Tag: writing

Who’s a Gorganizer?

Wiwohka3 Comments
Daily writing prompt
How do you use social media?
View all responses

Ok, so I was bored this morning. If I’m to be honest with you, there was nothing in my think box that would be fitting for our normal literary investigations. It just wasn’t happening.

Out of desperation for a topic, I reached out to good ole Mr. McGoogle, in the hopes that I might find something useful to discuss.

But, what to ask? How does one come to find a useful topic, without the right query to pose, right?! That was an Interrobang, by the way. You’ll never guess how I know that?

I went out on the web and typed,

Words not often used in the English language

This was my result,

AI Overview

Rare and underused words in the English language often serve to describe specific feelings, sounds, or actions with intense precision. Many are antiquated, regional, or highly niche in their application, leading them to be replaced by simpler, more general terms in modern conversation.

Forgotten and Archaic Words

  • Twirlblast (n.): A 1700s term for a tornado.
  • Groaning-cheese (n.): A medieval term for a celebratory cheese marking the birth of a child.
  • Pilgarlik (n.): Someone who is bald, once thought to resemble peeled garlic.
  • Snowbrowth (n.): Freshly melted snow, a term from the 1590s.
  • Sooterkin (n.): Originally a deformed fetus, later used as a term of endearment.
  • Overmorrow (n.): The day after tomorrow.
  • Agelast (n.): A person who never laughs. 

Highly Specific Descriptive Words

  • Crapulence (n.): Sickness caused by excessive eating or drinking; a hangover.
  • Callipygian (adj.): Having well-shaped or beautiful buttocks.
  • Swullocking (adj.): Humid, hot weather.
  • Chasmophile (n.): A person who loves nooks and crannies.
  • Scurryfunge (n.): The act of hastily cleaning before a guest arrives.
  • Groak (v.): To watch someone silently while they eat, hoping they will invite you to join.
  • Elflock (n.): Tangled, knotted hair.
  • Acnestis (n.): The part of the back that cannot be reached to be scratched.
  • Gorgonize (v.): To have a paralyzing or mesmerizing effect on someone. 

Words That Deserve Wider Use

  • Ultracrepidarian (n.): Someone who gives opinions on subjects they know nothing about.
  • Snollygoster (n.): An unprincipled but shrewd politician.
  • Nibling (n.): A non-gender specific term for a niece or nephew.
  • Apricity (n.): The warmth of the sun in winter.
  • Petrichor (n.): The pleasant, earthy smell that accompanies the first rain after a long dry spell.
  • Anemoia (n.): Nostalgia for a time or place one has never known.
  • Anecdoche (n.): A conversation in which everyone is talking, but no one is listening. 

Obscure Adjectives

  • Catawampus (adj.): Askew, awry, or diagonally positioned.
  • Jentacular (adj.): Pertaining to breakfast.
  • Crapulous (adj.): Ill from excessive indulgence in food or drink.
  • Sybaritic (adj.): Accustomed to great luxury and pleasure-seeking.
  • Agathokakological (adj.): Composed of both good and evil. 

Whimsical and Odd Words

  • Interrobang (n.): A punctuation mark that combines a question mark and exclamation point (‽).
  • Bumbershoot (n.): An umbrella.
  • Flibbertigibbet (n.): A flighty, excessively talkative person.
  • Taradiddle (n.): Pretentious nonsense or a petty lie.
  • Skedaddle (v.): To run away quickly. 

Words for Specific Situations

  • Lypophrenia (n.): A vague sadness without a known cause.
  • Limerence (n.): An intense, almost obsessive romantic infatuation.
  • Treppenwitz (n.): The perfect witty comeback that occurs to you too late (literally: “staircase wit”).
  • Zugzwang (n.): A situation where a person is forced to make a move, but every option is bad (often used in chess).
  • Resistentialism (n.): The belief that inanimate objects display spiteful behavior.
  • Librocubicularist (n.): A person who reads in bed.

If nothing else, this was an incredibly entertaining bit of research. I had no idea that I was a Librocubicularist. I think my autocorrect just had a seizure!

Which one is your favorite? I’m torn between Skurryfunge and Treppenwitz, probably because I’ve found myself doing both, often enough.

If society readily continued with the use of most of these, I think it would really spice up many of our conversations, don’t you?! See how easy it is to do. You too can become a successful Interrobanger!

