Post #30 – Women’s Memoirs, Writing Prompt – Kendra Bonnett and Matilda Butler
By Promptly Portland
WORDS
Just Words
but, more than words
A memoirist only has one tool to express all the imagery, thoughts, and emotions she wants to share. Words. Words are the building blocks to create sharable structures of the mind and heart. Words are the threads to weave tapestries of our life stories.
When creating a first draft, many words are interchangeable. These words are like a pencil used to sketch the scene before you. It doesn’t really matter if you use a #2 yellow pencil or a #3. You just want to capture the essence of your subject matter. Then you look at the line drawing. Perhaps you add more detail. Maybe you erase a few lines. In looking at your portrayal of the scene, you realize what is needed so that others can see the same sight you saw. It is rare that the first sketch will be the final sketch.
Over the next several weeks, I thought I’d give you three ways to think about words as tool. Today, let’s consider individual words.
Words can be long. Words can be short. Twenty-eight isn’t a big number. Yet a certain pattern of 28 characters forms the longest, non-technical word in the English language. Antidisestablishmentarianism. One is a small number. Yet an individual character, i, is actually a word, I.
Consider the length of the words that you use. With short words, the eye races across the line, almost as if running. Use longer words when you want the reader to slow down, to think about what you are saying.
500 Words (or More) Writing Prompt:
1. Write a word, specifically a noun, that describes you. Think of, or research, other words that mean the same thing. Create two lists from your words. In one list, put the ordinary words. In the second, put the more unusual words.
2. Write a second word that describes you and repeat the exercise.
3. Now, write an adjective that describes each of your nouns. Create a list of other adjectives that might be used. Try various combinations in sentences and consider how a person might “see” you differently, based on the particular words chosen.
4. What happens when you combine short adjectives with long nouns? What is the impact of long adjectives with short nouns?
5. Now write a paragraph describing you based on the lists you just created. The first time use primarily short words. Read what you have written. Notice how the eye just flies? Rewrite the paragraph using more unusual word combinations and longer words. What happens now?
Sometimes you want the reader to slow down, to ponder what you are saying. Sometimes you want the reader to fly through a scene with you. This always reminds me of the song Johnny One Note. In writing, as in music, we need variation. But not just variation for the sake of change. The words, including their length, should relate to the content to help emphasize your meaning.
Until next time,
Promptly Portland
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