Did you know you’re a wordsmith? If you’re a writer, you are. A wordsmith is defined by Webster’s as a “craftsman or artist whose medium is words.”
That, my friends, is you.
Which is why I’m coming to you today and asking you to have mercy on your readers. (Yes, I’m making this same request of myself as a writer.) Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, let’s be done with empty words in our dialogue and action beats. What, you may ask, do I mean? Well, here are some my wonderful editor, Julee Schwarzburg, pinpointed in my own writing (and when you read these, add any variant. For example, for nod, also include nodded, nodding, nods, and so on):
nod, smile, laugh, grin, wink
Julee went so far as to say if people did those things as often as I had my characters doing them in my novels, they’d be bobble-heads. I had to laugh and nod, ‘cuz she was right.
Now, don’t misunderstand me. These kinds of words/actions are fine. In moderation. But in the oh-so-many years I’ve been editing, I’ve seen them used and used and used again. I’m talking all. The. Time. So a number of years ago I started a list of pet words that many writers use in both fiction and nonfiction. Putting these in your first drafts is fine. But when you go through your work as a wordsmith, that’s the time to ferret out these posers and replace them with more thoughtful, effective words. So here are a few to add to those listed above:
laugh/snicker/giggle
An aside on snicker: I’m telling you, everyone is using snicker these days. I did an experiment and went on the hunt for a snicker. Listened to my friends and family, to folks at church, to people in the grocery store…Not a snicker among ‘em. People just don’t snicker in real life as often we they’re snickering in our novels and anecdotes.
An aside giggle: Not many grown men giggle, but I’ve seen a lot of books or submissions lately where writers have their heroes (or even the villains) giggling. Yes, okay, a few grown men do. My 6’3” younger bro, for example. And Magnum P.I. But it’s funny and cute when they do it, because it’s unexpected. What say we keep the man giggles unexpected and let the guys in our books laugh like men. Just sayin’…
Smile/grin/smirk
I don’t care if you’ve got someone smiling or if they’re tossing, casting, aiming, or directing a smile at someone else…if just one side of the mouth lifts or if both do…if the smile is lopsided or broad… smiles are flat overdone. Find a better action/response, friends. Your readers will thank you.
An aside on smirk: Don’t use it in a positive or happy sense. A smirk is a sarcastic or negative action, defined in Webster’s as a conceited or simpering smile.
Look/gaze/stare/
Yes, in real life, we look at each other. Hey, it’s part of being with other people. But to use these things over and over in your work feels tedious and unimaginative to the reader. (And to the viewer! I remember watching the movie Age of Innocence, and at one point leaned close to my friend and ground out through clenched teeth, “If Daniel Day Lewis gives her one more long, soulful look, I’m going to scream!” Yeah…SO not my kinda movie…)
There are lots more, but these in particular show up all over the place. So, what do we use instead of these things? Well! I’m so glad you asked. We’ll get into some of the tools of wordsmithing next week. For now, I’d like to know what overused words/actions you’ve realized you use. Or what have you seen in the books you read?
So bring your coffee, gather ‘round the blog post, and share!
I thought snicker was a candy bar.
I quit smiling after my last rejection.
The gaze I have all the time – I think I’ve developed atrophied eye muscles.
Great blog- can’t wait for next week!! Also as always I inhaled the comments which were awesome (a very overused word).
Beverly, I agree. My favorite part of the blogs is reading everyone’s thoughts and comments. Thanks, everyone!
Oh, man, this post sent my mind into overdrive.
I have yet to think of myself as a wordsmith. I may write and fall into the definition listed, but I’m too hard on myself to even consider myself a wordsmith. I guess I should lighten up and give myself grace, but that may take time since I let out an Hmph, when reading the first line of the post. Or maybe it’s because I know some wordmasters, well I think they’re wordmasters, and they blow my mind while I’m still a Padawan.
For me this topic comes down to execution. I’m working on going deeper with my emotions and practicing to convey them in a way that isn’t cliché. Allowing myself to do that and get raw doesn’t come naturally to me and the challenge leaves me feeling inadequate in such a competitive industry that needs stellar writing pretty much from the get go. But I’m extremely disciplined and good at practicing not matter how long it takes to complete a goal to my satisfaction. So with that said, I’m looking forward to this series 🙂
Jenelle, there’s a difference between being a word master and a wordsmith. Remember Webster’s definition: “a craftsman or artist whose medium is words.” When you work with words, you’re a wordsmith. And you’re working with words. Becoming a word master is the goal of wordsmiths. Some are there with little effort. The rest of us just need to keep digging deeper into the craft and being more purposeful about things like word choice. 🙂
Karen,
How gracious of you to comment back to us. That was really kind.
🙂
Karen, in real life I do nod a lot. so in my memoir I nod – a lot. I’ve also been know to smirk on occasion, but I never giggle or snicker not in real life and not in my writing.
– your fellow wordsmith
Just keep in mind that real life is seldom a good basis for our writing. Think about dialogue. If we used real-life dialogue in our books our readers would be snoozing. When you depict something with words, even if it’s someone out of your own life and experiences, you still need to write it in a way that will draw readers in and not become tedious.
This is just me, but I think all semi-colons, howevers, althoughs, therefores, and additionallys need to be removed from all middle-grade and YA children’s books.