Am I really Sunshiny material?

Wiwohka3 Comments

Thank you so much for the nomination, Ian M Dudley (please don’t judge me, as I can’t get the link to work for your site). Will this nullify me being picked? It’s completely understandable, as there are so many chain letter rules to abide by.

Setting aside Ian’s response to the nomination, which by the way was hilarious, I don’t wish to be flippant nor disrespectful for the vote in my favor. By the way, Ian, how ever did you come up with all your questions for us nominees to answer?

The questions are extensive, so I set aside my normal Live Novel Friday episode, just so that I might make an honest effort at some good ole answers. Plus, I still have to make some nominations of my own, as well as, creating my own set of questions for my victims… I mean, nominees. While I hold no aspirations of becoming the next ACTUAL Sunshine Blogger, I will make the effort to display my sense of honor and appreciation for such a sweet award. Again, thank you Ian.

My Nomination Questionnaire…

  1. If you had to convince me to save your life over the life of a member of my family, what would you say? I make better cookies?
  2. What is your fondest childhood memory? Eating watermelon in the rain, while watching the firefighters practice routines on the old water tower beside our apartments.
  3. Of all your innumerable childhood traumas, which haunts you the most? Spending nights wandering on the streets alone, or having to sleep in cold alleyways.
  4. Is there a specific sight or smell that brings you an immediate sense of calm? Cotton Candy.
  5. If I had to fight you, what weakness could I best exploit with the least amount of effort? Ask me a why question, and then just sit back and watch me commandeer the whole conversation. I can forget anyone else is even in the room when I get on a chatty bender. You could then easily defeat me.
  6. What person or event has had the most impact on who you are today? The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
  7. Have you seen the movie Marathon Man? How many teeth do you think you could have drilled before you cracked? Sorry, I haven’t seen that movie. However, I am squeamish when it comes to teeth and pain, so I would have been defeated before even beginning the drilling process.
  8. Is there one moment in your life where you failed to do the right thing and as a result, it changed you so you would never fail like that again? Yes. My first marriage failed, and I caused irrevocable damage to my children. It fully altered the entirety of my journey, thus far. Many scars, broken bridges being mended over a great span of years, and the dance of forgiveness that followed.
  9. How often do you find yourself rooting for the antagonist in a book or movie? Not the anti-hero, but the straight-up bad guy. And remember, this is for posterity, so be honest. I think the only bad guy I ever rooted for was Gary Oldman in Bram Stokes Dracula
  10. If you could only be remembered for one thing in this world, what would you want it to be? Why? The love of Jesus should be all that I leave behind.
  11. Do you really want an eleventh question? And remember, this is also for posterity so be honest. Unless you think it will hurt my feelings. No more questions please. I still have to come up with my own and you might steal one of them.

BONUS QUESTION: What exactly is the prize if I win this Sunshine Blogger award? Is there a cash equivalent I can claim instead if it turns out to be really lame?

For as hard as you’ve worked on all these questions, Ian, you definitely should receive some form of monetary compensation, I’m certain of it!

Ok, now for my own nominee selection, who do I wish to give a two hour assignment? Will they egg my virtual book store, here on WordPress Street? What if I promise to make the questions very brief, and then offer a treat at the end? Well, if I’m not to be shunned from all the important literary events in the future, I must make all efforts in fulfilling my nominee obligations. Hey, I’m an overthinking overachiever, though not quite as exuberant as Ian’s been. Here on WordPress Street, one must give a little to get a little, you know?!

Ah Hemmm… my nominees are as follows,

  • CreativeWays
  • BustingMyAsphalt
  • Lou Carreras
  • Rebuilding Rob
  • Writing From the Heart with Brian
  • M.A.D. Works
  • hMiller2014
  • Tamara Miller
  • MemoirsofMadness
  • Middle-aged Maverick

The following questions are more like yes/no than full answers, unless you find yourself desiring to fully explain…

Dear Nominees,

Do you like me… yes or no
Will you be a forever friend… yes or no
Do you desire being seen and heard… yes or no
Do you like cookies (this one’s very important) … yes or no
Do you pray… yes or no
Can you carry the world on your shoulders alone… yes or no
Is there a difference between being alone and being lonely… yes or no
Is it hard to admit when you’re wrong… yes or no
If love is a priceless gift, is it worth giving it away… yes or no
If there was such a thing as WordPress Street, would you move there… yes or no

May these treats sufficiently cover all the efforts made here today…

Gifts for the soul…

Wiwohka3 Comments
Two hands exchanging a small daisy flower outdoors
Daily writing prompt
Describe a positive thing a family member has done for you.
View all responses

There is positivity floating all around, if one takes the time to look for it!

