How Game of Thrones Characters Would Approach a Writing Assignment

Though A Song of Ice and Fire was not written to be a writing guide, there are many valuable lessons in the epic that can be broadly applied to different facets of life.

Spoiler alert

In this post, we will be analyzing characters and their development throughout book five of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and season seven of HBO’s Game of Thrones to understand what lessons certain characters can offer to improve your writing.

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Tyrion Lannister

Don’t shy away from your unique (writing) style.

A mind needs books… #BookLoversDay pic.twitter.com/rpkovEoUvU

— Tyrion Lannister (@GoT_Tyrion) August 9, 2017

Tyrion is the youngest of the three Lannister siblings and an outcast. Yet, he has wisely chosen to own his small stature and “monstrous” appearance, which gives him a unique perspective of the world. He even advises such to Jon Snow:

Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.

Tyrion shines with self-confidence. From his witty one-liners to passing off his own wisdom as “ancient and timeless,” he embodies the truth that his voice matters. Striving for the same authenticity to yourself, your writing will shine.

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Samwell Tarly

Use the resources around you, freely share your insights, and try some poetry.

“No one touches Sam.”@JohnBradleyWest holds #SamwellTarly at #SDCC2017. #GoTSDCC pic.twitter.com/aGDNcJVjj4

— Game Of Thrones (@GameOfThrones) July 21, 2017

Samwell Tarly is a noble whose strengths as a bookish scholar didn’t live up to the expectations of his house, which forced him into the brotherhood of the Night’s Watch. As an assistant to Maester Aemon of the Night’s Watch, Samwell’s true strengths—his loyalty, resourcefulness, and insight—come to the fore. These traits continually serve him and those around him as he travels to the Citadel at Oldtown, where he uncovers a source of Dragonglass (which kills Whitewalkers), cures Jorah Mormont of Grayscale, and offers some editorial advice to Archmaester Ebrose about the title of his book—“Possibly something a bit more … poetic.”

George R.R. Martin himself has even identified with Samwell Tarly, which has led some to speculate that Samwell Tarly is actually the narrator/writer of A Song of Ice and Fire. Learn from him and you’ll be in fine (writing) company.

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Jon Snow

Rely on your support network to create better (writing) solutions.

The reunion we are all waiting for �� #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/gLu70dEB8K

— King Jon Snow (@LordSnow) August 7, 2017

Jon Snow begins his journey as an underappreciated bastard of House Stark and hesitatingly rises to lead the Night’s Watch. Eventually, he is elected Lord of Winterfell. Jon Snow, guided by a sense of duty and loyalty to his team rather than by ambition, seeks counsel and consensus almost to a fault. This tendency to rely on his support network and the wisdom of his council helps him to lead well, however. This is exemplified in both his election as Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch and Lord of Winterfell, when supporters speak on his behalf.

Improve your writing the same way by regularly seeking feedback from respected peers.

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Daenerys Targaryen

Trust your intuition and be bold!

Mother of Dragons ��#GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/bBb0cYLxpJ

— Daenerys Targaryen (@Daenerys_GOT) August 11, 2017

Daenerys Targaryen, Khaleesi, Breaker of Chains, Mother of Dragons. . . whatever you call her, you cannot deny her accomplishments. As an orphan exiled from her homeland, she has overcome many hardships to assert her claim to the Iron Throne of Westeros, including ending the slave trade and bringing dragons back from extinction.

One of her guiding characteristics throughout all this achievement is the faith she has in herself and her intuition. Quite often she trusts her intuition of what is right in spite of contrary advice, and her instinct doesn’t fail her.

Are you looking to improve your writing? Trust your instincts.

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Lyanna Mormont

Be direct. Use short sentences.

If Lyanna Mormont isn't your new hero on Game of Thrones, you're lying: Meet Bella Ramsey. https://t.co/IhsRWkpEuR pic.twitter.com/wNL7NVnoPC

— E! News (@enews) July 1, 2016

This young Lady of Bear Island was orphaned at age ten after the Red Wedding and became one of the youngest leaders in Westeros. Though her participation has only picked up recently in the series, her style is iconic—demonstrated as early as Season 5, when she is asked to bend the knee to Stannis Baratheon:

“Bear Island knows no king but the King in the North, whose name is Stark.”

