Children’s author, Maurice Sendek, passed away yesterday at age 83. I am grateful for his life and his writing.
Here is a link to a post on how the beloved writer might inspire your words.
http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/44856.aspx
do you know any language zombies? these purists believe words walk the pages of earth, but they are soulless. they insist words are simply slow-moving, inflexible letters destined to be painfully boring.
what happens when a language zombie hears a newly formed word? They scream louder than a teenager in a horror movie. when Webster’s admits some of these words into the dictionary? zombie apocalypse.
yes… just having a little fun with the popularity of zombies and the approaching season. but shouldn’t words change and evolve? after all, isn’t that where we get that oh-so-scientific-sounding-word – etymology?
please don’t misunderstand. respect for the facts and laws of writing is essential for clarity and good writing. but can’t we still appreciate the creativity of new words? as living / breathing humans, not zombies, we have the passionate desire for self-expression.
some examples of these new terms:
“ginormous” – is simply the creative union of gigantic and enormous. Webster’s recognizes this one.
“friendaversery” – what a great new word to describe the day you met your soul mate. hallmark – please do not design a new line of cards for this occasion. Webster’s lists this newbie, as well.
“sleepifying” – anyone surviving a two-hour meeting on widgets will know your meaning. no definitions or dictionary necessary. the perfectly good word – soporific – also describes the feeling, but “sleepifying” adds a modern twist. (note: crafted in my own kitchen – sleepifying is not yet in the new words & slang section of Webster’s.)
there is also a time and place for new language. it makes sense that readers will enjoy this style of writing online in blogs, some websites, and social media. these gems also shine in poetry, lyrics, and fiction. conformity rules in cover letters, trade manuals, print publications, and in all serious news material. always be respectful to your readers.
do not confuse new language with jargon and tech speak. jargon is more about impression and less about expression. often, it’s really just a chance to sound like you know more than you really do. save your favorites for appropriate venues.
remember, using evolving words is not an excuse for sloppiness, inconsistency, or spelling errors. do not throw away your style guides. do not confuse these new words with typos or lazy writing. instead, create and present them with care and moderation in the appropriate media. breathe some life into these creatures and add some soul to your writing.
it’s late october, and i’m reading stephen king. but not carrie or even cujo. i’m turning pages on a book titled “on writing – a memoir of the craft.”
i don’t even like scary books or horror films, but i do love good writing. that’s why i’m drinking this book up like – well – a thirsty vampire on halloween.
king’s advice on writing is inspiring, whether you write for the web or print.
in his section titled “toolbox,” king writes:
“you’ll find you have most of the tools you need already, but i advise you to look at each one again as you load it into your box.
try to see each one new, remind yourself of its function, and if some are rusty (as they may be if you haven’t done this seriously in awhile), clean them off.”
i hope this blog will help writers of all types improve their craft.