While I may not have a large and/or extended family, when it comes to genetics, I’ve actually a huge family tree.

You see, I was adopted into an enormous family. Not only do I have my own husband and children, but I am also one of many sisters and brothers. Fortunately, I am a part of the family of God, so at any given moment, I’m being prayed for and/or being gifted something directly from my heavenly Father.

Sometimes God works through my husband, while at other times He may choose to act through one of my children, or a brother or sister in Christ. Still yet, there are those times when God chooses to act through a complete stranger; someone completely unaware that they are being used to complete a task for God.

At times, the positive things done by a family member may seem rather small and insignificant. Take for example, my husband will often surprise me by picking up a special food item that’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and safe. It may not seem like a big deal, til you factor in how I don’t like to leave the apartment until needs force me to venture out. My husband often does things to make my life easier.

Now, there are things that are much bigger positive’s than others. Like when my daughter makes it a point to face-time me each week, so that I can have special MeeMaw chat’s with my grandbaby. These video chats are the highlight of my week.

there’s a positive thing that I get from you, each and every day, when we interact with one another. We read others writings, share some of our own, and leave comments back and forth together. For me, that is considered positive family connection… as I consider everyone here on WordPress to be my family, in a manner of speaking.

Let’s consider these cookies as my positive offering …

Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV on Pexels.com

Tuesday Tinkering…

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Sometimes, trying to create an idea or image that fits with a story can be tricky. You can have all the right tools, resources, and materials, but still feel clueless. At times, I find myself feeling sort of like the little girl in the above image. She has everything needed for that letter, except the pen to write it!

Now that I’m preparing to work on Volume II of my book series, it’s important that I have a good working image or two, of the main characters within the story. It was rather easy to create our dragon, as I’ve always had a clear picture in my head of what he should look like. Maybe it’s because he was a baby when all this began. Who knows.

All I know is that it’s not been that easy to come up with visuals for our heroin, as I’m always focusing on the dragon in the story. Now that we’re entering the second leg of our characters’ journey, the heroin needs to find herself, in a manner of speaking. For this, I’ll need an image in my head that captures exactly who she is.

First, I set about asking Norbert, my ai assistant, for some images of a cloaked woman with a satchel over her shoulder, walking along a path…

While I like her face, I don’t like the suitcase. Not only is it the wrong style, but it’s also a completely inaccurate depiction of what I consider a satchel. It’s far too modern. Not only was the bag wrong, but since she’s walking in the wrong direction, I can’t really get a working image for creating the avatar.

I corrected the wordage on my prompt to reflect a frontal image, as well as, changing the style and positioning of her satchel…

Much better, but a bit too sultry. We aren’t doing a Victoria Secret photo shoot, here. Plus, she needs to have more of a hooded cloak to reflect a mysterious traveler. I don’t want that image of her face, but I will be able to use it for a pose image when I make the actual character.

I changed a few key words in the prompt, and asked again…

Much better, I thought. Her face is softer, and a bit more moody.

I took this image, along with three others that offered differing angles of our subject, and plugged them into the Character Creation machine…

I like her, though the clothing will need to be altered to fit the story. I was able to add another character to her image, which was helpful. There are two main characters in the story, so I needed some images of them together…

Now that we’ve a real heroin to work with, I just need to get this handsome fellow into his own avatar. But that’s for another day. For now, I will be satisfied with our somewhat successful creation of our first main character. She may change a bit, as time goes on, but I am connecting with both of these two adventurers… hopefully, you are, as well.

Is its or isn’t it’s…

Wiwohka3 Comments

So what gives with these s’s?

How is one to know the proper time to put the ‘ in the word? It’s very confusing to young readers like myself.

While I understand the logic of possession, where you use the ‘ to reflect that whatever it is, the item belongs to it. But then they go and throw in the side rule that says it’s also happens to be a shortened version of it is.