Lyanna is a master of brevity. Her bold, confident directness silences those around her and lends her a tenacity all her own.

Bolster your own writing by using the same technique: keep it simple.

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Davos Seaworth

Don’t be afraid to learn something new.

#GameOfThrones Davos Seaworth needs a job https://t.co/eHomtJLgkD pic.twitter.com/dXDeZXk4eC

— USA TODAY Life (@usatodaylife) April 28, 2016

Davos Seaworth, or the Onion Knight, is a reformed smuggler whose loyalties lie with whomever he sees as the greatest hope for the people. In his journey to support those leaders, he hasn’t shied away from the learning he has had to pursue. He unashamedly takes reading lessons from a child. He willingly admits his wrongs and his lack of familiarity with traditions. He embraces the need to continually learn rather than seeing it as a failing or weakness.

Becoming a great writer is a learning process. Humble yourself to that and see where it will take you.

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Margaery Tyrell

Know your audience.

#TheWarsToCome ��♠️ pic.twitter.com/8gCMKZzfmC

— Margaery Tyrell (@MargaeryTyrelI) April 13, 2015

Margaery Tyrell, wife of Joffrey and later Tommen Baratheon, was raised to master court politics at Highgarden. While in King’s Landing, she excels, garnering the love of the people as well as her husbands. The personalization she shows to the people she is with wins her power quickly. She caters to her audience so well that Queen Regent Cersei Lannister begins to doubt her own influence over her son, King Tommen, and orchestrates Margaery’s demise.

Learn about your audience and give what you can to them in your writing.

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Melisandre, The Red Woman

Don’t overestimate your own opinion.

"She had no time for sleep, with the weight of the world upon her shoulders" – Melisandre, A Dance With Dragons#PrepareForWinter #ImSoTired pic.twitter.com/GXTa9Zk9Th

— Melisandre of Asshai (@TheRedWoman) June 26, 2017

Where self-confidence and instinct can improve the authenticity and effectiveness of your writing, Melisandre, a Red Priestess of the Lord of Light, shows how over-confidence can lead you astray. Born an orphan and trained as a priestess, Melisandre is so convinced of her powers of prophecy that she leads Stannis Baratheon to wage a war he catastrophically loses after sacrificing his own daughter in a vain effort to gain favor with the Red God.

This experience teaches Melisandre that her interpretations of the prophecy are not, in fact, perfect and that much can be lost from valuing your skills and opinion too highly.

The writing tip here? Learn to balance your instinct and self-confidence with gut-checks now and then to be sure you’re on the right track.

25 Homophones That Most Spell-Checkers Won’t Catch

Spell-checkers have come a long way since a West Coast beach boy with an FBI record invented the first prototype at MIT in the 1960s. Nowadays, the überhelpful technology is not only ubiquitous in all word processors, quietly creating more error-free writing around the world, it also exists online, where it can point out mistakes in real time while we write emails or post on social media.

But while spell-checkers’ ability to catch slipups and understand context has evolved tremendously, most of these programs still struggle to identify homophones, those pesky words that sound the same but carry different meanings and, often, different spellings.

While Grammarly has algorithms that will help you correct all of these common mix-ups, there’s no substitute for the old noggin. So next time you’re writing, be sure to put on your thinking cap and look out for these homophones that most spell checkers won’t catch.

A while/Awhile

It had been a while since the long-lost lovers had seen each other, but their passion was still so true they didn’t mind waiting awhile for their fast-approaching reunion.

Accept/Except

Everyone except Christopher, who has already discovered the truth, needs to accept the fact that the world is not flat.

Affect/Effect

The technicians didn’t realize that the special effect that creepily breathed down viewers necks would affect audience members so deeply. People ran out of the theater screaming.

