Word Challenge Using Vocabulary To Improve Your Writing

Recently, I’ve begun to subscribe to two “word of the day” services. It came to my attention that my vocabulary had really dwindled in the twenty-some years since the last time I participated in any vocabulary-building exercise. While I was able to easily define most words, they seemed to have dropped out of my written vocabulary. I had forgotten how much fun words could be.
Upper-level vocabulary tends to impart deeper meaning to a story. Contrast some of the following words:
sagacious vs. clever
dilapidated vs. run down
eccentric vs. odd
When we talk about someone being sagacious, we often mean something more than simply “clever.” To be sagacious is to have a particularly keen mental discernment accompanied by practical or common sense. And if we step up our vocabulary, we can say all of that with one word: sagacious.
Eccentric is another word that imparts a deeper meaning. When we talk about someone being “eccentric,” of course we mean that they are odd, out of the ordinary…strange. But we mean that they are odd in a very particular way. To be eccentric is to deviate from an established pattern or norm – one generally created by social standards. By using the word “eccentric,” we more clearly define what it is to be “odd.”
There are thousands of really cool words out there. The nuances in meaning can create a fabulous story that carries a deeper, richer meaning and feel. If you are a real, true, passionate writer, it is pretty much a prerequisite that you love words. A talented writer is a wordsmith – someone who has an innate sense of mixing and matching words to blend them into a savory stew that spices up the lives of those who read the story those words create.
However, as with many of my recommendations, this lesson, too, comes with a word of caution: You CAN overuse upper-level vocabulary in your writing. Too many arcane words and you will create something that feels like it should be published in the Harvard Business Journal. Most likely, that is not the intent of fiction writers.
Again, the key is to know your audience. We tend to write for the masses – we want to appeal to a wide variety of readers to maximize the sales and interest in our novels. That said, we know that ‘the masses’ that buy books are relatively well-educated. They can tolerate a big vocabulary. Just be careful not to overdo it and try not to use words that are absolutely arcane. Words fall out of use over time, and we must learn to accept that. But it is also our duty to keep the most savory and creative words alive – use them in our stories to enrich it and our readers.
As with other elements of our writing, we must put thought into word choice. When I write, I try to balance several elements or goals:
1. Utilize a rich mixture of words to enhance the flavor of my story.
2. Write in such a way that the vocabulary I use parallels my characters.
3. I don’t want my readers to carry around a dictionary just to understand my story.
Now, I don’t mind if my readers have to look up one or two words. In fact, that may be a good thing. If nothing else, I’ve taught them something. But they should be able to follow my story, figure out the meaning of many words simply by context, and not be left scratching their heads because I’ve written so far above them that they can’t enjoy the story for the words within it.
On a parting note, here is a short list of words that I personally find unappealing, but keep in mind that is just my personal opinion. I simply find that there are better, more useful synonyms for my own writing.
mucilaginous
jalousie
salubrious
lugubrious
nictitate
hyperborean
Now, look these words up in the dictionary and let me know if you agree.