They have a whole list of words for this adorable little side rule, such as, you are = you’re, they are= they’re, and we are = we’re. These are just for starters. There’s a whole list of them, like the one I just used. It goes on and on.

The more I tried to understand the use of ‘ , the more confused I became. I guess it’s time t0 ask Mr. McGoogle why we’ve added all the extra ‘s’s to our vocabularies…

AI Overview

It’s is a contraction for “it is” or “it has” (e.g., “It’s raining”). Its (no apostrophe) is the possessive form, meaning “belonging to it” (e.g., “The dog wagged its tail”). A quick tip: If you can replace the word with “it is,” use it’s; otherwise, use its.

Detailed Breakdown

  • It’s (with apostrophe) = Contraction
    • Use this when you mean it is or it has.
    • Examples: It’s cold outside. It’s been a long day.
  • Its (no apostrophe) = Possessive
    • Use this to show ownership or belonging, similar to his, her, or their.
    • Examples: The company updated its logo. The tree lost its leaves.

Why this answer doesn’t really help us, at all!

I already understand how to decide if I want to say it is, or it’s… but, what about all that possession stuff? All the ai wants to say is that little tiny bit about a tree?

Come on! It’s time to scroll a bit further…

According to Grammarly,

“The difference between its and it’s comes down to function: its shows possession, while it’s is a contraction of it is or it has. Its is the possessive form of it, used to show that something belongs to or is associated with something else. It’s is a contraction that combines it is or it has, with the apostrophe replacing the missing letters. To choose the right word, use the substitution trick—if you can replace it with it is or it has, use it’s; if not, use its. Avoid common mistakes, like using it’s to show possession or adding an apostrophe to its just because it “looks right.”

I guess if this is the rule we must abide by, then I shall not pursue the argument. As I am but a young, and newly educated ant, I shall follow the masses with this one. It’s just not worth arguing about, and I already seem to be doing it out of habit.

It is what it is, and it isn’t what I thought it’d be, with its rules about itself and all it’s exceptions, too. I guess it’s more about its uses in it’s daily life that makes it more about itself than about its use in our sentences, regarding it’s proper usage.

I thought I’d leave you with a tongue twister, but I’m sure there are mistakes in there, somewhere…

it’s alright.

Live Novel Friday…

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The Wharf

Episode III

Maiyah woke with a start! She’d been awakened by the sound of a very grumpy Ogre, angrily cursing at one of the kitchen staff. There would be trouble if she wasn’t where she should be, so late in the morning.

She’d overslept!

Oh well, she’d heard Ollie yelling at the staff nearly every morning. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. The grumpy Ogre often yelled at everyone, as that’s usually what he did when he wasn’t eating, drinking, and/or carousing with the pirates that visited the tavern. Mornings were the worst, so Maiyah hurried to get to her assigned tasks before her tardiness was noticed. It never made for a pleasant day if the boss was cross with you… and the young barmaid made it a point to avoid trouble, at all costs.

Hurriedly, she set about finishing all of her morning duty’s about the tavern. As she worked, Maiyah couldn’t help but wonder if her gifts had been accepted by whatever had installed itself behind the fish barrels. She’d tried desperately to stay awake long enough to see it emerge the night before, but fell asleep soon after sitting down beside the bedside window. One was rarely afforded a short work day, nor an early night to bed around the wharf.

One of Maiyah’s morning duties was to bring in the day’s first catch. Ollie prided himself on the fish he offered his guests. Many of the taverns morning customers were the owners of the other businesses along the Wharf, as well as travelers passing through. The drinkers were all still passed out in any one of the many alleyways along the wharf.

This particular morning, she hurriedly finished collecting the fish from the dock, and made her way back along the wharf. She knew that she shouldn’t, but she made a point to pass beside the fish shed. Maiyah’s curiosity was driving her to go against every rule she’d written for her own preservation.

Some part of her was calling out to offer aid to whatever might be hiding behind the fish shed. Maybe she felt compassion, or perhaps it was pity. Perhaps it was the memory of her own lonely beginnings, driving the young barmaid to break one of her own life preserving rules. Most probably, she was simply curious.

You know, many a brave sailor had fallen into Piracy, or worse, out of simple innocent curiosity. The barmaid had learned this while sailing with many of them.

