Using a Thesaurus When You Write

 

Do you settle for mundane words instead of searching for ones that are more colorful, more descriptive? 

Our poster for today shows you a two-column list of synonyms for the simple word 'want.' Can you believe that there are so many? Some are simply one word while others are a phrase. Whichever, each means 'want.' 

When you're proofreading your drafts, search for the simple words that might be made more interesting. I guarantee you will find many. If you can't dredge a few substitutions from the top of your head, there is always the old reliable thesaurus to help you. A thesaurus is a reference tool to help you find synonyms (other words with the same meaning) to substitute.

For those not familiar with this helpful tool for writers, start by looking up the word you want to enhance in the alphabetical listing. It's set up much like a dictionary. Under the word you found, there will be a list of suitable words to use in place of the original one. 

We all too often repeat words in a sentence or a paragraph. I've critiqued some submissions that repeat a word like 'need' as many as three or four times in one paragraph. Readers notice it and find it boring. If you want to pep up your writing, use your thesaurus and find substitutions to use in some of those spots. 

Why do some writers avoid finding synonyms or using a thesaurus to do so? It comes down to lazy writing which leads to boring writing. Have you ever read a book review that says something like 'her prose sings' or 'lyrical and lovely writing?' People who write like that don't rely on simple words or don't repeat the same word in sentences too close together. 

Maybe it comes down to your being a word person or a story person. Is one more important than the other to you? If you're all story, you might miss out on writing it in a pleasing way. If you're totally into words and phrases and not the story itself, something will also be missing. A combination of the two will result in some fine writing. 

To use the thesaurus to advantage, you'll need to take time to do so. Make it part of your proofreading and editing process. Ask yourself again and again as you proceed "Is there a better way to say this?" "Is there another word I can use?" 

You can purchase a thesaurus and keep it handy, or you can use one online for free. I've had one for years and keep close to my writing area, but I also use the online versions, too. Find one you like and bookmark it so it's a quick task to look up a word.

As a short writing exercise today, pick a few ordinary words and find synonyms in a thesaurus. You might begin by listing the ones that come to you off the top of your head, Then, check the thesaurus. 

It's simple things like this that will make you a better writer. 

It Takes Time To Become A Good Writer

I saw a quote by a science fiction writer that was a bit blunt but also right on the money. 

"You don't start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it's good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That's why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence." 
                                                                                                --Octavia E. Butler

Have you ever pulled out some of your earliest pieces of writing and read them? I've done it and was aghast at what I had written. My early work had beginner flashing throughout in neon lights. Yes, just as Ms. Butler says, I thought that it was pretty good. I may have been the only one to think so. Editors surely didn't. I managed to find a few websites that accepted stories and essays to publish for no pay.

At the time, I was thrilled to be published. Even so, I knew that these were places where amateurs could see their work in print. Did I get praise from readers? Quite often I did but most of them were not the kind of critics I needed at the time. I wanted more.

Did I start writing better when the Writing Fairy tapped me with her wand? Nope. I wrote better when I pursued my craft on a daily basis. I persisted and tried to be patient. That second part was the hardest.

I read the work of other writers, not only in books but short stories and essays. The more I read, the better understanding I had of what good writing should be.

I wrote better when I read books and articles about writing. I picked up information about POV (point of view), voice, theme, sensory detail, writing with emotion, tenses and more. Little by little, I applied those things to my own writing.

I think that my writing improved dramatically when I joined an online writing group. It was a good one and there was no application process to be approved. Had there been, I probably would never have been accepted in the group. The moderator was a tough cookie. She slashed through our work like a swashbuckling pirate wielding a sword. Some writers dropped out of the group because they had trouble accepting criticism from her and the other writers. I quickly adopted the attitude that I was in the group to learn and to improve my writing. I knew that Kate was trying to help us do that. To this day, I am grateful to her. She disbanded the group very suddenly and appeared to drop off the edge of the earth.

I was devastated as were a few other serious writers in the group. One emailed me and invited me to another group that she was active in. She indicated she was only asking a small number of the members to switch. That was many years ago--maybe 16-18 and I'm still a part of that online writing group. The fair and honest critiques I received on my submissions helped me grow as a writer. I'm still working at improving my work and I shall probably continue until the day I can write no more. I also found that reading the critiques of other writers afforded another opportunity for me to learn something myself.

I found the keyword in Ms Butler's quote to be 'gradually' because it's so very true. Our writing does not go from drivel on Monday to excellent on Friday. We learn a little at a time and we improve bit by bit over weeks, months and more.

A good number of years ago, I wrote a novel for middle-grade kids. I had some interest from a couple editors but nothing ever came of it. I subbed it to my writing group and they were encouraging and gave some good advice on how to make it better. It's been gathering dust in my files for too long. Lately, I've had a yen to pull it out and start rewriting it. Maybe the time wasn't right when I first wrote it. Perhaps I needed to let it rest before rewriting (but surely not for as long as it has been!).

How about you? Do you have some writing that you finished in your early days of writing? Something that you might rewrite and come up with a far better piece?