Wednesday, February 5, 2014

WORD FOR THE WEEK



LAZY: not inclined to work or exertion.

EXAMPLE: Lazy writers take the easy way out.

 QUOTES:

"The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter - it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."
Mark Twain

 "It's none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way." Ernest Hemingway

"Hard writing makes easy reading."
Wallace Stegner

We need to strive to not be lazy in our writing. Being lazy can mean many things.

Words matter. Don't use lazy words in our writing. Words such as: was/is/are/am, got, went, often, almost, felt, things, few, some, that, really, seemed

One way to get around using these words, is by using descriptive and specific words. 

She felt cold = she shivered in the harsh wind
She felt sick = the contents in her stomach churned and her head ached

We went to the store = he jumped onto his bike and sped to the store
She packed her things in the suitcase = she packed her pajamas and teddy bear into her small suitcase and walked next door to spend a sleepover at her best friend's house.
I got up = I stood up - I woke up   

Avoid passive writing. Describe the action, not the result. 

I try not to use ly words. How do you do that? By using powerful verbs.

A lazy writer could mean a writer who doesn't write. In order to succeed in your writing, you have to write. 

Don't think about it. Don't dream about it. Don't procrastinate. Don't wish.

Writing doesn't just happen. Writing comes from reading, practice, studying, editing and determination.

I might be classified as a determined writer. I am not the best writer, but I am determined to make my writing the best I can make it. If this means working on a story until I get it right, then I will continue to rewrite it until the story is the best I can make it.  I will not give up on it until I am satisfied.


 Don't by lazy. . .


Writing can be like this lump of coal. 
Add the right ingredients and watch it grow into something beautiful!



Do you have any suggestions to share?

Happy Writing.

Posted by Janet Smart  on Creative Writing in the Blackberry Patch.

 

4 comments:

  1. Great post, Janet! Lazy writing is easy writing. Active writing is HARD. Active verbs and writing the action as it plays out in my mind are two ways I've found that help me keep my writing from being lazy. And you've touched on these same things. :-)

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    1. Hi Barbara. That is so true. Sometimes my writing gets lazy and I have to give it a swift kick to get it moving.

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  2. Wonderful quotes. The right word is so important. Sometimes I spend what seems like forever trying to come up with a word that sound right for a situation. You can tell when they're wrong, and then, wow, that's the word.

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    1. I do the same thing, Beverly. Writing may not be easy, as some people think, but it is fun when you love what you are doing. Coming up with that right word does call for a 'wow!"

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Thank you for your comments. I love comments!