Idea

FIles

Highlights:

Notes to Nibble On p. 2

Feisty Nouns p. 3

Brawny Verbs p. 3

Gutsy Adjectives p. 4

The Hills are Alive p. 4

Writer’s Corner p. 5

A Book of Your Own p. 6

Dear Inklings p. 6

Hard-Hat Words

One of a writer’s most important tasks is to pay attention. You’d be shocked at how many fascinating sights, smells, tastes and textures you walk past every day... without noticing! We all do. Do you know, for instance, what kind of flowers are outside your front door? What, exactly, does your soap smell like? How can you expect yourself to use hard-hat words if you’re vague on the details? Don’t despair. Test yourself as you go through this issue. Keep a list of descriptive words detailing the tastes of each Jelly-Belly, and when you’re done, create your own scrumptious recipe combining at least two flavors. If you’re up for a challenge, try combining up to five!

Check out the writing

challenge on page 2!

Have you ever slogged through a wordy paragraph wondering what in the world the author is trying to say? More likely, you read the first ten words and tossed the book aside, right?

This month, the million dollar question is: why use ten words when you can express the same thought in five? Don’t despair. I’m not suggesting that we throw out our delightful description. Instead, our task is to banish all droopy words and replace them with muscle-flexing hard-hat words. For instance, try craggy mountains instead of rough, irregularly shaped rocky mountains, or use sprinted instead of ran fast, or inhaled instead of ate quickly. Those hard-hat words are delicious, aren’t they?

Choosing the perfect hard-hat word is like discovering the tastiest jelly-belly in the box. Once you’ve found one, you’ll never want to stop searching for the next. Are you ready to begin? Arm yourself with a box of jelly-bellys and read on!

Jelly-Belly Recipe

Volume 3, Issue 4

Volume 3, Issue 4 2

Notes to Nibble OnFrom the Desk of Theodora B. Quill

Dear Inklings,

Hard working, no kidding! Every year as summer approaches, I dream of sun-drenched lazy days. I forget the long list of chores that come along with summer: watering flowers, digging up weeds, picking raspberries... the list goes on and on. Still, I wouldn’t trade the work for anything! Raspberries are much sweeter when you’ve plucked them that morning from the vine. Flowers are more colorful and fragrant when you’re on hands and knees in the dirt, tending their every need. So, I guess I agree with Naomi when she says that searching for the perfect word is worth the work- though I’d take a raspberry over a Jelly-Belly any day!

I know, I know, you’re on pins and needles, wondering what book I’ll recommend for you this month. Well, wait no more, dear friends. This month, walk on the wild side. Head to the picture book section of the library and check out Nocturne by Jane Yolen. Savor phrases such as “In the wraparound, velvetdown night.” Simply sensational.

Now, I’m off to dig in the dirt, looking for the perfect word to describe the summer-sweet smell of honeysuckle. Enjoy your summer, and don’t give up on the quest for the just-right word!

Happy Writing!

Theodora B. Quill

A Challenge for Writers

Transform the sentences on page 5 and share your favorites with a friend or teacher. Don’t forget to have fun- choose words that intrigue and delight you. The more creative, the better.

Happy Writing!

Volume 3, Issue 4 3

Feisty NounsIf you use a specific noun, there’s no need for a chain of helpful adjectives. If you say, “The Seargeant jumped into his Porshe,” you don’t have to wrestle with lengthy descriptions such as “the high-ranking police officer,” or “the fancy, fast, sporty car.”

So, why do we often choose puny nouns? Often, it’s trouble with making a choice. If I write “thing,” then the reader has to decide what I’m talking about and I get off easy. Unfortunately, though side-stepping the troubling decision-making process may be easier in the short term, it doesn’t do much for our ability to communicate what we truly mean.

Can you give these bland nouns a helping hand? Don’t worry about wrong answers- go on, make a choice!

Brawny Verbs

flower-car-tree-thing-

fruit-dessert-present-game-

house-store-man-woman-

Have you ever wondered why some books fly past, holding you in breathless anticipation until the very last page? Most likely, if you looked closer, you’d see it is the verbs. Vivid verbs have the power to literally drag a reader through a story. Why settle for less?

