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The right word: Editor's Notes #244 September 30, 2017 |
| Hello, —Mark Twain In this issue: 1. The right word 2. Tickled my funny bone 3. Interesting Web site 4. Writing prompt 1. The right word I recently struggled to find the right word to describe the conditions leading to a catastrophic situation. All I could think of was serendipitous, clearly not appropriate. A quick online hunt found me flukey, which was perfect for the situation. About twenty years ago, while reading a C.S. Forrester novel, I found the word resolve used to describe what happens to an image as someone focuses a telescope. What a gem! I have continued to play with the word resolve ever since, turning it around like a prism in my mind, marvelling at the nuances of its meanings. Both instances highlight the importance of the right word. When I find myself stuck for the right word, I use good references like dictionaries or thesauruses.They almost always get me headed in the right direction. And when I stumble upon a word used in an illuminating way, I clasp it to my heart, silently bless the writer or speaker who put it in my path, and play with it endlessly in my mind. Words are our thinking tools and the expressions of our thoughts. Clear thinking allows for clear expression. And clear expression communicates thoughts with power and grace. All words are good words if used in the right place. Our job as writers is to find the right word for the place before us. When we do, we bring delight. And now I’m savouring the light bit of delight and linking it to illuminating used above. I’d love to hear about some of your right words, either the ones you’ve used yourself or stumbled upon, taken up, and treasured. =========== 2.Tickled my funnybone On a Plumber's truck: We repair what your husband fixed. =========== 3. Interesting Web site If you can’t find your reference books or don’t have them at all, check out the link below. It also has a thesaurus section. http://www.dictionary.com/ =========== 4. Writing prompt Choose three numbers from 1 to 153. Write them down. The link in this section takes you to a list of one-word prompts. Use the the three words that correspond to the numbers you chose in a piece of writing. http://towriteprompts.tumblr.com/onewordprompts =========== Join Writer's Helper Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WritersHelperEditor Follow me on Twitter @AudreytheEditor Link on LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/audreyowen (Email me first so I know how you know me.) =========== If you know a writer who would appreciate receiving Editor's Notes, forward this issue. If someone has passed this on to you, you can get your own free subscription by signing up at https://www.writershelper.com/newsletter.html |
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