Are You Ready to Unleash Your Storytelling Potential? Lesson 3 Choosing the Right Words: Expressing Your Ideas Clearly

The Power of Words

Words are the building blocks of writing, and choosing the right words to express your ideas can make all the difference in how well your message is received. Words have the power to convey emotion, paint vivid pictures in the reader’s mind, and engage the reader in your writing.

Words are Simply Wonderful

Did you know that the following nine letter words can be derived from the phrase ‘Presidents of the United States’

Deforests desertion disforest dispenser dissenter dopesters dripstone entropies fetidness findspots firestone foresides frontside indorsees infesters interpose isoprenes persisted piedforts poetisers posterise president presifted professed proteides redeposit redispose reefpoint repointed reposited resident serotines sidenotes softeners tepidness terpenoid tiredness topsiders torpefied torpefies

Word Choice Matters

When choosing words for your writing, it’s important to consider their meaning, connotations, and associations. The words you choose can have a big impact on the tone and style of your writing, and can affect how the reader perceives your message. Take the time to choose your words carefully and ensure that they accurately convey your ideas.

Did you know that instead of using the phrase ‘the day before yesterday’ to refer to an event that took place on Tuesday, you can use the word nudiustertian? This one-word term is a more concise way to express the same idea, although it may require some explanation.

Using Active Voice

Using active voice in your writing can help to make your writing more dynamic and engaging. Active voice places the subject of the sentence in the position of the actor, making it clear who is doing what. This can help to create a sense of action and movement in your writing, making it more exciting and engaging for the reader.

Exercise: Rewrite a piece of your writing, focusing on using active voice and choosing words that accurately convey your ideas. Pay attention to the tone and style of your writing, and think about how the words you choose can affect the reader’s perception of your message.

Varying Your Vocabulary

In addition to choosing the right words, it’s also important to vary your vocabulary. Using the same words repeatedly can make your writing boring and monotonous. Instead, try to incorporate a range of different words, including synonyms, descriptive adjectives, and specific nouns. This will help to create a more interesting and engaging reading experience.

Exercise: Try to incorporate five new words into your writing. Look up the definitions and use them in a sentence. Pay attention to how the words fit into your writing and how they affect the overall tone and style.

Did you know that jamais vu is the opposite of déjà vu and refers to the feeling of unfamiliarity towards something that is actually familiar. In French, jamais vu means ‘never seen.’ It can be a result of certain medical conditions like epilepsy. So next time you experience something feeling unfamiliar, you might be experiencing jamais vu.

Show, Don’t Tell

One of the most important principles of effective writing is “show, don’t tell”. This means that instead of simply telling the reader what’s happening, you should try to show them through vivid descriptions and sensory details. This will help to bring your writing to life and engage the reader in a more meaningful way.

Exercise: Choose a scene from a story you’re working on and rewrite it, focusing on “showing” instead of “telling”. Think about the sensory details you can include to bring the scene to life, such as sights, sounds, smells, and feelings.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of YOUR Words

The power of words in writing should never be underestimated. By choosing the right words, using active voice, varying your vocabulary, and showing instead of telling, you can improve your writing and engage your reader in a more meaningful way. Practice these techniques regularly to master the art of word choice and improve your writing skills. Take the time to choose your words carefully, paying attention to their meaning, connotations, and associations. Using active voice in your writing can help to create a sense of action and movement, making your writing more dynamic and engaging.