His chapter on words was especially interesting because he advises us to be more aware of our writing, our choices and to stay true to your emotions by choosing words that convey our most immediate intention. This is something I can relate to, or rather be ashamed of admitting that I have been a victim of verbose compositions. I always thought as long as your vocabulary is rich, no one will ever “impugn” your writing prowess. But as I “mature” as a writer, I started realizing how important honesty is for your craft. Now, what is honesty? Honesty here is embracing something in your writing that is indispensable: something that is not contrived to give your story a plot drive or something that is not excessive or forced, just because you want to show your readers this other set of skills you might possess. I have many times betrayed my feelings by choosing expressions, or words in this particular scenario, that demanded more awe than the real “signified.”
This gradation and spectrum of meanings that synonyms possess is an asset that a lot of us overlook. It is amazing sometimes what these variations can teach our sensory cognition. Sometimes, only after we are told the difference between two seemingly similar words, do we start to differentiate two seemingly similar sensations– I know my revelations are as scientific as Freud’s, perhaps even less so. I think it’s not merely an exercise to hone your writing skills, but also an opportunity for our senses to discern the details of our existence.
