Tuesday, April 8, 2014

G IS FOR GOLDENROD


G is for Goldenrod (Skim to the underlined genre or style that best suits you.)

Ideas can’t be copyrighted, so the ideas I am posting are free for any of you to use.

How Romantic is a bouquet of goldenrod? Probably not high on the best-gift-of-the-year list, but can you imagine if it were the only flowers that survived the fire scorching a person’s land, and that person was willing to give those last few blossoms to someone dear? The gesture just skyrocketed in the happy-heart department.

In a Mystery, Goldenrod might be used as a weapon. Many people are allergic to it. It isn’t hard to look up the medicinal effects of any plant. I just checked the Internet. Goldenrod has been used in remedies for bladder infections, kidney stones, arthritis, and more. But if you gave it to somebody who was allergic to it, and gave it in a large dose, a bad reaction could be quite hairy for somebody with heart trouble. It might even send them up the golden staircase a bit early.

Literary lovers might note the depletion of the bounty of goldenrod in a character’s yard year after year, which parallels the diminishing state of the character’s mind as he or she faces the first stages of Alzheimer’s disease. How can goldenrod just quit growing? How can a mind just quit working? Show the parallels and the contradictions to bring your story to life.

For a Children’s story I can’t help but remember a book in my childhood with a little boy who gave a fat, juicy strawberry to the little girl he liked. I don’t want to tell you how many years it’s been since I read it, but let’s just say this story has lived in my mind for decades. It probably opened me to the world of romance, even though it was a children’s story that could be read in ten minutes. So, what if a young character picked a bouquet of goldenrod for his or her crush, then put the stems in a vase with water. Before the elegant bouquet could be delivered, however, chores had to be done. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough water in the vase, and the goldenrod wilted while the character slaved away. And his big brother has reluctantly been busy mowing the lawn during that time and, while texting, just sheared down the rest of the goldenrod as if it were nothing but weeds! Now what? Let your imagination take you from there.

Choose an idea and get started writing! Or, share your own idea in one of these genres or in one I didn’t mention, such as sci-fi or fantasy. Thanks!

Happy writing!

 

51 comments:

  1. I'd never heard of goldenrod before now :) I like how you said it could send you up the golden staircase if you're allergic! Good piece.

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  2. I love the idea for the Romance genre! I can totally visualize a scene like that, both on the page and in a movie. If done right and well, it could be both heart wrenching and uplifting.

    Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
    Minion, Capt. Alex's Ninja Minion Army
    The 2014 Blogging from A-Z Challenge

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  3. Goldenrod is evidence that anything can be significant in a story given context.

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  4. Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I remember once reading a story (I can't remember the name now) about the fields of goldenrod in a romance novel. Although I am allergic to the pollen's goldenrod is very beautiful!

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    1. It's nice to meet you. I get what you mean about the pollen. I have that problem too with a lot of outside garnishes.

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  5. The first time I heard Goldenrod was from Snow White. I never tried smelling them, fearing I would sneeze. :)

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    1. I think that's what happened to the dwarf named Sneezy, or some name like that. :-)

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  6. It is amazing that herbs/flowers can have good and harmful effects, depending on the dosage.

    J.L. Campbell writes at The Character Depot and the Jamaican Kid Lit Blog.

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    1. Yes, and I think that's partly because the effects can be contradictory that make it such a neat little prompt to use in stories. You can twisted anyway you want to make the plot more interesting.
      Thanks for stopping by.

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  8. I always think about the color goldenrod rather than the plant, though using the plant gives things an interesting spin.

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    1. It's a pretty color, too. Lightens up the scenery.

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  9. I enjoyed reading your description of the boy who gave a big, fat strawberry to the girl he liked. I like the goldenrod bouquet idea, but maybe with a twist this time by letting there be enough water in the vase. Great post, Deb.

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    1. Do you suppose that my memory of that boy with the strawberry is the reason that I write those short little romances? :-)

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  10. That's a very clever way of doing the A2Z...helping inspire idea, what a thoughtful thing to do, love it and sure it will help many.
    Great post!
    On the A to Z Challenge Maggie@expatbrazil.

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  11. Many people are allergic to it. *raises hand* Yeah, that would be a pretty effective weapon against me. Forget kryptonite, just throw me in a room with flowers. *sigh*

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  12. Just the fact that they can survive a fire make them the most romantic flower ever...besides the lovely dandelion which is impossible to kill.

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    1. Speaking of dandelions, it's almost that time of year. I'm sure I'll have a bouquet of them on my table soon. Somebody always offers one...

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  13. Very creative post! I enjoyed reading your story ideas. And thanks for stopping by my blog. :-)

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    1. Thanks for stopping here, too, and I'm glad you enjoyed the post.

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  14. I didn't know Goldenrod was something many people were allergic to *makes note of that juicy piece of information*. Might be useful in a fic, might be useful at a dinner party when the conversation is going nowhere ... whichever, thanks for the info.
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings - AtoZ (Vampires)
    FB3X - AtoZ (Erotic Drabbles)

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    1. That would certainly liven up a chat. :-)
      Thanks for stopping by.

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  15. Goldenrod might be just the thing for the witch or wizard to use in a magic potion that would save a loved one's life or maybe poison an enemy...

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  16. Now reciprocating the follow.

    I like the literary use that you suggest.

    Lee
    Wrote By Rote
    An A to Z Co-host blog

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  17. I have to be honest.
    I need to google goldenrod to see what it looks like.

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    1. Thanks for stopping. Your comment made me smile.

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  18. Very interesting to read, thanks for following me and visiting my blog. Graclands was wonderful and the graveside of Elvis was awesome . I am really a Daniel O Donnell fan who is an Irish entertainer that's the reason I have travelled to the US so many times.
    By the way pleased to meet you.
    Yvonne.

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  19. How about in literary fiction, a parent that refuses to pull out the goldenrod from the color themed garden border even though their child is deathly allergic to it?
    Elizabeth @ www.scribblinginthestorageroom.wordpress.com

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  20. I love the story about the boy giving the girl a strawberry. That would stick in my mind for a very long time, too. Simple yet so poignant.

    I grow goldenrod. It's a perfect plant for where I garden. Love the idea of the symbolic use of the plant in a story.

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  21. My first thought was, allergic. Then your last paragraph reminded me of a metaphor I use when all I have is misery and crankiness instead of gratitude and praise to give God. I give Him my weeds and He alwasy treats them like precious flowers the way our mothers did when we were children or the way a little girl might upon receiving Goldenrod from her sweetie.

    What a lovely post. Thanks. I'm visiting fron the A to Z Challenge. Drusilla (http://lovedasif.com/)

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    1. Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting.

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  22. Oh I didn't know what Goldenrod was, had to look it up :-)

    I love the children's prompt, it has the potential for a very sweet story!

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  23. I like the children's story idea. Goldenrod is a little pretty. Presenting it to a girl seems like a great act of puppy love.

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  24. Lovely post!
    Thanks for sharing it !

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