“I can’t think of the right word. Nah, that’s okay. Any generic word will do. Nobody cares. “
That’s where you’re dead wrong. Everybody cares.
Word choice is very important.
It can make or break your manuscript. You heard me the first time.
Say no more. Blvnp ninjas are awesome with words and are more than willing to help.
Here is what you should do:
- Consider the context
Is your writing formal or informal? Are you using American English or British English?
These are the initial questions you should ask yourself. This will guide you on what words to use.
Remember consistency is key. Your words should be consistent with the context.
- Align your words to your market
Are you writing teen fiction? Then you can probably put in popular expressions that the older generation has no idea of. Or maybe you are going for adults, then yes you can incorporate those steamy adjectives to describe that sex scene.
- Avoid wordiness
Keep things concise. Wordiness bores readers. Use “because” instead of saying “due to the fact that”. Say “if”, in place of “in the event that”.
- Make your verbs count
Verbs signify action and action puts life into the manuscript. Hence, make sure your verbs do the talking. Instead of “I drove in the middle of traffic to see you”, you can say “I maneuvered my way through traffic just to see you.”
- Make your adjectives pop
Make it as descriptive as possible. The reader should see the details in color through your adjectives. Instead of “Yes, practice was very hard”, you can say “Yes, it was grueling. I think that may have been the most intense practice I have undergone to date.”
- Explore
There is such a thing as comfort zone. We sometimes are so comfortable with some words that we can’t help but use them all the time. Break out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to explore. Go search the thesaurus for synonyms and you might just find one that fits the bill perfectly.
Now you know how to choose strong, impactful words. Start making your words count.
Remember they matter. 🙂