In Other Words . . .

When you work with words every day, it’s not always easy to keep your vocabulary fresh. I’m a word junkie. I’d like to think that I’m a formidable Scrabble opponent. I even have one of those dorky word-a-day calendars on my desk. But, like any other writer, I occasionally slip into a word choice wasteland where mediocrity rules and the most compelling adjectives I can come up with are absolutely mind-numbing: perfect; beautiful.

Yawn.

Good writing is about more than just stringing together a sentence or selling a widget. Good writing should grab the reader’s attention and make them want more, whether you’re writing ad copy, a financial newsletter, or even a blog entry. Precise, interesting words make or break your prose.

Invest in a good thesaurus. Use it. End of story.

After all, why settle for perfect when you can be unblemished, flawless, or unsurpassed?

Who wants to be merely beautiful? Personally, I’d rather be alluring or fetching.