skrapnel

Sometimes I feel like I’m learning a new language, and it’s important for me to go over all my word lists before I start editing or writing.  It’s like a cue that tells my  mind to move out of conversational mode and into language that is more descriptive.  I can definitely see a change in my storytelling!

During the editing process, I’ve really come to understand the importance of a strong vocabulary.  Since the current book is about a killer, there’s a lot of shaking and grabbing.  Unfortunately, those words are popping up WAY too much.  Today, I’m sharing my list of synonyms for these words.  Hopefully they help grab your brain and shake a few words into it

Syn. “to shake”

• tremble
• quiver
• shudder
• shiver
• convulse
• jerk
• totter
• wobble
• quaver
• twitch
• flutter
• jolt
• rock

Syn. “to grab”

• clutch
• catch
• grapple
• grasp
• grip
• hook
• latch (onto)
• pluck
• seize
• snag
• snatch
• take
• nab

After living abroad for years and speaking mostly foreign languages, I’ve forgotten a lot of day-to-day phrases.  Plus because of PR and blogging, my vocabulary has slowly evolved to mostly quick, to-the-point words.  It’s also very tech heavy.  Since I’m trying to get back to more creative writing, I’m working on increasing my vocab by pulling words and phrases from books I’m reading.   None of them are complicated or intellectual, but I seem to take them for granted.

I’m currently rereading one of my favorite books, “The Wanting Seed” by Anthony Burgess.  Here are a few words I’ve encountered that I want to remember to use more:

• to pat s.o. on the back
• to blink
• to grow bored
• to decide
• to blush
• to face s.o. or s.t.
• hammering (pain)
• to push against a crowd
• guilt
• to observe
• to be struck by an idea
• to wash s.t. down