'One pearl is better than a whole necklace of potatoes!' very much applies to writing! This is from author, Constance Hale, as she goes on to state that strengthening out grammar and syntax is not the be all and end all of writing but the need of a command of language as you need a commanding idea. Your basic ability as a writer to discriminate between pearls and potatoes - because choosing the words fit to be strung in sentences should lead to well-crafted writing.
So let me here pick up some of Ms Hale's suggestions on word choice that could lead to writing that can 'plunge deep and pulsate with life'. For instance, try not for big shot words but for big ideas... use short common words that name big things like hope and pride and commitment. Don't use nine words where three is sufficient. Just remember, however, that to eliminate expressive words that intensify or vivify meaning in writing is not simplicity.
In choosing nouns, choose those that are rich in connotations of emotion or sensation. When you have the word house in your mind, wouldn't you rather take cottage, or duplex, shack, or bungalow or even A-frame? Pick bungalow, however, if you want to capture coziness and a homey atmosphere. If you think terms like abode, dwelling and residence are colorless and opt for Victorian, hacienda or manor, you're okay, I guess... just remember that plain nouns can also be strong.
The use of the active voice in verbs makes for a strong, direct and mascular effect: - the sky hangs languidly, the mountains glower darkly, the fireflies glimmer playfully. But instead of using walks, why not paces, skips, skedaddles! Instead of says, why not wails, whispers, insists! For stronger impact, opt for the substitutions: he has a plan to - he plans to; team had 10 loses - team lost 10 games; she left the company - she quit; make contact with - call, fax, email; exhibit a tendency to - tend to; cause an investigation - find out; is not in a position to - cannot!
So the nouns, you will remember from grammar school, are the substantives while the verbs are basically the action carriers. The following modifiers would now be the adjectives (noun modifiers) and the adverbs (verb and adjective modifiers). They function as meaning enhancers: beautiful girl, interesting comment, incredible discovery.....rapidly responded, frighteningly beautiful, super fast! To reverse the adjective-noun pattern though is poetic license as in: light fantastic, bliss eternal, hot cup of coffee. But watch out for doublers or redundancies like: free gift (gifts wouldn't be gifts if paid for), afternoon matinee, true facts, vast majority, serious danger, grave emergency. Or coining opposite adjective-noun confusers like: new tradition, original copy, partial cease fire, or limited lifetime guarantee. As for adverbs, clip those hedges, you don't need the adverbs here: screeched loudly, rudely insulted, gently caressing, meld together. And instead of saying, quite happy, go for thrilled; instead of wiped out, or very tired, say lethargic; instead of truly moved, say touched.
If nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs are known as content words, prepositions and conjunctions would be two of what are termed function words. Prepositions are there for spatial relationships and parallel structuring but rid your writing of them whenever you can and lodge your ideas directly in nouns and verbs. Avoid as of now, at present, at this point in time. Use if rather than in the event that. Use many rather than a great number of. Use about rather than with reference. Use for rather than in the interest of. Prepositions aren't verbs so say he dances hula rather than he's into hula. Conjunctions, on the other hand, are connectors - they help to smooth prose. Just remember that like is followed by a noun: looks like Matt Damon...and that as introduces a clause: do as I say. You say you can learn this as I have rather than like I have. An overabundance of ands is to be avoided....although a conjunction can start a sentence as in And God said:....!
Thus your basic ability as a writer to discriminate between pearls and potatoes....and to choose the words fit to be strung in sentences should lead to well-crafted writing. As C. Hale expressly states: One pearl is better than a string of potatoes!
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