Aide/Aid

The teacher’s aide was the first to arrive at school that day. So when the tornado hit, she gave as much aid to the kids as possible.

Aloud/Allowed

After breaking the television set he wasn’t allowed to touch, Bart had to repeat this phrase aloud 1,000 times: I will not replace the television dials with marshmallows.

Anytime/Any time

Call anytime! Actually, scratch that. Call me at any time after 5:00 p.m.

Bizarre/Bazaar

The strange, old-fashioned bazaar featured a freak show made up of bizarre and mysterious people.

Capital/Capitol

The protesters left their own state capitals to converge on the Capitol building in Washington, DC, and rally for their cause.

Cite/Site/Sight

The site of the excavation came into sight as they emerged from the tunnel. If the bones were in fact dinosaur bones, then scientists would need to cite the analysis taken from this discovery in every paleontology research paper for the next hundred years.

Compliment/Complement

The winemaker received compliment after compliment for her incredible pairing. Each selected dish seemed the perfect complement to the chosen vintages.

Conscience/Conscious

My conscience plagues me most when I’m sleeping. Then, when I wake up, I become conscious of the guilt I’m feeling for my actions.

Desert/Dessert

If only this hot, sandy desert were made of dessert. Then I could simply eat my way out of it.

Elude/Allude

If you’re going to allude to your diamond heist so casually in conversation, you should prepare to elude the authorities, who will most likely find out about the theft.

Ensure/Insure

It seems strange that in order to ensure my son can receive medical treatment, I need to insure him with the healthcare company on the day of his birth.

Every day/Everyday

Just because the office attire is everyday wear doesn’t mean you should wear the same clothes every day.

Formerly/Formally

Formerly a Buddhist monk clothed only in a tunic, he was confused by the need to dress formally, in a shirt and tie, for work.

Guerilla/Gorilla

The paramilitary forces had a new tactic; they were going to use actual gorillas as foot soldiers in their guerilla warfare.

Led/Lead,

He led them through the dangerous forest of giant spiders with only a headlamp and a lead pipe. As the lead scout, he needed to be brave and fearless even though he felt incredibly frightened.

One/Won

She won the costumed thumb war competition by one measly point.

Pedal/Peddle

If you want to peddle stolen goods to innocent people, you’d better be prepared to pedal your bike as fast as you can away from the town when you’re done.

Pore/Pour

If you pore over your schoolbooks with the same discipline that you apply to gaming, I won’t be forced to pour this macaroni over your head.

Premier/Premiere

The premier of Switzerland eagerly awaited the premiere of the new production of the Sound of Music. The woman cast as Maria was the country’s premier actress.

Principle/Principal

School principals should be people of principle. Their behavior and attitude should, in principle, be an example to all students.

Reign/Rein

Take the reins and lead the horse as if you’re ruling a kingdom and your reign has lasted five decades.

Weather/Whether

Who cares about the weather? We’re going to have a good time regardless of whether it’s raining, snowing, or glowing.

Are you confused by one of these examples? Let us know in the comment section below or via our Facebook or Twitter feeds and we’ll try our best to give you an explanation that makes sense.

The Internet Can Cultivate Writing. Good Writing.

Image from LoadingArtist.com

Almost anyone who cares about language and knows about or uses the Internet has been guilty at one time or another of demonizing the world wide web for its effects on the English language. “The Internet makes it easy for people, including professional writers, to publish writing publicly without editing.” “The Internet encourages casual writing and doesn’t reinforce proper writing skills.” “Students would write better if they weren’t on Facebook all the time.” It’s easy to blame the Internet and say that if it didn’t exist, written English would be on solid ground.

Let’s be realistic, though. We love the Internet. Very few people would like to go back to a time without email, instant messaging, video conferencing, or lolcats. Oh, lolcats! The world wide web is here, and it’s here to stay. Rather than focus on the supposed degradation of English, we should work on using the Internet to make writing better.

