The Snowflake Chronicles

Oct 25, 2023 Fantasy Newsletter Deadline Mon Oct 23, 2022

Research

https://www.almanac.com/content/month-october-holidays-fun-facts-folklore
https://www.thefactsite.com/october-facts/
https://www.egreenway.com/months/monoct.htm
{lin:https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/other/15-fun-facts-and-myths-about-halloween/ss-AA1hD9wR}

Editor's Picks

1. A.I. Tales - Futuristic Realm of Harmony
2. KronoQuest {Excerpt)
3. Oxygène
4. Girl with Child
5. Eternity in Monochrome
6. In the year 2030
7. The Avenger from Atlantis
8. Uncle and Nephew
9. A Family Halloween

Heading 1

October Facts, Folklore, And Myths

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What are some of the October folklore and myths?

Hook

Do you use folklore in your fantasy and science fiction stories?

About This Newsletter

October gets its name from the eighth month of the Roman calendar. Which, I suspect, could be a bit confusing if one looks at the way the Gregorian calendar is arranged. However, since most of us have followed the Gregorian calendar most of our lives, we do not question the arrangements of the months or even look at them logically.

Letter From the Editor

:
October Facts: (1) The Hunters Moon is the name of the October full moon. (2) Meteor Showers - The Draconid meteor shower on October 9 and the Orionid meteor shower October 21-22. (3) When most of the leaves on trees begin to change color.

October Folklore: (1) If deer's coats are gray it means a hard winter. (2) A rainy October means a windy December. (3) If October is warm, February will be cold. (4) Fertilize your fields in October to get high-yield crops.

October Celebrations: (1) Samhain, (2) Halloween, and (3) All Hallows Eve.

October is the beginning of the year's dark season. The days are growing shorter and, in most of the northern hemisphere, colder. In many locations, temperatures are expected to descend below freezing, which can be as dangerous as triple digit temperatures. Snow is expected to fall, and this can be dangerous. Many people are looking forward to the winter holiday season and have begun (or should have begun) their holiday shopping.

October (Halloween) Myths: (1) Jack-o'-Lanterns, which can either be a pumpkin or a turnip. (2) Originally, candy was left out so the dead could grab a bite on their yearly night out. (3) Orange and black are the colors of Halloween because orange symbolizes harvest and black darkness and death. (4) Witch's Sabbath is said to be Halloween. (5) Ghost are free to roam on Halloween. (6) Evil Spirit are said to roam free.

I have included only a few of the facts, folklore, and myths about October. Do you know any others? Have you used any folklore legends or myths in your stories? What is your favorite October myth or folklore legend?

Editors Picks

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Oxygène  (13+) Time travelling Lovers attend a concert together #2285568 by Adherennium - Maybe Writing?

Girl with Child  (13+) A Blitz poem inspired by the Hobbit #2304917 by Weirdone-Back in the games

STATIC

Eternity in Monochrome   (13+) Ink on paper gives immortality to some. A demon sends a writer 100 years into the future. #2303448 by Kotaro

In the year 2030   (ASR) In the year 2030 end-of-the world for writer's cramp #2306113 by JCosmos

STATIC

The Avenger from Atlantis  (13+) Brief little story using a Weird stories cover as the prompt. #2163399 by D. Reed Whittaker

Uncle and Nephew  (ASR) Bilbo and Frodo #2304940 by THANKFUL SONALI Library Class!

STATIC

A Family Halloween  (E) A family of monsters celebrate their favorite holiday #757211 by W.D.Wilcox

Feedback "Fantasy Newsletter (September 27, 2023)" 

Averren writes: I am a "pants'er" by nature. I like to take a kernel of an idea and run with it. Doing so, I have created some memorable short stories and even received a little recognition for them. I am sincerely grateful, but I am trying to move into more serious writing and create my first novel. I have three good (at least I think so) book ideas and have chosen the one I will pursue. I am learning just how little I know about the novel writing process.

I have no doubt there is a pant'ser out there skilled enough to sit down and write a complete novel by the seat of their pants and have it turn out perfectly. I am realizing I am not one of those people. New to the process, I soon realized I needed a bit of organization - a plan. So, how am I doing that?
I have been studying and researching. I have books for reference (Thanks for the heads-up, Lilli!). I have taken a few online courses and will take some creative writing college courses in the coming months.

My point? I will use my pants'ing skills to create the narrative, but I need to plan (outline?) to keep the ball rolling in the right direction. That is more difficult than I had anticipated. I agree that worrying about creating two remarkable paragraphs at the beginning of the story may seem daunting, but I have never struggled in that area. 'Hooking,' as beholden says above, should come naturally. It does to me, at least. I don't worry about it. As I said above, I am at a point where the process is becoming king.