An important part of writing is to pick proper vocabulary. The words should paint a picture. But don't get too heavy-handed with fancy words. Too much description takes away from a story. And if a reader can't understand enough of your words, that is enough for them to put your book down. Reading is a good way for many people to relax and lose themselves in a fictional world. Too many unknown words can break the illusion and take them out of their imagination.

These are words that I love. That does not mean that I will use them for the sake of using them. It is important to know when to use fancy words and when to write simply. In these vocab chapters, I will not only be including the definition(from Dictionary.com), but also my thoughts on each word. Including, but not limited to: personal connections, when to use, and recommended usages.

Dichotomy
n. 1. division into two parts, kinds, etc.; subdivision into halves or pairs. 2. division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups.

This is a word to show differences. Similar to the term "juxtaposition," but not as obnoxiously overused. When I think of dichotomy, my heart is drawn to colors. When I was taught this word, it was from my freshman year English teacher. She showed us a sticky note that was a soft, buttery yellow. Then, she held up her nameplate, the shiny gold glinting, yet dark. She said that both are technically some form of yellow, but are in very few ways alike. They have a dichotomy between them in that they are divided from the same thing, yet oppose each other in shade and darkness. My personal preference is of course to use this with colors, but there are more ways to use, such as comparing thought to action.

Aubade
n. a piece sung or played outdoors at dawn, usually as a compliment to someone.

My inner romantic can't help but feel drawn to this word, especially because it's derived from French. Personally, I saved it in the back of my mind because I have an eventual use for it. But let's observe some possible other uses. Maybe a person wakes at dawn to hear the birds singing their aubade. Perhaps it's used at a relaxing retreat to welcome the day. Frankly, I think too many works of literature focus on sunset when dawn is just as beautiful. It's a fresh beginning and brings with it dewy grass and soft colors before illuminating the world in a golden hour that few are awake to see. However, this is not a word to overuse. As a much lesser known word, incorporating it too often gives the impression that an author is trying too hard to make their work unique.

Whet
v. 1. to sharpen (a knife, tool, etc.) by grinding or friction. 2. to make keen or eager; stimulate.

The most common use of this word is when we see a character sharpening their sword with a whetting stone. It is my personal belief that this is a beautiful word to use in metaphors. While, yes, you can say "whet the appetite" to imply someone is becoming eager to eat, you can also say "whet their anger," giving the connotation that anger is a blade. Furthermore, it provides the symbolism that something is causing that anger to become more dangerous, symbolically sharpening the blade.

Verdant
adj. 1. green with vegetation; covered with growing plants or grass. 2. inexperienced; unsophisticated.

This is a fantastic word to provide a lushness to green. Green in and of itself is just a color, probably unique to each person's mind, but using more specific terms brings connotations such as this. A verdant lawn implies healthy, full grass and various other plants. Though I will give this word of warning for all words to describe color: there are many different specific shades for a reason. Verdant eyes are not emerald eyes, nor are they sage eyes. Same with blue: sapphire is not sky blue nor bluebell. It's important when creating characters to stick with the correct shade. Sky blue and baby blue are similar enough to be used interchangeably, but sky blue and sapphire are much different. Be sure to play with colors correctly.

Alabaster
adj. 1. a finely granular variety of gypsum, often white and translucent, used for ornamental objects or work, such as lamp bases, figurines, etc. 2. smooth and white.

This is another word I use to supply connotations for my colors. I may use this in exchange for white, but it carries with it the marble-like quality. When I use this, I do not just mean that something is pale, but that it is smooth and akin to artwork. Such as my friend Juni_Penguin_'s characters with pale, nearly white, slightly translucent skin. What better way to describe this than alabaster?

Thrum
v. to play on a stringed instrument, as a guitar, by plucking the strings, especially in an idle, monotonous, or unskillful manner; strum.
n. an act or sound of thrumming; dull, monotonous sound.

I think most people have heard this one before, but it's not often one I see people use. It is effective when there is a crowd of people and nondescript conversations are occurring. This word effectively places the thrumming sound in our heads without over-explaining as many people do in these instances.