It’s important to note that many of the writing errors we see aren’t necessarily because of the Internet. People probably aren’t making more mistakes than they did before; it’s just that the mistakes are more visible now because of all the writing we do in emails, social media, and text messages. When we recognize this, other causes of language degradation enter the picture. Many are more systemic than Internet use and have been issues for decades, including (but not limited to) what is effectively stagnation in K–12 English reading and writing proficiency. (See the long-term national data on reading and writing. Note especially the middle and high school averages.)

To improve writing on the Internet, we need to improve writing in general. This must happen in the classroom, early and often. There are several great web tools to assist educators in this endeavor, of which Grammarly is only one. Other helpful resources include:

• interactive guides like those from ReadWriteThink;
• community forums and discussion boards, like Grammarly Answers and English Forums;
• quality word tools, such as Grammarly Words (a dictionary-thesaurus hybrid aimed at helping you choose the best words, not just different ones); and
• traditional teaching materials like those from The National Writing Project and  The Schreyer Institute.

However, there is no escaping that for the most effective improvement, quality English and writing education needs to become a political and social priority.

Also, we must admit that, just as there are back alleys on the web where English gets kicked around, abused, and left to die (check out any YouTube comments section), there are also many places where correct language is still revered (see, especially, serious blogs and news sources, such as the New York Times). And there are many more places where the quality of the language is what you make of it; that is, both casual and more formal language styles are supported (Facebook and many other social networks are good examples). It is due to blogs, forums, and social networks that people are writing more than ever before. This is a good thing. Furthermore, the Internet is an equalizer; people from all strata of society are free to explore various kinds of writing as never before. This is a great thing.

We should let these communities thrive as they will, discouraging intellectual finger-pointing and encouraging context-appropriate writing along the way. However, we do need to teach people how to differentiate between informal textspeak and the formal, more standard writing style suited for public and professional writing.

What effect do you think the Internet has had on writing?

Mexican Novels to Help You Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Guest Post by Alice E.M. Underwood

No matter where you are, Cinco de Mayo is a day to celebrate Mexico’s country, culture, and misunderstood military history. The holiday doesn’t mark Mexican Independence, as is commonly thought in other countries that break out the margaritas in honor of May 5—instead, it recognizes Mexico’s unlikely victory over the French in 1862.

But this isn’t a history lesson: it’s a literature lesson. Cinco de Mayo may be an excuse to eat guacamole, but it’s also an excuse to dive into Mexican culture. So in honor of May 5, here are five top Mexican novels. Plus one more for good measure.

The Labyrinth of Solitude, by Octavio Paz (El laberinto de la soledad, 1950) Ironically, first up isn’t a novel at all: it’s a book-length set of essays on what makes Mexico Mexico. Winner of the 1990 Nobel Prize for Literature, Paz meditates on Mexican identity through ideas of solitude, colonialism, indigenous vs. Spanish roots, death, and fiesta—and explores how they all fit together, from Day of the Dead celebrations to politics. Later editions include his essays on the 1968 massacre of Mexican students and Mexico-US relations.

Pedro Páramo, by Juan Rulfo (Pedro Páramo, 1955) A man searches for his father in a town “at the very mouth of hell,” where even the inhabitants may be no more than spirits. Considered by some to be the book that started magical realism—and by Gabriel García Márquez to be the inspiration for One Hundred Years of Solitude—this is a tale of ghostlike memories, tyrannical landowners, and a land and people haunted by powers and passions beyond their control.

The Death of Artemio Cruzo, by Carlos Fuentes (La muerte de Artemio Cruz, 1962) A corrupt old coot on his deathbed recollects his life in flashbacks. While living, Artemio had his fingers in many pies: the Mexican Revolution, the emerging new government, economic dealings with gringo speculators, loves, hates, and a hidden will. Alternating between internal tensions and the broader world, Fuentes explores a body facing its final breaths.

Palinuro of Mexico, by Fernando del Paso (Palinuro de México, 1977) Meandering, mystical, and as medically precise as Gray’s Anatomy (the textbook, not the show), this book is easier to describe as an encyclopedia than a straightforward novel. Some highlights: mythology, Virgil, a medical student and his lover (who is also his cousin), a pile of bones, almost-animate objects, satirical digs at politics and advertising, and more than a touch of surrealism. Sound overwhelming? Dive into the writing: you won’t want to get out.

