Words at Work

Words can astonish and amaze.

Have you ever heard of the word flychter? What is a dipthong? These are just two of the words you would know more about if you listened to “Says You!” on National Public Radio.

This show is great fun for anyone interested in words. Each week two teams of three experts–who are funny as well as knowledgeable–test their wits on a series of games about words. Last week’s program featured aviation jargon, words used in phonetics, and “what comes next?” a game in which contestants had to figure out the next in a series of words from more or less obscure sources. Other categories may concern the meaning and derivation of words, distinguishing between words whose meanings are similar but not identical, or decoding some wicked puns.

Every week the contestants must figure out the meanings of two particular words. I don’t know how they find these words, but let’s just say that most people have never heard of them. One team has a few minutes during which two team members make up a meaning for the word. The third team member has been given the correct meaning. Then the second team tries to guess which is the real definition. Last week’s words were flychter and roo. It turns out that flychter means “to run with outstretched arms, as a child” and roo means “to pluck wool.” The last was controversial because nearly everyone has heard that word used to denote a kangaroo. Too easy, folks!

Here in the Bay Area “Says You!” airs at 4 p.m. on Sundays on KQED radio. I highly recommend it to get into a writing frame of mind and have some fun at the same time.

Even a professional writer can suffer from writer’s block from time to time. Case in point: this blog, to which I have not added for more than a year.  It’s time to hit the restart button.

Here are some reliable ways for you, me, or anyone else to get started.

1. Timing is everything.  At what time of day are you sharpest?  Are you a morning person or an night person?  Write at the time of day when your brain is at its best.

2. Clarify your goals.  What ideas are you trying to transmit? Who is your ideal audience? How does this audience think? What do they like?

3. Imaginary conversation.  Picture the ideal audience for your message. Imagine how you would talk to that person, how you would explain your topic.  As you do, write down what you imagine yourself saying.

4. Ten minute sustained writing.  Sit down in front of the computer. Stay there and write for ten minutes.  Ten minutes is not too long.  You know you can do that.  (Your only viable excuse for leaving is a fire alarm.)  Don’t check your email, play a game, or surf the net.  You are writing for ten minutes.  Let your brain go where it wants to go.  When the ten minutes are up, you can read what you wrote.  You will probably be pleasantly surprised with what you wrote.  If you are not, it doesn’t matter.  You are now going to edit.

5. Editing is easier than writing.  Don’t worry about what you say or how you say it on the first draft.  Get your ideas down and then go through it, editing and polishing.  Then put it aside and come back the next day.  Try to read from the point of view of your desired audience.

Try following these steps the next time you find yourself procrastinating over your writing. This blog is evidence that it worked for me.  And next time will be easier.