But those days were long behind her, thanks to Ollie. The grumpy old ogre had purchased her from a band of pirates, for only two barrels of ale. Maiyah made every effort not to give the ogre any reason to regret his decision.

This morning was no exception. Carefully emptying part of the fish basket on the kitchen counter, she turned to leave. Without drawing attention to her actions, Maiyah casually slipped a few food items into the pocket of her apron. She then returned to the fish basket on the counter, carrying the rest of the unused fish out the doorway, and toward the fish shed.

Looking one way, and then another, Maiyah quietly slipped behind the fish shed. Kneeling down between several barrels, she placed the food gifts she’d pilfered from the kitchen. Sitting back on her heels, she wrapped her arms around her knees, resting her chin on her arms. And then she waited…

After several long moments, there came a soft shuffling sound from behind one of the barrels. Slowly, and timidly, a small head emerged from hiding.

Maiyah sat quietly watching, as the tiniest of tiny little creatures peeked out from behind the fish barrel. Why, it was a baby orc! But, how on earth did it get behind the shed?

Softly, Maiyah whispered, “Hello there, little one. What on earth are you doing back here?”

The small creature said not a thing, but slowly reached out and picked up a piece of the bread, nibbling at it’s corners, nervously. Tucked into the folds of it’s tiny coat was what looked like a scroll of paper. Reaching forward slowly, Maiyah retrieved the scroll while the little orc was preoccupied with eating the fish.

She didn’t want to linger behind the fish shed, as it would begin to look rather suspicious why she was climbing around back there on her hands and knees. Somehow she must hide this little one, but the only safe place was her own room. She wasn’t even sure the little thing would come with her, let alone allow her to stuff him inside the fish basket she carried…

What was in the note?

Where did the baby come from?

How will Maiyah get the orc into her room without being seen?

Be sure to leave your answers in the comments.

See you next Friday…

Hugs

Live Novel Friday…

Wiwohka2 Comments

The Wharf…

Episode II

**As per our conversation last week, I’ve settled on Ollie for our portly Ogre innkeeper. He has a rough and intimidating presence, but for those who know him, there is also a kind heart hidden beneath all that muscle and aggressive demeanor. Our young barmaid has learned to avoid Ollie’s grumpier side, using her quiet and unassuming nature to sooth his rough mannerisms. Though his frightening appearance and frequent angry outbursts keep the customers in line, our young lass has grown to love the grumpy old innkeeper. We’ll call the tavern The Ogre’s Rest, and I think that Maiyah is a fitting name for our young barmaid. Be sure and answer the questions at the end of each episode, so I’ve a story to work up. Enjoy Episode II…

This night, like any other night here on the wharf, Maiyah has been busily serving customers and helping in and around the kitchen. The cook asked that she bring in another fish from the barrel out on the dock in front of the tavern, so she retrieves a container and heads outside for the barrel.

As the young barmaid is pulling a sizeable fish out of the barrel, she spies movement from behind the container. Briefly glancing down, toward the disturbance, she spies what looks like a tiny shoe sticking out from behind the barrel. Rule number three kicks in, warning her not to bring attention to herself, so she continues on about her business, carrying the fish inside to the cook.

As she cleans and serves food to the customers, several pieces of dried meat and fruit cake left on guests’ plates, happens to fall into her apron pocket.

Her sleight of hand skills rewarded her a small water flask, from the pocket of an old tinker, snoring blissfully in the corner.

Since her shift is coming to an end, Maiyah carries her cleaning supplies out to the shed, next to the barrel on the dock. Inside the shed she takes a strip of cloth hanging on the wall, folds the food and water inside, and casually walks back toward the tavern, discreetly dropping the small package behind the barrel as she walks past.

Once inside The Ogres Rest, Maiyah retreats to her room above the bar. Her room is small, but offers a window that looks out over the wharf, to the sea beyond. From here, she can see directly down upon the front of the tavern, where the shed and barrel both sit beside the water’s edge. She dresses in her nightgown and settles in at the window ledge to watch…

There is just enough light cast, from the tavern’s doorway lantern, for the young barmaid to have a clear view of the barrel. She spies movement from behind the container, but only enough to confirm that there is indeed someone there, but whomever it is, hides themselves very well. She falls asleep with her head resting upon the window sill of her tiny room above the bar.

Who or what do you think might be hiding behind the barrel?

With the clues given and remembering the three survival rules, what do you think Maiyah will do?

