Right now, my friends and family are FREAKING OUT! “They’re PREGNANT?” “He’s in his fifties! How’s that even possible?”
Rest assured, folks, that the “new baby” is merely allegorical. As a writer, I’m always striving to grow, and one way I do this is by increasing my vocabulary. So when I discover a new word, for me, it’s like having a new baby (only without the stinky diapers, 3 A.M. feedings, and subsequent college tuition.)
If you’re still reading this, then I have to assume you’re a writer since everyone else thought: “Oh, this isn’t about a baby…” “Oh, it’s not about sex…”
So let’s continue…
Recently, I uncovered a plethora of gems in a fantasy I was reading and added them to my Excel vocab worksheet. Geeky? Yep! But I’ll be the first to admit where I’m weakest (vocab/grammar) and need to improve. Plus, with the spreadsheet nearby while I write, I have a handy tool and resource at my fingertips. If not, I tend to use the same tired word or phrasing, which is boring, and if I’m bored, my reader has to be too.
So when I discover a new word, especially one that sums up several words, I get excited. Honest, I really do! And you can bet your booty I’ll have these new tots dressed and ready to go, anxious to insert them in a page and watch them help my story grow up. The trick, of course, is to not be the obnoxious parent who shows off baby all the time!
So what tricks of the trade do you use?
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J.E. Lowder 