June 4, 2026
Penguin in the Attic
A little English writing practice based on a school-style prompt I had way too much fun writing the dialogue for this one. There are many things I want to improve, but I still find the penguin oddly adorable, so I wanted to share it. (❁´◡`❁)
Penguin in the Attic
The last thing I expected to find in my grandmother's attic was a live penguin. I knew she was not a typical cookie-baking granny, but this? How and where exactly could she get a penguin?!
As all sorts of thoughts flooded my mind, the penguin noticed me. He looked even more shocked, as if a girl being in her grandmother’s attic was stranger than a shark masseuse! After a minute of utter silence, he said in a weird voice, “Nevermore?” Like he wasn’t sure if that was the best opening for a penguin-human conversation. Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, though its answer bore little meaning—wait, what am I saying? How did I fall for his trick?
I tried to block out all the distractions (like how adorable he was) and asked, “Who are you? What are you… doing here?”
He answered in a greasy voice, “Didn’t work, huh? Pity.”
I muttered, “Has it ever?”
He continued, “Don’t panic, dear. You must be Sin, right? Margaret has told me so much about you.”
I cut in, “Hey, hey! Don’t try to charm me by talking about my grandmother and using your cuteness! YOU’RE A PENGUIN! And you’re talking in an attic, no less. Try explaining that first.”
He tried to calm me down, raising his cute little penguin hands as he spoke in a warm tone. “I know, I know. I’m really sorry I scared you like that. But this isn’t a story I can explain in a minute or two. How about we go downstairs and you listen to my story over a warm cup of milk and some biscuits? Your grandmother can join us too. After all, this isn’t a story I can tell by myself.”
Correction Settings
Penguin in the Attic
A little English writing practice based on a school-style prompt
I had way too much fun writing the dialogue for this one.
There are many things I want to improve, but I still find the penguin oddly adorable, so I wanted to share it.
(❁´◡`❁)
Penguin in the Attic
The last thing I expected to find in my grandmother's attic was a live penguin.
I knew she was not a typical cookie-baking granny, but this?
How and where exactly could she gethave gotten a penguin?!
How and where exactly could she have gotten a penguin?!
As all sorts of thoughts flooded my mind, the penguin noticed me.
He looked even more shocked, as if a girl being in her grandmother’s attic was stranger than a shark masseuse!
After a minute of utter silence, he said in a weird voice, “Nevermore?”
L, like he wasn’t sure if that was the best opening for a penguin-human conversation.
, like he wasn’t sure if that was the best opening for a penguin-human conversation.
This flows better if it's part of the previous sentence
Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, though its answer bore little meaning—wait, what am I saying? Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, though its answer bore little meaning—wait, what am I saying?
Hehe
How did I fall for his trick?
I tried to block out all the distractions (like how adorable he was) and asked, “Who are you?
What are you… doing here?”
He answered in a greasy voice, “Didn’t work, huh?
Pity.”
I muttered, “Has it ever?”
He continued, “Don’t panic, dear.
You must be Sin, right?
Margaret has told me so much about you.”
I cut in, “Hey, hey!
Don’t try to charm me by using your cuteness and talking about my grandmother and using your cuteness!
Don’t try to charm me by using your cuteness and talking about my grandmother!
This word order makes it clear that "using your cuteness" is not also the object of "talking about"
YOU’RE A PENGUIN!
And you’re talking to me in an attic, no less. And you’re talking to me in an attic, no less.
Just sounds kinda odd to me without "to me"
Try explaining that first.”
He tried to calm me down, raising his cute little penguin handflippers as he spoke in a warm tone.
He tried to calm me down, raising his cute little penguin flippers as he spoke in a warm tone.
Referring to something that is not at all hand-like in function or appearance with "hands" sounds odd. Like, calling squirrel or raccoon paws "hands" is okay, but calling flippers or wings "hands" is weird
“I know, I know.
I’m really sorry I scared you like that.
But this isn’t a story I can explain in a minute or two.
How about we go downstairs and you listen to my story over a warm cup of milk and some biscuits?
Your grandmother can join us too.
After all, this isn’t a story I can tell by myself.”
Feedback
Cute story ^^
June 5, 2026
He tried to calm me down, raising his cute little penguin handflippers as he spoke in a warm tone.
Referring to something that is not at all hand-like in function or appearance with "hands" sounds odd. Like, calling squirrel or raccoon paws "hands" is okay, but calling flippers or wings "hands" is weird
I thought “hands” felt cuter. in Farsi, that’s what we’d say. I didn’t realize "flippers" is the more natural English choice here, thanks. I’ll change it.
June 5, 2026
Thank you ヾ(＠⌒ー⌒＠)ノ
June 5, 2026
I hate when things don't quite translate across languages; it feels like you can't properly express yourself. Np!
June 5, 2026
I hate when things don't quite translate across languages; it feels like you can't properly express yourself. Np!
Yesss, exactly!! It’s annoying because you know the feeling is there, you just can’t find the words for it.
A little English writing practice based on a school-style prompt. A little English writing practice based on a school-style prompt.
on mobile it looked like one long sentence joined with the next one, so I added a period for clarity.
I had way too much fun writing the dialogue for this one.
TEven though there are many things I want to improve, but about this writing exercise, I still find the penguin oddly adorable, so I wanted to share it.
Even though there are many things I want to improve about this writing exercise, I still find the penguin oddly adorable, so I wanted to share it.
This way sounds a little smoother to me.
(❁´◡`❁)
Penguin in the Attic
The last thing I expected to find in my grandmother's attic was a live penguin.
I knew she was not a typical cookie-baking granny, but this?
How and where exactly could she get a penguin?!
