Tis the weekend for making a list and checking it twice, and this writing assignment will have you doing just that. The idea hit me while, during my writing research (read as relentless prowling through StumbleUpon while procrastinating), I ran across this list of 100 beautiful words on Deshoda.com.
Now, we all know beauty is in the eye of the beholder; what one person finds attractive may mystify the next. So, while I agree that words like “susurrous” and “labyrinthine” appeal to me as beautiful words, my list would not include “ailurophile” or “gambol.”
Writers understand how word choices make a difference. They affect the rhythm of our sentences, and the mood of our prose. As Mark Twain said in one of my favorite quotes:
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”
For your writing assignment this weekend, dust off your writing tools. Write a list of the 100 most beautiful words you know. Choose words that roll off the tongue, and tickle the ears. Evocative words. Penultimate words. Your words.
The Show and Tell Challenge
Step right up and take the B&B Show and Tell Challenge! Here’s how: simply write your response to this assignment, post it on your blog, then come back and leave a link to your post in the comments. It’s that simple!
Need more inspiration? Click here.
Never miss an update. Scroll down and click “Sign me up!” to subscribe.
Brainstorms & Bylines 
[…] Weekend Assignment: 100 Beautiful Words (barbaratyler.wordpress.com) Advertisement GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", "other"); GA_googleAddAttr("LangId", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Autotag", "books"); GA_googleAddAttr("Autotag", "entertainment"); GA_googleAddAttr("Autotag", "food"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "general"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "grammarspelling"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "beautiful-words"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "english-language"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "postaweek2012"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "stumbleupon"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "words"); GA_googleFillSlot("wpcom_sharethrough"); Rate this: Share this:ShareTwitterFacebookDiggPrintStumbleUponEmailRedditLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. This entry was posted on January 10, 2012, in General, Grammar/Spelling and tagged beautiful words, English language, postaweek2012, StumbleUpon, words. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment […]