25 How to Make Your Writing Walk, Talk, and Breathe
N
ow here are some ways to help you perfect, polish, and
strengthen your writing. Apply these tools and you’ll create
writing that walks, talks, and breathes!
USE A THESAURUSObvious, isn’t it? You’ve probably used a thesaurus at one time
or another. Most writers use it for the wrong reasons, however.
A still active myth is that writing has to be intellectual. Victims
of this myth use a thesaurus to change simple words into com-
plex ones.
Wrong! Use your thesaurus to make your writing simple and di-
rect. If you have a long word, hunt down a shorter one. Mark
Twain said he got paid the same amount whether he used the word
policemanor cop. Since Twain was lazy,copwas easier to use—and
quicker. Follow the same pattern. Find short words that say what
you mean. Delete the long words. People trip over them.
Here’s a rule of thumb: If you don’t use the word in normal con-
versation, don’t use it in your writing. Said another way: If you
haven’t heard the word at the airport or at a bus stop, don’t use it.