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Paula looks at the words we use.
Language is the tool of the writer. All right, that’s
stating the obvious. Or is it? All writers use words, but
they don’t necessarily explore the richness of the English language. A poor or
limited choice of words can make for weak writing; well-chosen words strengthen
one’s writing.
It is worth taking the time to be selective in your choice of
words. Personally I enjoy searching for the right word for the action or image
or emotion I’m trying to convey. Sometimes, when writing a first draft, I’ll
choose a word that I know isn’t exactly right, and highlight it, so that when I
get to the editing stage, I can search my brain (or the thesaurus!) for the
perfect word.
At the same time, I admit to a dislike of what I call ‘flowery’
language, littered with too many adjectives, adverbs, similes and metaphors. Some
writers tend to go overboard with these, maybe thinking this improves the ‘literary’
quality of their work, whereas simpler writing can often be far more effective.
However, language isn’t just a matter of selecting the right words. It’s also the way in which you put those words together. It’s the
style, flow and cadence of your writing – your own individual and unique voice.
Writers sometimes ask how they can ‘find’ their voice, when all the time it is
there within them. Of course, it may change over time, and hopefully it improves
as you continue to develop your writing skills.
I know what you mean about flowery language. It strangles the writing.
ReplyDeleteIt's often the thing that readers skip anyway, particularly if it's a long description!
DeleteI was always good at writing essays at school and loved English lessons, and I know what you mean about some writers using flowery language. Not sure why they do it because it strangles what they are trying to say.
ReplyDeleteI actually hated writing essays at school, because I wanted to tell stories, not write descriptions of a summer meadow etc!
DeleteMy father was not a man who doled out much praise to his children. So you can imagine my surprise when he told my husband that I'd always been good at writing. I wish he would have told me when I was in school, not when I was in my 50's, but hey! better late than never.
ReplyDeleteI love language: eloquent, image-conjuring, heart-stopping, chill-inducing, descriptive, language. It's hard to write, but I know now that it doesn't flow out of most writers in one pass. It's layered in, just like you describe, Paula.
You're right about it not flowing in one pass, Ana! Sometimes I think I spend far too long agonising over one word or one sentence, but I can't do otherwise.
DeleteIt can be so rewarding to find exactly the right word we need, and often one word is best rather than multiple "wrong" words.
ReplyDeleteAgree! Overloaded writing can soon descend into 'purple prose'.
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