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Thursday, April 10, 2008
"Oh, My Word"
Words illuminate my mind like lighting bugs glowing in the summer night. I reach out and capture them until I have enough to fill the page, choosing each word with care, just as an indecisive child chooses a new toy.
I have a love affair with words. Nothing is more satisfying than finding the perfect words to illicit the exact intention. One word can make the difference between good and unforgettable.
In my writing world, finding the right word to complete a sentence is like finding the perfect pair of shoes. To find a pair of shoes that have the perfect combination of fashion appeal and comfort is divine. More importantly, is to have the desire to find the perfect word that escapes the lips-the word that gives the sentence awe potential.
Author Janet Evanovich claims to sit for hours dwelling on the perfect words to complete one sentence. Before I became so in tune with my writing voice, I didn't understand how this could be possible. Why would a writer stress that much over a few words on the page? In my transformation from a reader to a writer, I made a discovery. When you read books from a writer's perspective, you understand the brilliance of word choice.
I admit that I have a pocket Thesaurus and dictionary that I carry everywhere. I'm addicted to a source for synonyms. I don't want just a word, I want the perfect word, and I want three other choices for examples. When I find the perfect word to finish a sentence, I experience word euphoria. I grin from ear to ear with my articulate high.
Writing a WIP is like working a gigantic picture puzzle. We use words to make an illustration in the reader's mind. We have a dictionary full of words to choose from, and more than one word can fit in an open space, but the conscientious writer searches for the best word. The importance of a writer's conscious is having the determination to find the words that will make a difference. The beauty of the right words makes descriptions come alive on the page. The best books I have read are from authors who understand word placement. They execute gestures, emotions, and dialogue with the precision of a maestro.
I always try to execute words so they hover above the page and encase the reader in the cocoon of my story. I want them to empathize with my characters. I want them to use my words as an escape, and remember them as if they made a difference in their lives, if only for a moment.
Writers use many tools in creating their work. We've often spoke of our fetishes for highlighters, pens, and Post It notes. Unlike these tools, words cannot be bought, but they can become an infatuation.. We must exercise our minds, and embrace our language. As writers, we should acknowledge the power of words on the page, and use them to our advantage.
Words are a writer's sustenance, they can make us, or break us, never take them for granted.
What do words mean to you? Have you ever spent more than fifteen minutes searching for the right word? Have you read a favorite author's work and rewritten it in your mind? Do you have a pocket Thesaurus or dictionary?
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37 comments:
I sometimes have Thesaurus.com minimized to click on to when I'm stuck, but I find that the words usually find me first. I also have a leather bound, gilt-edged Roget's that belonged to my second cousin who wrote for the New Yorker (the old shopping column...the gene is inherited although I haven't entered a TJ Maxx in a year, I swear), but it's pretty frail and smelly, LOL.
Words are incredibly important, but I hate it when they're so fancy that it seems the author is trying too hard.
I love my Rodale Synonym Finder. Recently had to buy a new one because my old one was falling to pieces. Wish it was leather bound.
I can sit for hours looking at a sentence or paragraph, never realizing that much time has passed. I always thought that proved I stunk. LOL.
Maggie's right. There are times for big flowery words and times when only a common word will do. Finding the balance... ah, that's talent.
Maggie- I couldn't agree more. I think in choosing words-less is always more. I didn't know Thesaurus.com existed, yipee! *googling*
Kathy-You understand the value and impact of word placement. I always think if I can't go on because a sentence or paragraph isn't working for me, it needs to be rewritten. I think our gut instincts are usually right. It doesn't prove we stink as writers it means we are in tune with our voice, and realize our writing potential:)
I love words too. But, I wish I were more lyrical. Some of you lovely wenches write stuff and it sounds so poetic. I don't feel like I ever sound poetic.
I have wrestled with word choice, but usually if it gets too much for my strong need for instant gratification I just sub in something else and figure it'll harass me later.
