Words. We cannot write without them. If you think about it, they are pretty amazing things. As writers, we artfully place them just so, and before we know it, we've created ideas, stories, and other wonderful things. Even on those days when we don't feel like we've placed them so artfully, we still have something we can revise, don't we?
Words roll off our tongues, rattle around in our heads, place images in our mind's eye, and fly from our fingertips on to a computer screen. They can soothe, encourage, and minister. What a wonderful gift from our creator!
I include an assignment in the Coffeehouse for Writers class that requires students to create a log of interesting, emotionally charged, or unusual words. They are encouraged to separate them into categories such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, phrases, quotations, puns, names, places, and emotions.
For example, I once happened across the phrase a riot of autumn color, and can still picture the scene that the book spoke of. Words like odoriferous and babushka made my list too.
If one is so inclined, a list like this can be expanded each time a new item is discovered. It's a great way to fuel writing ideas, don't you think?
Got a minute or two to spare? :)
I invite you to hop over to Marja Meijers' blog where I'm being interviewed today.
Blogoversary!
I'm working on a little giveaway and a few other features for my third blogoversary this month. Details will follow soon!
Do you keep a log of interesting words, phrases, or quotes? Share one or two with us, won't you?
Happy writing,
Karen
Copyright 2012. No part of this post may be copied without written permission from the author, Karen Lange.
