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Another week has passed, and we have seven more writing exercises. This time the focus is on the words we use to construct our story. Words really are the stars of the writing world. For some writers words are the essence of their craft and they live to produce “good words.” Other writers are happy to produce “good enough words” and move on down the road.
Either way, we can’t write without words. Rather than waste any more words, I’ll stop right here.
Monday, June 10, 2024
🟡 Some Choice Words
Exercise #239 Using Constraints on Diction
Strategy: Have you ever wondered how to make your characters' conversations distinctive? The secret lies in the power of word choice! By intentionally constraining the words your characters use, you can infuse their dialogue with personality, subtext, and intrigue. It's like giving yourself a verbal puzzle to solve—and the result is a delightfully engaging read.
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
🟡 Word Palettes
Exercise #240 Using Words to Activate the Descriptive Brain
Strategy: Have you ever struggled to bring a scene to life on the page? It's like trying to paint a picture without paint! But what if I told you that the key to unlocking your descriptive potential lies in the power of words? Just like an artist carefully selects colors to create a mood, writers can use word palettes to evoke specific emotions and transport readers to another world. By curating a collection of evocative words related to a particular setting and mood, you'll have a handy toolkit to draw from as you craft your scene. It's like having a cheat sheet for your imagination!
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
🟡 Master Multidimensional Words
Exercise #241 Crafting Precise and Powerful Prose
Strategy: Words are the building blocks of our stories, but choosing the perfect word can feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack. What if, instead of rummaging through a jumble of options, we could pinpoint the exact dimensions we need? By breaking down words into spectrums of meaning, we can target our search and find the ideal fit for every context. This exercise challenges you to think beyond mere "taste" and instead dissect the fundamental qualities that make a word work. By consciously considering dimensions like action, emotion, specificity, formality, and concreteness, you'll develop a keen sense of how to craft sentences with precision and flair.
Thursday, June 13, 2024
🟡 Wordsmithing
Exercise #242 Inventing Ingenious Vocabulary
Strategy: Ever feel like the English language is missing a few crucial words? It's time to take matters into your own hands and craft some brand new vocabulary! Just like Shakespeare, who coined over 1,700 words, you have the power to create neologisms that perfectly capture your unique ideas and experiences. The key is to start with established word formation techniques and then let your imagination run wild. By combining prefixes, suffixes, and roots in unexpected ways, or borrowing from other languages and cultures, you can invent words that are both meaningful and memorable.
Friday, June 14, 2024
🟡 What's in a Name
Exercise #243 Character Names that Stick
Strategy: Picture this: you're reading a novel with a cast of characters so vast, it feels like you need a spreadsheet to keep track of them all. And to make matters worse, their names are about as memorable as a grocery list. But fear not, dear writer! With a few strategic choices and a dash of creativity, you can craft character names that will lodge themselves in your readers' minds like a catchy tune. The key is to strike a balance between distinctiveness and believability, while also being mindful of how and when you introduce your characters.
Saturday, June 15, 2024
🟡 Could You Be More Precise?
Exercise #244 Using More Precise Verbs
Strategy: Ever feel like your writing is just trudging along? Let’s jazz things up with some verb alchemy! By replacing dull verb + adverb pairs with precise, punchy verbs, you can turn mundane sentences into engaging narratives. Think of this exercise like crafting in a game of Minecraft. It’s all about honing the power of specificity. Of course, sometimes you want to talk softly and carry a big stick, rather than whisper and carry a cudgel. But there’s always room to practice finding more precise verbs.
Sunday, June 16, 2024
🟡 The Power of Revision
Exercise #245 Mastering Word Choice for Vivid Settings
Strategy: You're crafting a captivating story, and you want to transport your readers to a vivid world. But how do you paint a picture with words that truly brings your setting to life? The secret lies in the power of revision. Just like a painter carefully selects each color to create a masterpiece, a writer must choose their words wisely to conjure up a vivid scene. But here's the catch: you don’t have to pick perfect words when drafting a new story. First get the words on paper, then practice rewriting and revising with style.
Our next weekly theme will focus on the drafting process.