As all sorts of thoughts flooded my mind, the penguin noticed me.
He looked even more shocked, as if a girl being in her grandmother’s attic was stranger than a shark masseuse!
After a minute of utter silence, he said in a weird voice, “Nevermore?”
Like he wasn’t sure if that was the best opening for a penguin-human conversation.
Much I marvelled much at this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, though its answer bore little meaning—wait, what am I saying?
I marvelled much at this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, though its answer bore little meaning—wait, what am I saying?
Not sure why, but the correct way is "marvel at (something)".
How did I fall for his trick?
I tried to block out all the distractions (like how adorable he was) and asked, “Who are you?
What are you… doing here?”
He answered in a greasy voice, “Didn’t work, huh?
Pity.”
I muttered, “Has it ever?”
He continued, “Don’t panic, dear.
You must be Sin, right?
Margaret has told me so much about you.”
I cut in, “Hey, hey!
Don’t try to charm me by talking about my grandmother and using your cuteness!
And you’re talking in an attic, no less.
Try explaining that first.”
He tried to calm me down, raising his cute little penguin hands as he spoke in a warm tone.
“I know, I know.
I’m really sorry I scared you like that.
But this isn’t a story I can explain in a minute or two.
How about we go downstairs and you listen to my story over a warm cup of milk and some biscuits?
After all, this isn’t a story I can tell by myself.”
Feedback
Didn't know what to expect going into this, glad I took the time to read it. It was very amusing, thanks for sharing 🐧
June 4, 2026
Thank you💖
June 4, 2026
Much I marvelled much at this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, though its answer bore little meaning—wait, what am I saying?
Not sure why, but the correct way is "marvel at (something)".
It’s a quote from The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe, when the raven speaks for the first time. I really love Poe and this poem in particular, it has a special place in my mind and heart. I wouldn’t have used it if I’d known I’d be posting it online 😅 it feels a bit personal and weird.
June 4, 2026
It’s a quote from The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe, when the raven speaks for the first time. I really love Poe and this poem in particular, it has a special place in my mind and heart. I wouldn’t have used it if I’d known I’d be posting it online 😅 it feels a bit personal and weird.
Oh is it? I recognized the "Nevermore", not this other excerpt. Just googled, and you are absolutely right! I am not cultured enough 😅
Perhaps English grammar has changed since then? It sounds a bit odd to the modern ear.
June 4, 2026
Oh is it? I recognized the "Nevermore", not this other excerpt. Just googled, and you are absolutely right! I am not cultured enough 😅 Perhaps English grammar has changed since then? It sounds a bit odd to the modern ear.
No, I think it’s totally normal not to remember every line; I’m just obsessed with it 😔😂
It probably has changed. I found it really hard to understand at first, even though I loved its rhythm, until I read a detailed analysis of it.
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Penguin in the Attic This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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A little English writing practice based on a school-style prompt A little English writing practice based on a school-style prompt. A little English writing practice based on a school-style prompt. on mobile it looked like one long sentence joined with the next one, so I added a period for clarity. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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I had way too much fun writing the dialogue for this one. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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There are many things I want to improve, but I still find the penguin oddly adorable, so I wanted to share it.
This way sounds a little smoother to me. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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(❁´◡`❁) This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Penguin in the Attic This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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The last thing I expected to find in my grandmother's attic was a live penguin. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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I knew she was not a typical cookie-baking granny, but this? This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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How and where exactly could she get a penguin?! This sentence has been marked as perfect!
How and where exactly could she |
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As all sorts of thoughts flooded my mind, the penguin noticed me. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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He looked even more shocked, as if a girl being in her grandmother’s attic was stranger than a shark masseuse! This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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After a minute of utter silence, he said in a weird voice, “Nevermore?” This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
|
Like he wasn’t sure if that was the best opening for a penguin-human conversation. This sentence has been marked as perfect!
This flows better if it's part of the previous sentence |
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Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, though its answer bore little meaning—wait, what am I saying?
Not sure why, but the correct way is "marvel at (something)". Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, though its answer bore little meaning—wait, what am I saying? Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, though its answer bore little meaning—wait, what am I saying? Hehe |
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How did I fall for his trick? This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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I tried to block out all the distractions (like how adorable he was) and asked, “Who are you? This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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What are you… doing here?” This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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He answered in a greasy voice, “Didn’t work, huh? This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Pity.” This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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I muttered, “Has it ever?” This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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He continued, “Don’t panic, dear. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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You must be Sin, right? This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Margaret has told me so much about you.” This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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I cut in, “Hey, hey! This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Don’t try to charm me by talking about my grandmother and using your cuteness! This sentence has been marked as perfect!
Don’t try to charm me by using your cuteness and talking about my grandmother This word order makes it clear that "using your cuteness" is not also the object of "talking about" |
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YOU’RE A PENGUIN! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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And you’re talking in an attic, no less. This sentence has been marked as perfect! And you’re talking to me in an attic, no less. And you’re talking to me in an attic, no less. Just sounds kinda odd to me without "to me" |
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Try explaining that first.” This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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He tried to calm me down, raising his cute little penguin hands as he spoke in a warm tone. This sentence has been marked as perfect!
He tried to calm me down, raising his cute little penguin Referring to something that is not at all hand-like in function or appearance with "hands" sounds odd. Like, calling squirrel or raccoon paws "hands" is okay, but calling flippers or wings "hands" is weird |
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“I know, I know. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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I’m really sorry I scared you like that. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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But this isn’t a story I can explain in a minute or two. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
|
How about we go downstairs and you listen to my story over a warm cup of milk and some biscuits? This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
|
Your grandmother can join us too. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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After all, this isn’t a story I can tell by myself.” This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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