Authors love words. That’s almost the whole point of our being, right? And I’ve discovered during edits that there are words that I use more than others. Most of those words aren’t any fun, though. Fun words, though… there’s a lot of them and I’d say my favourites change under the different circumstances.
Recently I came across a word I learned from my dad when I was a kid. It’s one of those words that, these days, would require too much explanation to use in a book, but I love the way it looks and the way it sounds in my mouth. Widdershins. Means counter-clockwise, so really, it’s hardly worth the explanation.Of course, I do also love swear words in all their glory… and if you’ve read any of my stuff, you know that. My lovely editor has even had me take out some from a few manuscripts. But I’m not particularly creative when it comes to the swear words. I have two friends who are stellar at that particular subset of creativity. I still haven’t managed to shoe in very many of their offerings, because calling someone a twatwaffle requires a very specialized set of circumstances. But rest assured, I will! Seriously, that word amuses the crap out of me.
Anyone care to share their favourite words?
4 comments:
Word I use too much - but - I use it too much in real life too along with 'no' according to my husband. (Mind out of gutter please)
Words I like - anathema and aberration. The first because it tickles me it sounds as though it needs a 'an' in front of it and it doesn't. And aberration because I messed up a history paper in my finals because I didn't know what the word meant. Something to do with American foreign policy being an aberration in the early part of the twentieth century. I like to use the word now because it makes me laugh believe it or not.
I like shudder and shiver. I don't know why -- they just sound cool. They don't mean the same things, but they're close. You can do both, one after the other, but I'm not sure you can do them at the same time. Maybe if you're cold and scared? ^_^ Anyway, I like the words. I have them on my list of words to watch for when I edit. I tend to slip them in without thinking.
Hi Barbara - I love anathema. That is a great word!
Kayelle, they do sound good. I have a few words like that, those sneaky critters that sneak in to the manuscript.
Helloo nice blog
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