Writing is a skill. And like any talent, in order to elevate onesself in her or his craft requires discipline, dedication and practice. Lots of practice.
Besides pen and paper, or a computer, what are essential tools a writer should have at her or his disposal at all times? For most, the dictionary and the thesaurus top the list.
These writing tools not only help to ensure precision in communication, they can aid in expanding your vocabulary. This will only elevate the quality of your writing even more. And that’s a beautiful thing.
Word Search
When you are searching for a word, the thesaurus may be your best friend. In a previous post, I explained how I am reliant on my “Synonym Girl™”. She helps me when I am at struggling for a word, or simply looking to mix up my prose with a fresh term.
Don’t settle for the common word. Seek out sexy substitutes that energize!
For example, instead of choosing the more familiar term enthusiastic, you might choose ebullient instead:
“My goodness, could Natalia have been any more enthusiastic?”
“My goodness, could Natalia have been any more ebullient?”
Enthusiastic is a fine descriptor, but ebullient has a special air about it.
In another very recent post, I brooded over how simplistic communication has become even though we are a far better educated people than perhaps at any time in history. With the accumulation of knowledge has come the dumbing down of our language. Why, I lament? In this example, see if you don’t agree that scintilla is a far better word choice than speck:
“Despite his protestations of innocence, there’s not a speck of truth in his denials.”
“Despite his protestations of innocence, there’s not a scintilla of truth in his denials.”
Again, speck is a satisfactory adjective, yet scintilla carries so much more impact.
Final Word
For writers, words are our currency. The more words we know, the richer our writing. However, finding and selecting the right words to express our ideas can be a painstaking search at times, even with a dictionary and thesaurus. But with practice, I submit to you, dear reader, that your word choice and your prose will vastly improve, bringing you and your audience a significantly more lucrative payoff.
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