Why is it that we get stuck on certain words when we write? We become enamoured with them, so much so that we use those certain words frequently. Noticeably.
I've just turned in my copy edits for DRIVEN TO INK. And I've discovered I have an unusual appetite for the word "just." On just about every page or so, there it was. The word "just." Just because I liked it, I guess. Just because it seemed to fit with the sentence. As it turns out, I took out most of them and it didn't make a bit of difference as far as the sentence was concerned.
I also love the word "warble" or "warbled," as Brett's phone warbled Bruce Springsteen several times throughout the book. Not anymore.
Skirt, skitter, and scurry are all used for the same sort of thing: Brett's eyes skirted around the room; Brett's eyes skittered around the room; Brett scurried up the stairs. Painful, really painful. They are now used sparingly.
It's hard to replace "looked," but everyone "looks" at everything and everyone so much.
Even in our speech, we all say things like "awesome," "totally," and we use the word "so" to put emphasis on things: I so don't like the Jonas Brothers.
Personally, I despise "24/7." It's overused and ridiculous.
My husband has started saying the word "literally" all the time. He inserts it in most of his sentences. I've noticed some political pundits using it, too.
I like the word "wingnut." I don't use it too much, but it truly does make a statement when I do.
What are your favorite words?
Karen
Changes daily. Today, carnage. Oh, and licorice. Quite into licorice today.
Posted by: kieran | March 31, 2010 at 12:32 PM
I don't know why, but I don't feel particularly partial to any singe word right at the moment. A few of my favorites are punk (the way Eastwood says it), knucklehead, fucktard, sack as in sack up and chunky.
Posted by: David Terrenoire | March 31, 2010 at 01:22 PM
I use but and however a lot when I write. Maybe is a good word. So are boffo and neato. And I like lovely too.
Posted by: Becky Hutchison | March 31, 2010 at 04:16 PM
douchebag is a current favorite.
I always have one word in a WIP I overuse and have to edit edit edit.
I will say, once I counted the use of the word "look" 17 times on one page of a hard cover novel. Where was the guy's editor?
Posted by: Lori Armstrong | March 31, 2010 at 04:23 PM
"Just" is a big one for me, too, Lori. I got over the "and" and the "but" thing, but (see?) "just" will just take some doing.
Posted by: Mike Dennis | March 31, 2010 at 06:50 PM
My editor gave me a list of words I should ban from my manuscripts. For some reason, I got heavily into "so" and "now". So now I'm really conscious of using them.
warbled Bruce Springsteen
Karen, it is not possibly for anything to warble Bruce Springsteen. Rocked, blasted, maybe, but definitely not warbled. A phone could warble Nat King Cole, maybe, or Anita Baker, but definitely not The Boss.
(Finished Pretty in Ink yesterday. Two thumbs up!)
Posted by: Mary Stella | March 31, 2010 at 07:15 PM
Magnetical.
Okay, it's not word, but its what my daughter says when something has magnetic qualities.
Posted by: Jeff Shelby | April 02, 2010 at 08:40 AM