The Savage Detectives, by Roberto Bolaño (Los detectives salvajes, 1998) So, Bolaño is technically Chilean. At least, that’s where he was born. But he spent years of his youth in Mexico and, as far as books about Mexico go, TSD brings the capital and the country to life. There’s crime, youth culture, underground literary movements, historical events, the drudgery of existence over two decades, and some great Mexican authors thrown into the mix.

The Story of My Teeth, by Valeria Luiselli (La historia de mis dientes, 2012) A baby is born with four early teeth and a coat of fur, and grows up to become an auctioneer and a collector intent on telling the story of his teeth. That means the ones in his own head, but also, he claims, the mighty molars of folks like Plato and Virginia Woolf. In addition to teeth, he collects knowledge, straws, literary allusions, and stories—and his unique style of narration, light egomania, and possible unreliability make this novel an exploration of truth and fiction, as well as a literary adventure for the reader.

Whether you’re Mexican, study Mexico, or just like Mexican food, any and all of these books will give you a powerful story and a link to Mexican history, culture, and literature. What better way to boost the fiesta in your Cinco de Mayo festivities?

5 Funniest Grammar/Spelling Mistakes in Kids’ Letters

It’s always adorable when children attempt to write letters or caption illustrations, but can’t quite get the wording right. What’s even more adorable is when children write something they didn’t intend to write at all. Whether the culprit is bad handwriting or simply not sounding out a word correctly, ensure that you are encouraging your child to write by being supportive of all attempts.

In other words, choke back your laughter if you see mistakes like the following five.

Transposing Letters

Considering the number of letters and pictures that children make, especially for Santa around Christmas time, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Santa is going to be called Satan a few thousand times by children demanding presents. While it’s definitely funny, it can also be a disturbing sight if you aren’t prepared for your child accidentally professing their love for the Devil.

A couple of slip-ups can be funny, but if transposing words becomes common, make sure you check to see if your child has dyslexia.

Sounding It Out, Literally 

Some children spell words in exactly the way that they sound. This can lead to some embarrassing, and possibly hilarious, moments for you and your family since telling a child to “sound it out” doesn’t always work as effectively when it comes to spelling. Expecting a five-year-old to account for long and short vowels and proper phonetics in a letter or doodle is overly ambitious. Don’t be surprised when you see the word “peace” spelled as “pies.” Though your child is more likely to be wishing for “World Pies” than “World Peace” anyway.

Malapropisms Run Rampant with Children 

Children have a pretty limited vocabulary, so they simply aren’t aware of the existence of many of the words that adults use. When children attempt to repeat the words they hear, this can often result in a malapropism because the child is substituting an unknown word or sound for one that they already know. For example, it’s a strong possibility that your child believes that Abraham Lincoln’s name is actually April Ham Lincoln because that makes a lot more sense to him.

Oversimplifying Words Can Often Lead to Trouble 

To be fair, the English language has many confusing and just plain silly rules in it — especially when it comes to spelling. Children will spell things in the most simple way by sounding it out, but this tactic can often lead to some inappropriate, albeit hilarious, misspellings. Try not to get offended when your little boy hands you a drawing of his favorite place with the caption “I love the biach.” Though he just loves the beach, it might seem like he’s down with the latest slang words.

Sometimes, It’s All About Handwriting

Unfortunately, it’s not just spelling mistakes on a child’s drawing or letter that lead to hilarious misunderstandings. Which is why you should never underestimate the importance of good handwriting. Kids aren’t exactly known for the most decipherable writing, which, for example, can result in an “l” being mistaken for an “r” in the word “whole,” within the sentence “I love my whole family.” Yikes.

As you can see, children may not be the world’s best spellers, at least their methods are much more entertaining than correct grammar and spelling. Have you ever seen a grammar or spelling mistake from a child that made you roar with laughter?