#Otherworldly Words explores words that deal with the frightening or supernatural. This month I’m exploring words that express cowardice. Poltroon derives from Old Italian meaning foal and Latin meaning young animal. This is similar to calling someone a “scaredy cat” to liken them to a young horse that startles easily. It’s important to note that the…
Tag: writing prompts
Otherworldly Words: Craven
#OtherworldlyWords returns with craven. Craven is the first in a group of words this month expressing fear or cowardice. In my opinion, the most interesting element in these words is how closely words for cowardice are tied to overall moral character. Many of the words make the leap that if you are a coward, you…
Otherworldly Words: Illusory
April Fools’ Day is long gone, but I still have one last word about trickery up my sleeve. Illusory is from a Latin derivative meaning to mock or ridicule. It’s a fitting end to this look at words of trickery, mockery, and deception—words that makes us fools. Illusion can be thrilling, frightening, mildly entertaining, or, as is…
Otherworldly Words: ideomotor effect
April Fools’ Day is long gone, but I’m still exploring words about trickery throughout the month. The ideomotor effect fits the bill. This term offers a scientific explanation, a Scully if you will, for such phenomenon as moves a Ouija board. (Other than a cheesy GIF.) Basically, the effect suggests that mental expectation involuntarily influences…
Writing Prompt: Dilemma
Your main character is faced with a dilemma: betray a confidence and perhaps lose a friend or stand by and wait for a friend to make what s/he believes is a horrible mistake. What does your character do? What is his or her thought process to make the decision? What scenarios does she or he…
Otherworldly Words: Anancy
April is a month for fools! From words that refer to natural phenomenon that have misled us to words to describe the things we do to make fools of others, this month I’ll explore words to do with some sort of trickery. Anancy is always up to something. With disguises and other clever tools to fool…
Otherworldly Words: Brocken spectre
April is a month for fools! From words that refer to natural phenomenon that have misled us to words to describe the things we do to make fools of others, this month I’ll explore words to do with some sort of trickery. First up is brocken spectre. This optical illusion caused by one’s own shadow…
Writing Prompt: April Fools
It’s that time of year again, and your character wishes to pull a prank. What sort of prank will s/he play? Is it simply an act of fun in the spirit of things — or does s/he harbor darker motives? How long has this “prank” been planned? If you enjoyed this post, look around, or…
Writing Prompt: Gender Rolls
What if your main character awoke one morning the opposite gender? What would change? Would anything necessarily need to? What about personality traits? Would other characters now view the character differently for the same traits? What’s that say about how we write and about our society? If you enjoyed this post, look around, or sign…
Otherworldly Words: Presentiment
Many people’s minds turn to basketball during this time of year. Not mine. I think of Julius Caesar and the dire warning to “beware the Ides of March.” So March is the perfect month for #Otherworldly Words to explore the vocabulary of warnings. Each word in this group foretells something wicked this way coming. Presentiment comes from a…
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