Writing Challenge #29 - Aptronym (Write Nov. 29)

Hi folks

(2 of 2)

28 down, 2 to go!

(And this prompt is one of those final two :)

We’ve nearly reached the end of November, folks.

Hang in there and keep on writing :)

If you ever get confused about which one of this bundle of prompts I’m sending your way ahead of time is the one you’re supposed to be working on, do this:

Look at the date on the calendar.
That’s the number of the challenge you should be working on that day to be turned in by noon the next day.
That’s if you’re doing them one day at a time.
If you’re cranking out a bunch of writing and turning it in ahead of time, just make sure you hit each one of them in order and get yourself all the way to the end of the holiday weekend.

This prompt is the one you would be writing Friday 11/29 to be turned in on Saturday 11/30 by noon Central Time, but just label your email for prompt 29 and you can turn it early and I’ll credit it ahead.

And of course, you can always use the mini-play at the bottom of the email and blog post as an escape hatch for the day’s writing.

Now, let’s get you the second writing prompt of the pair for the day…


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Challenge #29 - Aptronym

Write Nov. 29th - or earlier if you like
Due: Saturday, November 30th, 12pm noon Central Time
(1pm Eastern Time, 11am Mountain Time, 10am Western Time for the US Time Zones)



One of your fellow challenge writers this year who’s participated in previous years introduced me to WordDaily.com - which will send you a new and interesting word for the day and give you some context for it.

The reason the playwright reached out to me, is the word that day reminded him of a couple of challenges I’d served up in the past, based around a particular type of word:

Contronyms

Homophones


That day’s word was

Aptronym

According to Word Daily, an aptronym is…

“Noun - A person’s name that is regarded as amusingly appropriate to their occupation.

Sample Sentences
“The clerk at the fish market wore a nametag reading ‘Ms. Flounder,’ which was a perfect aptronym.”
“Our class’s enthusiastic new gym teacher had the aptronym ‘Mr. Ball.'”
“My mechanic has an amazing aptronym: Carl Lifft.”

Word origin
Greek, 1920s

Why this word?
The greatest sprinting runner in history is Usain Bolt,
while Britain is home to weatherperson Sarah Blizzard,
and Lance Bass of former boy band ‘N Sync fame sang with a low register (although Bass pronounces his name like the fish, not the pitch).

But aptronyms (“apt” meaning “appropriate,” and “nym” applying to a name) aren’t just for celebrities — imagine a woodworker named David Carpenter,
or a pastry chef named Lucy Baker.

Aptronyms call back to the origination of English family names.
People tended to be named according to their ancestors or profession,
such as “Richardson” for the son of someone named Richard,
and “Smith” for a blacksmith or silversmith.”

(Thanks to Hank for this one :)

So have some fun with aptronyms in your cast of characters for today’s writing.

Or, as ever, write whatever you like.

Just write.  Something.

Just two days more to the end of our challenge marathon.


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If you’re not interested in this prompt, you can

try 2021’s challenge #29: The Best of Times, The Worst of Times, and The Future

Or try 2022’s challenge #29: Messages After You’re Gone

Or try 2023’s Challenge #29: Snapshots 5 (from Threshold Theater co-founder and Managing Director David Schlosser)

Or, you know, just ignore the prompts altogether and write whatever you want - as long as you’re writing and turning it in by the deadline, that’s all that matters for the challenge :)


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And because we call can get in our own way so easily, here’s some words of reassurance on the basics of this month:

Friendly Reminders - Answers To Common Questions:
(Follow the links to read me expounding on these items :)

Don’t Stress About Writing A Full Play

Don’t Stress About FormatDon’t Stress About Sticking To The Writing Prompt

No.  Really.  I Mean It.  Don’t Stress About Sticking To The Writing Prompt

Don’t Stress About Finishing An Idea (You Can Add Later)

Don’t Stress About “Succeeding” or “Failing”

Don’t Stress About What You’re Turning In Each Day

Don’t Stress About November 28th (however you recognize the holiday weekend)


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How to submit your work for Challenge #29

You have options.  They are:

Save your script as a PDF or Word Doc and send as an attachment to an email sent to ThresholdWritingChallenge@gmail.com

OR

Copy and paste your script in the body of an email and send it to ThresholdWritingChallenge@gmail.com

OR

Post your script online (as a Google doc, or in a blog post, on your own personal website, etc.) - email a link to this script to ThresholdWritingChallenge@gmail.com
(If you’re going to Google doc route, just make sure to have the document public, or give permissions to our email address to open it)

When emailing us, make the subject line of your email - Challenge #29
(That just helps us sort through the email more quickly)
(Or, you know, just reply to this email if you want :)

OR

Post the link for the online document option noted above in the comments section below on this very blog post for today's challenge on our writing challenge blog



Write Nov. 29th - or earlier if you like
Again, this is: Due: Saturday, November 30th, 12pm noon Central Time
(1pm Eastern Time, 11am Mountain Time, 10am Western Time for the US Time Zones)



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And, just to reassure you, no, we are not going to be sticklers about you following these directions down to the minutest detail - the important thing is that you write, and then that you share it with us, so we can keep track of who’s writing every day.

Also, no, there is no penalty for finishing and submitting early - but it also isn’t a race, so give yourself all the time up til 12 noon on Saturday to write if you need it.  When you’re done, you’re done.

Again, remember, it doesn’t need to be great, it doesn’t even need to be responding to this prompt (the prompt is just there so you’re not staring at a blank screen to start with no idea what to write about :)

Doesn't even need to be complete - you could have the beginning or the middle or the end of an idea, maybe two out of three but not all, that's still fine. This is all about getting things started, you can write more later.

You have one more day to build on whatever you come up with today, if you want.

Just get anything on the page, even if won't make sense to anyone else, as long as it make sense to you.

It just needs to be something.


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And that something can be:



Lights up.

Mrs. Baker offers a plate of donuts to
Mr. Smith, who is shoeing the horse for
Mr. Jock E. Rider.

Lights down.

The End



That’s always your escape hatch, every day.

That’s your base line.

Build on it.

Have fun.

Don’t stress.

Make an impulsive decision and run with it.

Breathe.

You’ve got the day.

Just write.

And take good care of yourselves, and each other.