Writing Tip & Prompt: Using the Right Adjective

On Fridays, we like to share writing tips and tricks with our readers. We hope this section will encourage and inspire you to continually improve as a writer.

Writing Tip – Using the Right Adjective

Gusty, smoky, gray, mist-like. … Adjectives are our means of capturing the look, sound and feel of something. We use these descriptive words to convey the depth and relevance of our subject. Our advice: Cut back on your use of adjectives. It’s not that these words are weak or inferior parts of speech, it’s just that as writers, we tend to overuse them. We feel what it is that we are describing and have the need to portray the image in full effect. Multiple adjectives weaken each other’s singular impact. The only adjective to use is the very best one. Capture your impression and continue writing.

 Writing Prompt – Communicating With Music

“Music is the last true voice of the human spirit. It can go beyond language, beyond age, and beyond color straight to the mind and heart of all people.” — Ben Harper. The song, “With My Own Two Hands,” by Harper, may lead listeners to ponder their roles in the changing world and evaluate the tools at hand to make a difference. Now, select a song that holds meaning to you and write your interpretation. Take into consideration the lyrics and the melody, then fill in the blanks and create a short story of the meaning behind the song.

1 Comment

  1. My first children’s book, “What’s in a Name?” published by WestBow Press was truly inspired by a song. This song can be found on my website truthsfortots.com under the heading “books”. Scroll down to “original song” and there you will find the song that inspired me to write my book. Music is the last true voice of the human spirit yet text and illustration enhance the experience long after the music has stopped.

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