When we tell stories out loud, we don’t usually use powerful verbs. We don’t have to. Our tone of voice makes up for what our verbs lack. On paper, however, we need strapping verbs to add drama and suspense. If you’re anything like me, if you don’t use a word in everyday speech, it doesn’t jump readily to mind when you’re writing. So, what’s a writer to do? Here’s my trick. After writing my rough draft, I edit, thesaurus in hand, swapping dull verbs for vibrant ones.

Can you revamp these struggling verbs? I know... more choices. Try substituting three possibilities for each!

run-move-look-pick up-

go up-say-see-touch-

Volume 3, Issue 4 4

Gutsy AdjectivesIn my opinion, adjectives are the most playful words. It’s thrilling to add a flawless adjective to an already extraordinary sentence. But, adjectives can also weigh a sentence down. Strings of adjectives such as “tiny, furry, grey, squeaky animal,” are really an apology for the lack of the desired noun, in this case, “mouse.” But, if I use the word “mouse,” then I can choose an adjective that gives punch to my sentence, such as the “spunky mouse.” When my adjectives aren’t nose-to-the-grindstone, doing the hard work of the sentence, the marvelous occurs: The adjectives start living it up, and my sentences begin to sparkle.

Once you’ve selected the meatiest noun possible, toss in a surprising adjective. The adjective is your chance to tickle your reader with a distinct detail.

Give originality to these nouns by choosing an intriguing adjective.

pineapple bullfrog stallion apple tree

caboose basketball sculptor bumblebee

camel pirate peanut butter daisy

A Suspenseful SelectionOur writing challenge last month was to create a “Just Right” paragraph, using the perfect amount of foreshadowing to give the reader a few hints, but not give the secret away entirely. Check out this powerful paragraph, submitted by Caleb Adderley, an Inkling from Portland, OR.

The Hills Are Aliveby Caleb Adderley

I never would have guessed, but now that I think back it all makes sense. I’m pretty sure Mother could tell something was up from the beginning when she confused him with someone else; Mother can tell things about people like that. Being deceived is never a pleasant experience, especially when it’s by a Nazi…

Volume 3, Issue 4 5

Writer’s CornerCan you add zest to these limp sentences? Replace wishy-washy phrases with blue-ribbon words! If you come up with a sentence you’re exceptionally proud of, enter it for this month’s Writing Challenge!

1. The tall tree kept the bright light from the beautiful flowers that grew all over the ground.

2. The view from the high mountain was amazing.

3. The official-looking man in the uniform spoke loudly to the man holding big bags outside the store.

4. A girl with a bandana and an eye patch chased another girl wearing wings and carrying a wand around the building.

5. (Make up your own sloppy sentence and transform it!)

Writer's

Corner

Notice how “amazing” and “beautiful” are

opinions? Replace opinions with words that help us see the view

or the flowers!

Volume 3, Issue 4 6

The Society of Young Inklings is a club for young artists who are passionate about telling their unique stories. We offer classes, resources, national membership, publishing opportunities and more!

For more info on our FREE membership and a complimentary subscription to the Idea Files, visit www.younginklings.com.

Email questions, comments and writing to info@younginklings.com

A Book of Your Own

Why not challenge yourself ! Choose a story you’ve already completed or dream up a new tale, but either way, transform your creation into a book. In past issues, I’ve offered a number of publishing options: magazines, the Idea Files, the Inklings Book. These are all great options, and if you’re wondering what they are, send us an email, We’d love to fill you in!

However, not all publishing needs to take place so far away from home. Authors publish to give themselves a reason to polish a story, giving it those finishing touches, and they publish to share their stories with others. One time, I published a story that I wrote for my mom and dad. I typed and printed it, added illustrations (mine were photos), created a cover by gluing unique paper onto heavy cardboard, and bound it by punching it and lacing it together with ribbon.

The best part of that book was that it was a specialized, one-of-a-kind book that was just for my parents. They were delighted when I gave it to them for Christmas.

What book project could you complete? Go for it!

Dear Inklings,

I have trouble coming up with names for

my characters. What should I do?

Many websites feature names, and you

can often look first and last names up by

meaning. These kinds of search engines

can help you choose a name that fits one

of your character’s qualities or personality

traits. Don’t spend too long on a name

though. It’s not a bad idea to give your

character a “filler” name and write a little

bit. Once you know the character better, it

will be easier to choose a name.

Naomi