Writing Prompt: Animals

Hey, guys!

Time for a new writing prompt.

Imagine you have the power to talk to animals. I know that this has been done before, but create an original character. How do they use this power? For good or evil?

What kinds of animals does your character interact with the most? The least? What do they tell your character?

In what kinds of situations would this be helpful? How could this ability be a hindrance?

Do the animals like having a human with whom to communicate? Do they shun your character for being a human because the animals may have preconceived notions about humans (neglectful, careless, abusive)?

If you're looking for an even more specific writing prompt, write a scene in which a human and an animal both demand the attention of your character and are trying to speak with him or her. How does your character handle this situation?

Finally, give your character a pet. What is this pet's name? What kind of an animal is it? Create a character profile for the pet and the human that can communicate with animals. How do the characters interact?

Have fun and be original.

Happy writing!!

Satire and Tigers

Hey, guys!

It's about time I wrote a new book review. Sorry for the wait. I actually just finished this book in my World Literature class and it's called The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga.

First a little background: this is a contemporary novel that takes place in India. And I mean modern India, with all the polluted streets, poverty, call centers, you name it. This is a satire, meaning that the author uses humor to make fun of the subject, which is modern Indian culture.

It's also an epistolary novel, which means that it's written in the form of a letter or a series of letters. The main character, Balram, is writing to the Premier of China, who will soon visit India following elections.

Within these letters, is advice about how to be an entrepreneur and how to see the country of India for what it really is now.

The letters also serve as a confession for murder.

Balram was taken out of school as a child and put to work. Despite the fact that his parents hadn't noted the date of his birth nor given him a proper name ("Balram" means "boy"), his father still wanted him to get an education so that he could grow up to be a man.

Both of Balram's parents had died before Balram reached adulthood. The last image he has of his mother is her corpse burning on a funeral pyre. His father, a rickshaw-puller, died of tuberculosis in a hospital with no doctors on duty.

The rest of Balram's large family now must rely on him for money, which is why his Granny bullies him out of his paycheck like she did his father and the rest of the men in his family.

But Balram has a different idea for his life. Having grown up looking up to a local bus driver (who did pretty well for himself, in comparison to the rest of the village). That's when Balram, wanting to be an entrepreneur, decides to learn how to be a driver.

Despite Granny's protestations, she allows him so long as she still gets his paycheck. After learning how to drive, Balram goes door-to-door asking for a job from a rich man. He gets lucky when he stumbles on a man who is from his village. Balram now has his master.

Balram's master, Ashok, is an Americanized Indian who is in the family business. But compared to his brother and father, Ashok is a total pushover. But when you're the one running around bribing politicians and thinking of sixty different ways to kiss up to said politicians, there isn't much room for self-respect.

The relationship between master and slave is portrayed as very fake: Balram is treated like a slave, but is told that he is like family.

The hypocrisy is only one reason why Balram murders Ashok. That's right, Balram kills his own boss. Can anybody relate?

It's because Balram is so easy to relate to - not to mention the humor and irony that is so cleverly used throughout the novel - that this novel became a bestseller. But give it a try for yourself and see what you think.

I know I enjoyed it. It's an entertaining read and makes for interesting academic discussion. If you are  a high school or college student, I would definitely consider putting this on your reading list.

That's it for this review. Check back in next week for more writing exercises and a brand-spanking-new book review. Until next time.

Happy reading!!

Writing Exercise: Six Word Story

Hey, guys!

Time for a new writing exercise. Recently, I learned of a super super short story known as a six word story. This is basically just a sentence or two composed only of six words that still conveys a story.

A famous six word story is by Ernest Hemingway: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

Isn't that the saddest thing you've ever read? Well, fortunately they aren't all sad. We recently started a creative writing club on campus and wrote six word stories as a writing exercise. Basically, we would pick a word and see what we come up with.

As an example, one of my words was "haunted."

My story: Exhalation on back of the neck.

Creepy, right? So, I'm just going to list a bunch of words for you guys to pick from. See if you can make a six word story using the word or just basing the story off of the word. And it doesn't have to be sad or creepy.

1) Fall

2) Pie

3) Salt

4) Wave

5) Plant

If you already have one in mind that doesn't relate to anything I just listed, don't let me tell you what to do. This is just to give you guys some ideas.