Bolster
v. 1. to add to, support, or uphold. 2. to support with or as with a pillow or cushion.
n. a long, often cylindrical, cushion or pillow for a bed, sofa, etc.

In my mind, I see this as a gentler way of saying to "buck up." It's a softer, more supportive form of encouragement and one that I see being very effective. Holding someone's hand is a way to bolster their confidence.

Frond
n. an often large, finely divided leaf, especially as applied to the ferns and certain palms.

I learned this one very recently, but thought it was good to note. When describing plants, it's good to know specific vocabulary rather than saying "leaf" or "petal" over and over again. To be honest, plant lingo is one of the things I find least utilized. I definitely recommend researching before making observations of a flower or literally any other plant. As far as this word goes, I had always wondered what word was used to describe the tops of palm trees and now I know. I can see this being used as well to describe somebody's hair. If someone has their short hair in ponytails or pushed up with a sweatband, I can see it resembling the fronds of a palm tree.

Mangle
v. to injure severely, disfigure, or mutilate by cutting, slashing, or crushing.

Not the prettiest word, but certainly one that can paint a picture. When trying to avoid excessive detail for injuries, this is a good word to include. Sometimes, people don't want to hear about the specific medical terms or the exact angles that are wrong in a person's hand, especially when a character wouldn't know those terms. When it comes to sensitive topics, less is more. But you still want to give the readers enough that their imagination can take over. It's times like this when variety is essential in your vocabulary. You don't need to write three paragraphs on how a broken foot looks when you can convey shock better through two well-written sentences.

Render
v. 1. to cause to be or become. 2. to provide due reward. 3. to try out oil from fat, blubber, etc., by melting.

This is a very simple synonym to replace overused words like those in the first definition. Frankly, I included definition 3 because people might not be aware of fat rendering, but it might be useful to know, especially in cooking. On a semi-related note, I will have to do a chapter on how to describe foods and cooking.

Grandeur
n. 1. the quality or state of being impressive or awesome. 2. the quality or state of being lofty or elevated in conception or treatment.

This is a beautiful word that sounds as grand as those it describes. The grandeur of mountains or a castle are only elevated by using a word such as this. It implies a regal sense of "give me your attention."

Decadence
n. 1. the act or process of falling into an inferior condition or state; deterioration; decay. 2. unrestrained or excessive self-indulgence.

To those who associate this word with self indulgence, I'm right alongside you. I see this as a word to describe chocolate truffles, resting on soft cushions with a fur blanket. So why the first definition? Let me break this down a bit to the very specific definitions. The thing we most often describe as decadent is chocolate. Why? Well, if you look at the first definition, it would say that chocolate is prone to falling into an inferior state. While that may seem impossible, looking at the science provides a better rationale. We eat chocolate solid, but it takes very little for it to turn liquid in our mouths, thus falling to an "inferior" state. It's a feeling we love, the melting of chocolate fudge or butter, a truly decadent experience.

Gaunt
adj. 1. extremely thin and bony; haggard and drawn, as from great hunger, weariness, or torture; emaciated. 2. bleak, desolate, or grim, as places or things.

This is one of my personal favorites. Its similarity to the word "haunt" gives the connotations of abandoned or soon to be dead. It really is a daunting word that can foreshadow potential tragedy or highlight the recent hardships that are dragging a character down.

Decrepit
adj. weakened by old age; feeble; infirm.

Similar to gaunt, decrepit is a fantastic word to use for something on its last legs. Especially when it comes to buildings. It coaxes the image of grey, dusty, and being held together by rusted nails.

Flourish
v. 1. to be in its or in one's prime; be at the height of fame, excellence, influence, etc. 2. to brandish dramatically; gesticulate with. 3. to decorate or embellish (writing, a page of script, etc.) with sweeping or fanciful curves or lines.

This is a very dramatic word that can add important characterization to whoever is performing the action. Someone may use large movements, flamboyant movements. Occasions such as these are reason enough to use the word "flourish." When describing people's actions, our word choice is as important as the action itself because it can imply how that action was made.

Thanks for reading!