By Rose Chandler
Johnson
I confess my love affair with language
and along with that my reverence for the written word. You might say, it’s part
and parcel with the gift. As a writer, my challenge is to choose words—the
precise words—that contribute to the creation of the fictional world of the
story. Words are the writer’s modeling clay. Like brush strokes to an artist, words
contribute to the overall effect, moving and enlightening the reader. As a Southern
writer, my words not only convey meaning, they also convey culture, atmosphere,
and a sense of place. So, to my way of thinking, the critical element of word
choice can’t be overstated.
Proverbs tells us that a word fitly
spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. I will go so far to
say that a word aptly written produces those precious word pictures as well. In
order to carefully construct the world of the story, the writer must choose words
on purpose to craft phrases that perfectly recreate the elements of earth, sky,
water, and space so precisely that readers are transported there. The writer
fashions from words the heart and soul of fictional folks. He breaths into them
the breath of life, and characters live on the pages and in readers’ minds.
You can’t tell me that Cathy and Heathcliff never lived. And loved. Nor that the old man
in the sea never caught the marlin. I’m pretty sure I was there on the dirt with
Scarlet when she vowed to never be hungry again. These characters lived for Bronte,
and Hemingway, and Mitchell before they came to life for you and me. By the power
of words precisely chosen.
Writers chose words to convey a
particular meaning. If you’ll bear with me a moment, I’ll share an example. In a
short story I wrote, I turned a phrase over and over in my mind until I shaped the
meaning I wanted to convey.
Her focus was on
life.
Hers was a broad, general view.
Her focus was on
living.
She was a bit egocentric.
Her focus was on
the living.
This statement implies an outward focus, which was what I had in mind. One word
changes the sense of the sentence. Subtle, perhaps, but part of the story
elements that enlighten the reader. A writer must respect the power of the
written word to accomplish his creative task.
What the reader senses from the words
will strike an image on his impressionable mind and resonate in his heart. To
check the story’s pulse, read it aloud. Does it come to life? If so, you have
experienced the power of words precisely chosen.
________________________________________________________________
Rose Chandler Johnson is known for her
heartwarming, inspirational writing. In addition to works of sweet contemporary
fiction, her devotional journal, God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea: Experiencing
God in the Midst of Everyday Moments won the Georgia Author of the Year
Finalist Award in 2014. In her novels, Rose brings to life fascinating
characters with compelling relationships embracing family, community, and
faith. In distinctive southern settings, Rose creates memorable stories that
will stir your heart. Readers often say her writing warms the soul as it
reaffirms belief in love and wholesome goodness. Don’t be surprised if you sigh
with pleasure as you savor the final pages of her stories. Rose has lived in a
suburb of Augusta, GA for thirty plus years. Before retiring from Georgia’s
school system, she taught English, French, and ESOL. Currently, she is an
English instructor at a community college. In addition to reading and writing,
Rose enjoys cooking, sewing, gardening, and spending time with her six children
and her beautiful grandchildren. Connect with her on her Author page: https://amzn.to/2tVXCj2 Follow her on
BookBub: bit.ly/2CezzAx Twitter: www.twitter.com/rechanjo Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/rosecjohnson/boards/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosechandlerjohnsonauthor Devotional blog:
www.writemomentswithgod.blogspot.com