I have no patience for my over-taxed mind sometimes.
Great blog hon!
Thanks Marnee!- I'm not poetic at all, the opening line in this blog is as poetic as I'll ever be. You're a wonderful writer. You write historical romance, something I'll never have the voice to do.
I too struggle with instant gratification. Not only with words, but in retail therapy;)
I agree with you. If my muse is in tune and giving me a scene or a chapter, I roll with it. As my grandfather always said, "Make hay while the sun shines." Although sometimes I get caught up in the need to make dialogue perfect, especially if it is at a turning point in the story. I admit, I probably fret way too much over dialogue, but's it's my favorite part of writing.
I love dialogue! It's funny though, because I fret over descriptions and dialogue just rolls off my fingertips. I always find it interesting that we all fret and toil away at this differently.
I love words! For me they are like hitting the right notes in a song. The right words can evoke anger or suspense or tears - all powerful emotional responses. And that's what I want to do with my writing, illicit an emotional response.
I'm like Marnee in that the dialogue is the easiest thing for me while the descriptions are more difficult. My tendency is to get too flowery and as Maggie said, then it just looks like I'm trying too hard.
I can't believe you didn't know about thesaurus.com. LOL! I use it ALL THE TIME! Though I did go out and buy one to have on hand as well. There's nothing better than the thesaurus to find those power verbs. Major issue for me.
You wrote fanfic for Evanovich too, eh?
I have thesaurus.com on my toolbar, Maggie. And beside me I keep Cassell's Dictionary of Slang when writing--great for historical.
I've spend 15 minutes or more for the right word. And the right sentences. I love pretty prose, that sucks in a reader. It's part of my voice I think. And sometime I'll look at my flashing cursor unable to put the right word down, and if it's the wrong word I have to find the right one before I move on.
And to your questions... yes yes and yes
Ter- I know, sometimes I appear to live under a rock. Now that I have made this discovery I've decided the best job next to being a librarian would be to pick the word of the day for Thesaurus.com:)
And your a woman in my corner. I love to evoke emotion with words.
Tiff- Yes I found the wonderful world of writing through my indulgence with fanfiction.
I'll have to check out Cassell's.
I usually use my thesaurus on my computer, even as I hear Stephen King in my head, saying, "If you need to consult a thesaurus, it's the wrong word." I tune him out. What does he know, big NYT bestseller he is.
I don't know if I've spent 15 minutes on a word; usually after 2 minutes, I put in [] and say FIND THE RIGHT WORD and then go on typing the page. I usually get the right word (or even a complete new and better paragraph) after the fourth or fifth draft.
I *do* spend an ungodly amount of time on names, just like I would spend an ungodly amount of time figuring out when their birthday is. I think people tend to be a lot like their name meanings, and I do think the generalities of their star sign do tend to come out. Pisces are dreamy, romantic, and love to have their feet rubbed (except Jackie, my friend the Pisces, because it tickles). Pisces aren't particularly ambitious; money is not the most important thing in life; and they'd rather loll about eating bon-bons than adhering strictly to a Puritan work ethic. Rather shy, but also wise...and people who meet them tend to feel rather protective of them. Even if they're built like Rambo, there is something rather vulnerable about them that needs protecting.
I'm far more concerned about hooking up my Libra heroes with a Capricorn...or something of the like. Or naming them "Stacey"...
Hey, it's only 8:30 here. My caffeine hasn't kicked in yet and I shouldn't have gotten out of bed this morning.
Eh what does Stephan King know?
I admit to having a name fetish myself. I purchased the Character Naming Sourcebook that Sherrilyn Kenyon wrote, very helpful. It has a lot of cool info about the origination of names and different author's reasons for picking a certain name for their characters.
I have never been into birthdays and signs, but maybe I should be.
Nah, Lisa, if your characters already come to fully made--I wouldn't worry about it. I like knowing the star signs because I can pinpoint their strengths, weaknesses, and neuroses a bit more easily.
