A Whopping Wad of Winning Words
- lambricops
- Feb 26
- 5 min read
The world is chock-full of words. By most accounts, the English language contains well over a million words when slang, technical terms, and neologisms (newly invented words) are included. When I was a kid, I was fascinated by an enormous dictionary that my mother kept on a wooden stand to showcase its importance. It was filled with the most amazing words. From the front cover to the back, the tome was about twelve inches thick and thousands of pages. Within its sturdy spine lived short words, long words, words to tickle your funny bone, solemn words, antiquated words, common words, words with pizzazz, obscure words, fancy words, inspiring words, and words that have fallen off the grid entirely.
Whenever I asked my mother the meaning of a word or how to spell a word, she would direct me to her prized dictionary. As a child in elementary school, the teacher tasked my class with an interesting homework assignment. The next day we were to come prepared with a new and different word to share with the class. It was the perfect opportunity to scour the humungous lexicon for just the right word. I longed for one that was not yet in my vocabulary, a smooth-sounding and captivating word to impress my classmates. I randomly opened the book and landed on a page of L words. I closed my eyes and pointed. Boom, my finger touched down on the most fantastic word, ta-da, — loquacious – an adjective meaning talkative, but it sounded so much better than the dull talkative.
That’s the day I fell in love with words.
Why am I telling you all of this? Because choosing the right words for your story is just as crucial as ditching busy words. I want you to fall in love with the written word, fall in love with phrases, terms, designations, and descriptive language. I want you to fall in love with your manuscript enough to compose your scenes with words that suite your story. While simple is usually best for most narratives, I say, if a word fits consider using it.
I’m working on a fantasy novel with characters like fairies, shape-shifters, and other alien beings so words, phrases, and jargon that fit that genre and setting such as merry morning, halloo, mayhaps, cosmic shenanigans, galactic travel, elixir, teleportation, kerseymere, doldrums, maidenhair, and vespertine hour are some of the ones I chose.
Since so many possibilities of words exist, for so many genres, settings, and characters, for the purpose of this article we will break it down by seasons. Use these words to get started and let them spark creativity.
SUGGESTIONS IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
Whether you’re writing a holiday romance, a winter tale, or adding a few scenes to mark the passage of time in your novel, Wordy has a plethora of winter words to choose from. As long as you don’t go overboard or use a ton of clichés, these can add depth, richness, and a fresh spark to otherwise dull prose.
If you’re stuck with the winter writing blues and looking to spring ahead, reflect on the words below and choose the best ones to integrate into your narrative. Telling the reader that it’s spring is boring and so fifth grade, instead, dazzle readers with words that transport them into the passage. Don’t be afraid to mix and match words and phrases to express your thoughts.
Ready to get your tan on and segue into summer fun and sun? Review the list of descriptive summer words below and do your best to bewitch readers as they devour your story. Don't forget the five senses. Make sure they feel the heat, savor the tastes, hear the crickets and creatures, see the colorful blooms, and get a whiff of suntan lotion or burgers sizzling on the grill.
Onward and upward to the changing leaves of autumn. It’s time to savor the final warm days of summer and pivot to the season that ushers in cooler air. Dive into the descriptive list below to create a picturesque scene of autumn beauty. Deliver readers straight into the passage by letting them take a brisk walk with your character who is dressed in a jacket and boots. Show them fallen leaves of gold and crimson that scatter lawns and sidewalks or convey the crunching sound of brown and brittle leaves that crunch beneath your character’s feet.
There are so many more descriptive words and phrases to describe the seasons. See how many you can come up with. Try combining some of the above words or using them in character dialogue. Whatever genre you’re writing in, make a list or words associated with that genre that you’d like to include. Writing a romance? Feel the love with a compilation of passionate and sexy words. Doing this can keep you on track and focused. Consider creating a list of words for characters and settings as well. For example, if one of your characters is from the south, research jargon from that area and add it to the list. If your story is set in the 1920s, compose a list of the lingo from that time. You get the idea. Write and have fun!
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