Be sure to leave your answers in the comments…

Hugs

Monday Messages…

Wiwohka3 Comments

Shhhhhhh… we’re about to enter the silent letter section of the library. There’s a number of hidden letters out there, just hoping to be found. I know this because I’ve been searching them out.

Why would be the first operative question!

When it comes to sneaky letters hiding in plain sight, I’ve been wracking my brain trying to understand the reasoning for this odd addition to the English language. If you wanted to be hidden, fine, but then why keep peeking out of words that didn’t need you there, in the first place?

Here we come Mr. McGoogle, so make us proud…

Silent letters are letters in English words that are written but not pronounced, appearing in roughly 60% of English words. They exist due to historical pronunciation changes, etymology, or to differentiate homophones. Common silent letters include b (climb), k (knee), w (write), h (hour), and t (listen), occurring at the beginning, middle, or end of words.

Wow!

Ok Mr. McGoogle, you didn’t have to do us that proud, really!

Oddly, I didn’t actually know that these silent letter words made up 60% of all English words. It’s rather embarrassing, if you think about it. Here we are, thinking we are so smart, but we still use silent letters like a salt shaker. Now my brain hurts.

So, if these letters aren’t needed, I wanted to know what the purpose was for adding them, so long ago.

Come on… let’s ask!

AI Overview

Silent letters exist primarily because English spelling was standardized before pronunciation changed, and because of efforts to reflect words’ original Latin, Greek, or French roots. They help distinguish homophones (e.g., knights vs. nights), indicate long vowels (e.g., rate vs. rat), and remain as remnants of older, fully pronounced words. 

Key reasons for silent letters: Etymology & History: Many letters were originally pronounced. For example, knee was pronounced with a hard ‘k’ in Old English, a practice that disappeared over time, but the spelling remained.

  • Renaisance Spelling Changes: Scholars often added letters to words to make them look more like their Latin or Greek origins, such as adding a ‘b’ to debt and doubt to match the Latin debitum and dubitare.
  • French Influence: Following the Norman Conquest, French scribes altered English spelling, which brought in silent letters.
  • Homophones: Silent letters help differentiate words that sound the same, such as “in” and “inn,” or “so” and “sew”.
  • Print Standardization: Early printing presses froze spellings, which meant older, non-phonetic spellings were locked in even as pronunciation continued to evolve. 

These seemingly useless letters often provide clues to the history and meaning of a word, even if they no longer correspond to a sound in modern English. 

Well, I guess if you want to give such a smart answer, Mr. McGoogle, fine! But you could have led with this explanation, in the first place. Maybe it’s my fault, as I should have asked this question first.

So, I’m going to give this rule a free ride, due to the answer given.

I can’t really argue with logic like this, so we’ll accept it as a valid answer to my queries, just this once. I don’t even have a snappy retort, or witty statement that might undermine such reasonings.

However, I will say that we already knew about Homophones from last week, so there’s that!

Live Novel Friday…

Wiwohka10 Comments

***So, here’s how this works. I want to try for a graphic novel style, but with a twist. Each week, I’ll release a new episode accompanied by several questions for you to answer. These answers will determine the next weeks episode. Some weeks I may give you two alternative outcomes, while at other times, there will be questions that will direct the path of each character involved in the story. Sounds easy, right? I’ll do all the heavy lifting. Each episode will be flagged, so if you come in to the story midway, all you need do is scroll back on the feed to catch up. Let’s do this!***

The Wharf…

Episode I –

Life here can be very tough, for any soul not already hardened by life’s cruel realities!

The taverns and store fronts along the wharf are owned by varying disreputable men and women, both of which would sell you to the sea for the right amount of coin.

If one wants to eat, they must live and work in the midst of pirates, slave traders, treasure seekers, and drunkards. There was no room for anyone with weakness, nor naivety, of any kind. Letting your guard slip, even for a moment, might very well bring about your doom…

Within the Wharf lay a tavern, filled with all manner of vile men, most living and working on the filthy trade ships, arriving here daily. Few of the locals in the nearby farming communities ever come to the Wharf, let alone frequent such a dangerous establishment.

If you were a woman, either you came into the tavern to work, or you were dangerous enough to hold your own in a fight.

The Wharf was no place for kind folk, nor was the tavern safe for anyone carrying a coin purse without a gun or a dagger for company.

