Assignment #7 - Due Before 7/8
When we talk about descriptions, our ability to describe something is limited by our vocabulary, and how easily we can wield our words to plant an image in the reader's mind.
You need to start thinking about words not just as placeholders, but as vital tools. Every word should be used for a specific purpose - to convey an explicit image.
And our enemies are cliches - anything that is not specific or unique. Never call something beautiful. Beautiful is a vague, obtuse term. Be specific about HOW something is beautiful instead.
Cliches have become so common in our language that they stop meaning anything tangible. They are vague, and as writers, a vague term is worthless to us.
To that end, I've put together 10 cliches here. Revise them to make them fresh again. (For example change “cold as ice” to “cold as the blade of a knife that had been stored in a freezer.” Now THAT gives us an image that captures our attention, and imagination)
1. cold as ice
2. cute as a button
3. tough as nails
4. smooth as silk
5. pretty as a picture
6. black as pitch
7. eager as a puppy
8. sweeter than sugar
9. the strong, silent type
10. my heart skipped a beat
____________________________________
Tina wrote:
1. Cold as icicles hanging from the rafters in a cold winter storm.
2. Cute as a baby in pigtails
3. Tough as an old pair of leather boots that haven't been worn in years.
4. smooth as a rainbow that stretches across a clear blue sky
5. pretty as the sunset over the horizon
6. Black as the night in a forest with tall trees that cover the sky.
7. eager as women walking down the isle
8. sweeter than lemonade on hot summer day.
9. the strong, ye of little words.
10. my heart stopped briefly,
_______________________________
teachers comments:
You need to start thinking about words not just as placeholders, but as vital tools. Every word should be used for a specific purpose - to convey an explicit image.
And our enemies are cliches - anything that is not specific or unique. Never call something beautiful. Beautiful is a vague, obtuse term. Be specific about HOW something is beautiful instead.
Cliches have become so common in our language that they stop meaning anything tangible. They are vague, and as writers, a vague term is worthless to us.
To that end, I've put together 10 cliches here. Revise them to make them fresh again. (For example change “cold as ice” to “cold as the blade of a knife that had been stored in a freezer.” Now THAT gives us an image that captures our attention, and imagination)
1. cold as ice
2. cute as a button
3. tough as nails
4. smooth as silk
5. pretty as a picture
6. black as pitch
7. eager as a puppy
8. sweeter than sugar
9. the strong, silent type
10. my heart skipped a beat
____________________________________
Tina wrote:
1. Cold as icicles hanging from the rafters in a cold winter storm.
2. Cute as a baby in pigtails
3. Tough as an old pair of leather boots that haven't been worn in years.
4. smooth as a rainbow that stretches across a clear blue sky
5. pretty as the sunset over the horizon
6. Black as the night in a forest with tall trees that cover the sky.
7. eager as women walking down the isle
8. sweeter than lemonade on hot summer day.
9. the strong, ye of little words.
10. my heart stopped briefly,
_______________________________
teachers comments:
S. James Snyder, Posted: Jul. 13th
Hi Tina!
Looking over your examples, I particularly love numbers two and seven. Be wary of the examples in which you made a shorter phrase into a longer one - sometimes it's the taut, tight phrases that work best. But that is a minor point - the key here is understanding the importance of keeping things fresh and lively, of finding new ways to convey old or classic thoughts and finding a way to turn a phrase to delight a reader. Descriptions are crucial, and finding new and unique ways to offer a description can set your writing apart. Great job!
Looking over your examples, I particularly love numbers two and seven. Be wary of the examples in which you made a shorter phrase into a longer one - sometimes it's the taut, tight phrases that work best. But that is a minor point - the key here is understanding the importance of keeping things fresh and lively, of finding new ways to convey old or classic thoughts and finding a way to turn a phrase to delight a reader. Descriptions are crucial, and finding new and unique ways to offer a description can set your writing apart. Great job!
1 comment:
July,26.
Hi,
We from Canada, Quebec.
My husband and my daugther are arriving today in Ambergris.
We went in March in Belize, stay at the Belize Inshore. We love this Island.
We are looking at the possibilities to stay their.
My husband will stay until August 30, I will be joining them in two weeks.
In other to get a better idea of the living in San Pedro, and meet some Expat would it be possible for you to give us your phone number. This way my husband could get in touch.
Thanking you in advance for your collaboration
Post a Comment