .

Finish the story.

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/human-rights-prison-jail-imprisoned-3251000/

Mental Library: Poetry: Rhyming Patterns

Hello, Friends!

Okay, so I haven't done much with this blog for, well, the whole school year. Sorry about that! I got really busy. I'm hopefully going to keep it up this summer, and I'll see about next year. I need to figure out what my school schedule looks like, and then I can figure out this blog. Sorry, everyone! Also, Happy Summer!

In any case, I'm going to continue a series I had just started before, well, not posting for a while. If you want to read the Intro to Poetry post, click here.

So, today, we're going to talk about rhyme schemes.

Rhyme schemes are basically the ways of identifying rhyming patterns throughout a poem. They are often labeled with letters. Let's look at a few examples:

“When the Dark Comes Rising” from The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper:

When the Dark comes rising six shall turn it back;-A
Three from the circle, three from the track;-A
Wood, bronze, iron; Water, fire, stone;-B
Five will return and one go alone.-B

Most of you probably learned this at some point in elementary school. However, rhyme schemes are nice to be able to recognise, and they can get quite complicated.

Here's another example: “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” by Robert Browning. (I've used this poem to analyze stressed and unstressed syllables in a previous post, so that's why it might sound familiar. :) )

Hamelin town's in Brunswick,
By famous Hanover city; -A
The River Weser, deep and wide,-B
Washes its wall on the southern side;-B
A pleasanter spot you never spied;-B
But, when begins my ditty,-A
Almost five hundred years ago,-C
To see townsfolk suffer so-C
From vermin, was a pity.-A

So, the rhyme scheme for “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” is a little more complicated, but a little less predictable. Rhyme schemes don't have to follow a pattern, although they often do. Browning's rhyme scheme for “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” used a little bit of a looser structure.

Rhyme schemes get even more complex, however, and actually, rap music is brilliant at rhymes. However, most rap music contains content I do not agree with. As a result, here is part of “Alexander Hamilton” from the musical Hamilton.

Moved in with a cousin, the cousin committed suicide

Left him with nothin' but ruined pride, something new inside

First of all, there are tons of really cool literary devises in this, not just the rhyming, but I'm not going to talk about those today. :) In any case, the lavender words all rhyme. At least, they sound very close to rhyming. The cool thing about this is phrases that are more than one word rhyme. This is harder to do, but also sounds amazing. Also, the rhymes are not always in the same place! I think this is fun. :) Rhymes in rap music can get much more complicated and brilliant than this, but if you want to find out more, you'll have to look it up. As I said, rap music often has material I do not agree with in it, so I did not add links to videos or anything.

What are your favorite poems? Why? Post in the comments!

Spruce Nogard

Sources:

https://genius.com/Lin-manuel-miranda-alexander-hamilton-lyrics 

http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/hameln.html#browning 

http://darkisrising.wikia.com/wiki/Circle_of_Signs 

Attributions:

https://pixabay.com/en/hamelin-the-pied-piper-of-hamelin-221448/  

https://pixabay.com/en/happy-fun-spring-spring-background-2220481/

Creative Complex: Mr. Snuffleupagus

Hello, Friends!

Today, we are talking about people/animals that do not exist. Technically. However, if you've ever seen some of the older Sesame Street shows, you know that Big Bird had an imaginary friend, Mr. Snuffleupagus. Until one Mr. Snuffleupagus turned into a real character. What are some characters you wish would turn into real people?

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/narrative-history-dream-tell-794978/

Extra Week Post: Character Complications*

Hello Friends!

I started school recently, so I haven't been as on top of this blog as I usually am. Sorry about that!

Today, we are talking about character complications. I know we've talked about character habits, but this is a little different. Character Complications are things that cause issues for your character. These could be physical, mental, or spiritual.

Physical Examples:

• Allergies
• It's always fun to think outside the box, so what are some really weird allergies you've heard of? Does your character have an allergy to the sun? (I discovered, unfortunately, that there is a possibility I am allergic to sunlight. I mean, honestly?)
• Paralysis--partial or full
• Limitation of senses
• I mean, things that are wrong with your senses. For example, deafness, blindness, not being able to feel your fingers or toes, etc.

Mental Examples:

• Learning disability
• Medical conditions

Spiritual Examples:

• Struggles with faith, belief, etc.

 Now, why? Why might character complications be useful?

• To give your character depth as a person/etc.
• To make your story more interesting
• To question things in the real world

 Spruce Nogard

Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/question-mark-why-problem-solution-2123967/

*Post actually written September 5th. See here for details. 

Creative Complex: Character Constructing: Habits

Hello, Friends!

Today, we are going to be talking about habits. Everyone has habits, bad habits, good habits, random habits. . . etc. Today, we are going to explore some types of habits that will help your character seem more realistic.

Bad Habits:
-Cracking knuckles
-Chewing nails/lips
-Glaring
-Pulling out hair
-Repeating oneself
-Any others you can think of

By adding maybe a bad habit or two to your character, you make them more realistic. You show how they respond to certain situations or emotions, like stress.

Good Habits:
-Saying please and thank you
-Smiling automatically
-Making lists (as long as you don't overdo it)
-Thinking of one thing you're thankful for every day
-Anything else

Good habits make your character more well-rounded.

Word Habits:
These are words you say all the time. In our culture, most people say "like" a lot. I say "in any case" and "wonderful" a lot.

Most people use a few phrases excessively, so, like I said before, adding word habits to your characters make your characters more realistic and more well-rounded.

What habits do you have?