Inside the tavern you see a young barmaid, busily sweeping the floor near the doorway. She belongs to the owner of the tavern, purchased off one of the slave ships some years prior, when she was rather young.  

She is quiet, very obedient to the one who feeds her, and always works busily, both in and around the tavern. No one bothers her, nor do they pay her any mind at all! Everyone here knows that she is not to be touched, as the owner of the tavern would kill you for even considering it!

Don’t let her meekness fool you, as she is not what she seems. If you did look into her eyes, you would see danger floating within those dark pools of green, staring right back at you! In her short life, she has seen too much, felt too much and lost too much!

This has molded her into a very hardened and wise soul, for one so young. She is also very smart, both in book knowledge and being street savvy. Her three rules for survival are,

Don’t make the tavern owner mad…

Stay out of folk’s business…

Do not bring attention to yourself…

These three rules were born of painful lessons learned over the years of service to the owner of the tavern… most assuredly, the only reason she was still breathing air, even if it did smell of stale rum and dirty pirates!

*****************************************************************************

Question #1 – Our heroin needs a name. I’ve already a name in mind, but this is for you to choose, not me… not this time. What shall we call our young lass?

Question #2 – What should we call the tavern?

Question #3 – Will the tavern owner be a burly old one-eyed ogre, or should he have a hidden softer side to him?

I went easy on you this week, since this is a whole new thing, and all. Each episode will have harder questions, but you’ll know more about the story as time goes on. My hope is that you’ll become invested in this tale, which will only gain strength with each weeks answers. This should allow the story to expand and gain traction, as time goes on. Who knows where this will lead.

til next Friday…

Hugs

Hang on! I’m on the homophone…

Wiwohka2 Comments

Guess what I get to do this morning?

While Wiwohka has to go to one of her appointments, she’s given me my first actual job to complete in her absence. I’m doin WordPress this morning… ALL by myself!

The Daily Prompt wasn’t so bad, since I was able to pull from the archives, but I discovered something in the process of digging up an old answer. Wiwohka wrote something odd in her answer that sent me searching for some wordsy explanations. This ant has questions!

Did you notice the part where she used whether and weather in the same sentence?

While Wiwohka made it seem funny when she wrote it down, I didn’t get the joke. What was so funny about how she wrote that sentence? I needed some answers, because I have begun seeing this strange phenomenon quite often, while reading. What gives?

There are a great many words in the English language that have gathered a nefarious shadow word, which follows the regular word around but isn’t the same, at all! I find this very unfair to us young readers, wouldn’t you agree?

Out of necessity, and a good deal of curiosity, I posed my question to Mr. McGoogle…

“What are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings?”

The response was a rather wordy one… Literally!

AI Overview

Words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings are called

homophones (or heterographs). Common examples include to/too/two, there/their/they’re, pair/pear, see/sea, and hour/our. These words sound identical in speech but have distinct meanings, which can create confusion in writing. 

Here are common homophones categorized for clarity:

Commonly Confused Homophones

  • There (place), Their (possession), They’re (contraction of “they are”).
  • To (preposition), Too (also/excessively), Two (number).
  • Your (possession), You’re (contraction of “you are”).
  • Its (possession), It’s (contraction of “it is”).
  • Whose (possession), Who’s (contraction of “who is”). 

Everyday Object/Action Homophones

Action/Concept Homophones

I don’t really have any problem understanding the difference in the words that are similar in sound but not in spelling. These, I can easily understand to be different from each other by their unique spellings. But what about the words that remain almost identical in spelling, but only one or two letters change? Why did they have to make things so difficult?

It’s a good thing that our brains are capable of detecting even the most minute differences in how a word is pronounced, or spelled, for that matter!

Before you start thinking that I was done… I’m not, just so you know.

They didn’t stop at Homophones, no no. They went a step further into the art of confusion by adding another additional type/category for these words. Yes indeed, they did!

Mr. McGoogle calls them Homographs and Homonyms. Oh yay! Really?!

Check out these little rabbit holes in the English language…

Homographs: Spelled the same, but different meanings/sounds (e.g., bark of a tree vs. bark of a dog).

Homonyms: Words that are both homophones and homographs (e.g., *bat

These are dark days in the kingdom of words, my friends. Dark days, indeed…