Word Choice

Words are a writer's palate, and with them we can create stunning works of art (or terrible messes when we use the wrong ones). Here are some articles that look at how to choose the right words, and how ignoring those "never use X" rules can lead to better stories.

A sampling of articles on word choice

• First Impressions: The Right Word for the Right Idea
• Get Out of My Way: The Awkward Things we do to Avoid Certain Words
• Simple Things Can Do A Lot: Choosing the Right Word
• Are You Choosing the Best Words to Describe Your Setting?
• Poetic Tricks: Infuse Your Fiction with the Right VERBS
• The Eyes Have it: Are You "Over Looking" Things in Your Manuscript?
• You'll Have to Go Through Me: Eliminating Filter Words
• Seems So: Are Your Characters Making Misleading Assumptions?
• Do or Do Not. There is No Try: Clarifying What Your Characters Do
• I Had to Do This: Clarifying Ambiguous Pronouns
• Laying it on the Lie: Commonly Misused Words
• 5 Ways Repetition Is Hurting Your Novel
• That Sounds Familiar: Eliminating Often-Used Words
• Tightening Your Novel With a Preposition Patrol
• Overcoming Adversity Through Adverbs

See all articles on word choice