Spruce Nogard

Attributions: https://pixabay.com/en/keywords-letters-scrabble-word-2041816/

Creative Complex: Normality

Today, continue the story.

I was a normal child. Until the day my bed swallowed me whole.

Spruce Nogard

Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/bed-pillow-zudeck-wooden-bed-rest-1545991/

Creative Complex: [No Title]

Warning: If you do not like scary things, do not read this post. This was the only way I would let Dragomir write such a creepy post. When he first sent this post to me to be published, I told him I wouldn't publish it. But he finally convinced me to post it because he explained people, especially writers, need to be familiar with a variety of scenarios, even Gothic ones. He said they might help stretch your brains. (I think he just really wanted to write a Gothic Creative Complex and that was his excuse.)

The dread of what you have done fills you. It consumes every inch of your writhing body. The sole thought of your mind is unending, twisted anguish, leaving no room for the slightest glimpse of hope. This dread has taken all desire from you, never to return. Not even the humblest of acts can undo this wretched thing you have done. There is only one thing left to do, horrendous though it is.

Dear Readers, I have not included a title because no title can convey the story's emotional impact in the way it is meant to. If you have not come to the logical conclusion that, this being what Spruce entitles a "Creative Complex," and this post being a section of a story, the object is to continue and embellish upon the story provided, I will tell you this is what you are meant to do.

Dragomir Volkov

Spruce Nogard

Creative Complex: Dress

The most beautiful dress you could ever imagine arrives in a package on your doorstep. What happens next?

Spruce Nogard

Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/girl-dress-castle-model-rent-2417575/

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/

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/

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/

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/

Creative Complex: Character Construcing: Missing

Hello, Detectives.

You wake up to find your aunt has gone missing. How do you describe her?

Her appearance?

Her attitude?

What do you think happened?

 Spruce Nogard

Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/question-problem-think-thinking-622164/

Creative Complex: The Best Way to ______*

Hello, Friends!

What is the best way to _______?

What is the best way to fly? By airplane? Wings? Magic? Hot air balloon?

What is the best way to travel? Covered wagon? Car? Dragon? Foot?

What is the best way to get over a giant wall? Go under? Go over? Go through? Go around?

Why? What would each of these different ways contribute to a story? Who would use the different ways? Why?

Spruce Nogard

**Post actually written on June 25th. See here for details.

Attributions: 

https://pixabay.com/en/castle-walls-talinn-clear-clouds-784528/ 

https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2014/09/08/17/08/hot-air-balloons-439331_960_720.jpg 

https://pixabay.com/en/covered-wagon-wooden-cart-wagon-1675111/ 

Extra Week Post: A Writing Exercise Designed to Assist Your Brain in the Creation of a Story, as well as Create an Accessible Collection of Writing Tools*

Good Day, most honorable Readers.

It is, indeed, a pleasure to be invited to write upon Spruce's blog again. On this fine day, I shall detail a process of story-creating, and allow you access to some few tools of a writer.

I do think you're great, Dragomir, but I feel like half the people will skip this post just because they don't know what the title says. As you can see, Friends, Dragomir is again writing a guest post! If you've no idea what the title says, here's a simpler version: Writing Exercises to Help Your Brain, and Some Handy Writing Tools. Also, this post kind of ties in with the the Creative Complex: Uniquity from a few weeks ago.

As I was describing, I have one principle I would prefer to expound upon, which, as goes the saying "kill two birds with one stone," will cover both aspects of the title. It is worthy to mention this exercise was first introduced to me by a teacher of mine.

As in Spruce's post "Creative Complex: Uniquity," we shall first prepare a variety of settings. In this instance, though, they will be more specified. Therefore, select a manner of tales. Because I prefer Gothic tales, I shall choose the Gothic manner of narrative.

He means choose a type of story, such as dystopian, fantasy, sci-fi, realistic fiction, historical fiction, etc.

After this, procure a piece of paper to catalog your ideas upon. Next, we shall break down the tale into its components. The way I break down Gothic stories and the examples I utilize I used for a piece of Gothic literature I wrote some while ago.

1) Setting

Select multiple settings in the particular genre you have chosen. I have selected four: 

2) Details of That Setting

For this component, place the name of each setting at the head of a piece of paper. Thereupon, allocate a portion of the paper for each of the five senses: sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste. Subsequently, record sights, smells, tastes, sounds and objects one might come in contact with in that setting.

I shall model this for you:

Forest:

Sights:

• Trees
• Mist/Fog
• Stars
• Clouds
• Bats
• Apparitions
• Spiders
• Moss
• Vines

Smells:

• Decaying wood
• Rot
• Dirt
• Fog

 Sounds:

• Owls
• Bats
  
• Wolves
• Wind in trees
• Whispering

 Tastes:

• Fog
• Dirt

 Touch:

• Tree roots
• Bark
• Dirt
• Spider webs
• Fog

 Thereafter, compile a list of literary devices with which to enhance your writing. With all this knowledge, compose a story.

As always, it is a pleasure to share my experiences in the process of writing with you, Readers.

Dragomir

Spruce

*Post actually written on June 9th. See here for details.

Attributions:

https://pixabay.com/en/tunnel-bunker-cave-catacombs-2203491/ 

https://pixabay.com/en/cemetery-spooky-graveyard-symbol-559246/ 

https://pixabay.com/en/nidaros-cathedral-trondheim-norway-2068804/

https://pixabay.com/en/dark-moody-scary-spooky-natural-1936954/ 
https://pixabay.com/en/fog-outlines-pine-trees-mysterious-571786/ 
https://pixabay.com/en/forest-the-roots-of-trees-tree-pine-2248606/