Good evening, writers. We've had a number of diaries about worldbuilding but I don't recall that we've ever had one specifically about plants, herbs, and flowers.
Do the people in your world use medicinal herbs for healing? Do they brew potions from them? Do they extract deadly poisons from them, or valuable medicines? Do they assign meanings to them?
From The Old Farmer's Almanac
Sunflower, dwarf — Adoration
Sunflower, tall — Haughtiness
Sweet pea — Blissful pleasures, Goodbye, Thank you for a lovely time
Sweet William — Gallantry
Sweet woodruff — Humility
Maybe your work is set in the real world, or perhaps in a fantasy land, or in the far past, or in space on a distant planet. Are there plants there that are unknown to us here? Or maybe it's just a faraway corner of our world, Down Under or in the frozen wastes. What plants do they nurture and harvest that are unfamiliar to us, or what value do they place on the commonplace plants of our gardens?
University of Utah Poisonous Plant Guide
BANEBERRY (Native)
Actaea rubra
These plants grow at higher elevations (8000 feet) in cool, wet places. Grows 3 or 4 feet tall, has a thick stem and thick underground root, large featherlike leaves with a hairy underside. Poisonous parts: all parts, especially root stock and sap.
Do the people in your story have a particularly close relationship with nature? Or do they tend to take it for granted? How do they show their care for the natural world, or lack thereof? Maybe they don't really think about it much at all. Show us how they care.
A Guide to Common Medicinal Herbs
Chamomile
(Flower)
Chamomile is often used in the U.S. to help with anxiety and relaxation. In Europe, it's used to heal wounds and reduce inflammation and swelling. You can drink chamomile tea.
Tonight’s Challenge:
Write a scene demonstrating how the people in your current work in progress relate to the natural world, particularly the world of plants, herbs, and flowers. Or use some of the characters from our well-known settings. Try to engage at least three of the senses.
Or, if you’re feeling extra wild and untamed, write a brief scene from the point of view of a plant. Is it well cared for by humans? Is it threatened by sheep without muzzles? Does it have any thorns with which to defend itself?
Diarist Schedule:
Oct 2 — dconrad . . . . . . . . also FWIP (hey! that’s me!)
Oct 9 — Aashirs nani
Oct 16 — strawbale
Oc 23 — mettle fatigue
Oct 30 — dconrad
Nov 6 — Aashirs nani
Nov 13 — sagesource
Nov 20 —
Nov 27 — mettle fatigue unless someone else particular wants the turkey trot?
READERS & BOOK LOVERS SERIES SCHEDULE