And since this is such a short exercise, why not post some of your six word stories in the comments? I'd love to see them and I'm sure everybody else would.

Happy writing!!

List: If I didn't have to sleep

Hey, guys!

So sorry this post is late. I wish I weren't so in love with sleep. I'd get so much more done. But I'd also feel horrible. Which is why I go to bed relatively early (well, I go to bed early in comparison to my brother's bedtime).

This is part of the reason why I've had to make another tough decision about my blog. From now on, there's only going to be one book review a week on Thursdays. Tuesdays I will have a new list posted.

If I had time to read for fun, things would be different, but as of right now, I have no free time. Five classes and two jobs doesn't leave much time to read for fun when I also have to read novels for a literature class.

Really sorry about this, guys. Hopefully you'll find the lists entertaining if nothing else. When I'm on break, I'll get cracking on reading some of those books I mentioned in last week's list.

In the meantime, here's this week's list. The theme is Things I Would Do If I Didn't Have to Sleep. Has a nice ring to it, huh?

1) Read for fun (so that I can review more books).

2) Write a novel (or at least finish writing a few short stories I've been working on).

3) Blog (so I wouldn't have any more late posts).

4) Last minute homework assignments (I don't think I need to explain this one).

5) Netflix (my family just got this and it is a beautiful thing).

If I could do all of these things during the time I would normally spend sleeping, I'd get a lot more done and could spend more time with family and friends during the day.

Alas, I must sleep because I love sleep. It's more of a love-hate relationship though. So much time spent sleeping. Oh, well.

Sorry again about the late post and the change in plans but I hope you guys understand and that I'm still your favorite :)

Until next time.

Happy reading!!

Writing Exercise: Super Heroes

Hey, guys!

It's about time I did this kind of writing exercise. Below are listed a bunch of super powers.

1) Invisibility

2) Strength

3) Flight

4) Telekinesis

5) Breathe underwater

6) Speed

7) Flexibility

8) Hypnosis

9) Talk to animals

10) Shape-shift

Pick two (one for a hero and one for a villain). Create your characters and a plot based on your characters' super powers.

Also, keep in mind that your super heroes (or super villains) need not be costume-clad crime-fighters. They could be just average people with average lives who just happen to have extraordinary abilities. Or you could deck them out in tights. It's up to you.

If there are some powers not listed that you really want to use, be my guest. If you want to share a little bit about your hero and villain, feel free to post it in the comments. If you have suggestions for another writing exercise, also feel free to post it in the comments. Until next time.

Happy writing!!

List

Hey, guys!

Sorry, but I don't have anything to review today. I will on Tuesday, though, I promise!

I can't leave you with nothing though, so here's a list of books I would read and review if I had time.

Enjoy! And I hope I eventually have time to read these.


1) Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

2) The Rule of Thoughts by James Dashner

3) A Series of Unfortunate Events Lemony Snicket (reread)

4) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (reread)

5) Fire by Kristin Cashore (reread)

6) The Host by Stephenie Meyer (reread)

7) Graceling by Kristin Cashore

8) Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

9) Specials by Scott Westerfield (reread)

10) Extras by Scott Westerfield (reread)

Let's see if I eventually get to them.

Happy reading!!

Writing Exercise: Names and Magic Objects

Hey, guys!

Here's another writing exercise. More names. But this time, I'm giving you a list of names and a separate list of ordinary objects that have magic abilities in the context of a story. Pick a name and pick an object, then decide what the magical ability is that those objects possess.

In your narrative/story/dialogue, you must include whether your character is good or evil and how they use the magical object. Include a scene in which your character fights one of their foes.

Also take into consideration the setting of your story. What time (past, present, future)? Where (city, country, rural, secluded)? What context (historical, contemporary, fantastical)?

Oh, and one more thing: consider making two characters with two magical objects. Are they partners? Or enemies?

Here you go.


Names:

1) Lark

2) Cady

3) Samuel

4) Avariella

5) Jacob

6) Caroline

7) Richard

8) Arabella

9) Mark

10) Dove


Objects:

1) Book

2) Pocket watch

3) Glasses

4) Cup

5) Fur hat

6) Pen

Enjoy!

Happy writing!!