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always winter
Today's quibbly word-choice conundrum:

palm wood scented with perfumed oils

or

palm wood darkened with perfumed oils


The answer, of course, is the second. Because "darkened" provides additional information, where "scented" provides the same information as the word "perfumed," later on.

2500 words so far today on "The Ghost Makers," a fantasy story set in the Eternal Sky world that I'm writing for Jonathan Starhan. I'm trying to write this climactic scene, and I think a little conceit I like might have to come out if I can't justify it. Also, this is supposed to be an action scene, and all these fuckers want to do is banter.

Comments

( 7 comments — Leave a comment )
batwrangler
Dec. 2nd, 2012 10:56 pm (UTC)
More Eternal Sky, yay!
matociquala
Dec. 2nd, 2012 10:58 pm (UTC)
<3
patgreene
Dec. 2nd, 2012 11:11 pm (UTC)
I like when you post about your writing. In the case of today's "conundrum," it points out a difference I would not have noticed consciously. I can learn from this in improving my own writing.
sinboy
Dec. 3rd, 2012 12:44 am (UTC)
Palm wood perfumed with scented oils? Which would evoke something totally different.
unhappytriad
Dec. 3rd, 2012 01:08 am (UTC)
"Also, this is supposed to be an action scene, and all these fuckers want to do is banter."

My characters do that too. Of course, I can't blame them; I'd rather talk than fight, too.
sprrwhwk
Dec. 3rd, 2012 05:16 am (UTC)
I have learned so much from watching the quibbly word choices you make.
The WOL
Dec. 4th, 2012 06:15 am (UTC)
When it comes to quibbly word choices, you have a craftswoman's ear for just the right word. One of the things I <3<3<3 about your writing is your quibbly word choices.
( 7 comments — Leave a comment )

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matociquala
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