I refuse to believe Stephen King has never consulted a thesaurus. He can protest all he wants.
Please do not put a Libra with a Capricorn. That's just mean. LOL!
I've gotten so frustrated from not finding the right word, I've just closed the file and walked away. Sort of my version of a temper tantrum. This could explain my low word count.....
I was just going to say that, Ter.
Libras and Cappy's are the worst mix. And that's all I'll say.
I don't know anything of astrology either. I figure fire signs probably won't work well with water signs. Things of that nature. Have no idea which signs are which though. I know I'm a fire sign. That's about as far as I go. LOL
I love words. But if I'm writing and know I didn't use the right word, I don't stew over it. I highlight it and move on. I come back later when my mind is fresh and think of the right word. Stewing over a word frustrates me and then I'm useless. Not that I'm not useless most of the time, but sometimes I can be productive.
SK is crazy. He hand writes his novels.
LOL! You guys are funny. I agree about Stephen King, though. With how wordy that dude is, you couldn't get me to believe he doesn't use the thesaurus feature in Word.
I rarely use a thesaurus. I am more likely to use a dictionary because I find it more useful in distinguishing shades of meaning. Usually I just play with the words in my head, but I can spend an hour or more writing and rewriting a single line to get precisely the right word. Part of that obsession is the poet in me. One wrong word can wreck a poem. I don't think single words have as much power in fiction, but still I ponder. Is "quibble" really the best verb here. Would "cavil" be better? Would the character use either? I can carry on a long conversation with myself debating such questions.:)
The shades of meaning can hang you every time. I need to watch that one more. *LOL* I need to doublecheck the meaning when I find a "new" word in the thesaurus.
Christie, you're *married* to a water sign! What do you mean you don't work well together?
Janga - you simply have way more words in that brain of yours than I will ever have. If I get hung up on the precise meanings, I'd never get anything done.
Wait, I never get anything done now. LOL!
I don't have to actually memorize the sign stuff because I just ask the Captain and she tells me when to run the other way or latch on with both hands. LOL! She's really quite accurate.
Lisa that is a truly wonderful, very descriptive first paragraph.
Personally? I love words. I love the way a well written piece looks on paper. And I love the way that well written work sounds when it is spoken out loud.
and
MsHellion, I find it quite fascinating that you use astrology to pinpoint things about your characters. Do you do the same thing to real people? I’m curious, What does my chart tell you about me?
Cancer, Aquarius Rising.
Numerology? An Eight
Chinese , Ox
In the ancient Maya and Aztec astrology I am:
DAY-SIGN: 13-Knife
(Maya: 13-Etz'nab)
YEAR: North-2 (Tikal System)
13-DAY PERIOD: 1-Death
(Maya: 1-Cimi)
NIGHT LORD: 8
VENUS PHASE: Morning Star
Eww, I just checked out my free past life sample reading. All I’ll say is mine starts out with “You are very unusual Julie…” Ha, it only gets better… or worse. One line says that I have a “tendency to be continually seeking that which is just beyond your grasp.”
What? I will Always be seeking that which is out of my reach?
How unfair is that? In my past lives, in my present, and in my future ones … I am destine to be… short?
Gawd!
Julie - you crack me up! LOL!
Sin, I'm with you astrology signs never enter my mind when I'm creating characters. I guess it's because Im a believer in the man that created the stars, and he holds my destiny.
Janga- I believe you use resources that work for you as an individual. I just happen to be a thesaurus lover, not only for my writing, but also as a game of wit. I've carried on a few of those conversations you mentioned with myself.
Julie, Thank you! I'm glad you stopped by and commented:)
Julie - LOL!!
My only consolation Terrio, is that my Older Sister is barely 5 feet tall. I am 5 foot ’2 inches, SO I tower over Her! She hates That!
Ahhh…
Being taller than your Older Sister.
Priceless!
For everything… or should I say… for everyone else… there’s heels!
Julie - I'm right there with you. Only I tower over both my mother and my older sister. I'm 5'4", they are both right at 5'. Even my dad is almost eye to eye with me so I'm a giant in my family.
Then I meet normal people and that flies right out the window. LOL!
Aquarian rising. Aquarians are the Original original. (In fact, I dated an Aquarian once and I think he just behaved that way so he couldn't accused of being like anyone else. They pride themselves on originality.)
http://www.cafeastrology.com/risingsignsascendant.html#aquariusascendant
My friend is a Cancer. The bits I see that are consistent about them: they're sensitive, family-oriented and nurturing, (the men are total momma's boys!), and protective of those they love (think: she-bear). Don't usually like people to be blunt with them.
MOODY would be another word I'd use to describe them, but being I'm a Pisces, that's like the pot calling the kettle black.
Lisa, call me weird...but I believe in both.
Julie, how did you figure the Mayan stuff? That looks interesting! (Though don't they think the world is going to end in a couple years?)
Ohhh "Moody" made me laugh! Me MOODY?
Nev-ah
Hellion, Check out some of the free sample reports on Astrology.com. If i was... ahh... daring... i'd post my sample past life report. All I'll say is some of it "feels" right. And some of it is just... well... just check it out for your self.
I'm a word lover also, Lisa. I get very frustrated trying to find the right word or phrase. My vocabulary (and grammar) is one area I would loved to improve upon. I have noticed, though, that over the past year or so (since I've been blogging) my vocabulary and education regarding words has grown significantly. I love words but am not as comfortable as I'd like to be with them. I'm getting there, though.
I used to work for a guy about 20 years ago who was pitiful. I was his secretary. He wrote narrative reports that were given to banks and loan companies. I would type up the reports he gave me and make any spelling or grammar corrections that I deemed appropriate. When I gave the reports back to him he would always question my changes and make me change them back to the way he originally wrote them. He loved to use "that which" and "for to" and all these other phrases that made him sound like Cliff Claven. He was also a fan of big words that he didn't know the meaning of and no matter how I tried he wouldn't keep my corrections. I always pictured the people at the banks getting his reports and gathering around in a conference room to have a good laugh at how stupid the reports sounded. The sad part was that they probably thought he hired an idiot for a secretary and that I was the culprit not him!
Irish- Isn't it awesome how the more you play with words and punctuation, you find an understanding? I experienced the same thing and am still learning every day. Punctuation is my biggest hurdle. I'm sure all of you have noticed I am a comma whore.
What an overbearing jerk of a boss. I can imagine the scene you discribe in the conference room:) No matter what anyone thought, you still have the knowledge that you tried to correct his mistakes.
Hm, Matt is water? Maybe that's why every time I have an idea he has to Debbie Downer it. LOL
Well, that could be because he's Matt...but if your ideas involve MONEY, then yes, he'll be a downer about it because Money=Security, and Cancers enjoy their comfort and security at the cost of real risk.
Well my child is a Cancer and she has NO PROBLEM spending my money. Spending her money is a different story.
She argued that I owed her a dollar the other day so I explained if I owed her a dollar then she had to pay me back the twenty dollars I just spent on her new DS game. She had the nerve to tell me if I were to hand her a twenty dollar bill, she would hand it right back and we'd be even.
Brat.
Funny, that sounds a LOT like Matt.
You wenches are hilarious! Blimey, I've missed so much today.
S. King's quote is a good one. I've been criticized for using big, flowery words in my writing and was told to write more down to earth. My eyes bugged out of my head b/c I thought I'd written some pretty stuff. Newbies. Harumph. (speaking of myself)
Sent the kids off to Prom. The weather held out. Kids looked so grown up, especially #4 *sniff, the baby* Now I can only pray she won't get shanghi-ed by that she-siren tonight. (fingers crossed that the Phantom comes out of the shadows and does his worst saving me the trouble.)
DH and I are Geminis. What are the odds?
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