My Actual Writing Advice blogs seem to be garnering me positive attention, so I’ll keep posting them sporadically. Thanks for the encouragement!
When my son was born, my mom discovered Rosemary Wells and her wonderful world of Max and Ruby. She liked two things about the stories: the grandma is cool and the names of the toys are awesome. I was just starting to write full stories instead of half-baked ideas, and it struck me that word choice made a difference. I had heard the adage to never use a five dollar word when a five cent word would do, but this was different. Rosemary Well’s word choices make her stories pop like no other children’s books.
Take, for example, the beginning of Bunny Cakes when Ruby is telling Max they’re not giving Grandma an earthworm birthday cake. Ruby could just say, “We’re making an angel food cake with raspberry frosting.” But instead she says, “We’re going to make Grandma and angel surprise cake with raspberry-fluff icing.” Which sounds more exciting to you?
Of course, Max is persistent in his desire to give Grandma an earthworm cake, and he knows she’ll like it with a very special topping. Rosemary Wells could’ve just used red hots or marshmallows or any number of ordinary candies, but Max wants Red-Hot Marshmallow Squirters. Even I might give an earthworm cake a try with Red-Hot Marshmallow Squirters on top.
After the epiphany with Rosemary Wells’ books, I’ve looked for interesting word choices and combinations everywhere. Train is one of my favorite groups because not only do they have a unique sound, but they also have a unique voice in their poetry. “If It’s Love” is filled with great words. Listen to the whole song and be blown away. But for me the pinnacle is when he talks about being in love is like going to a concert. He doesn’t just say, “Love is great like a rock concert.” He says, “Hold our cell phones up in the air and just be glad that we made it here alive on a spinning ball in the middle of space I’ll love you from your toes to your face.”
I mentioned my daughter had her tonsils removed recently. One of the ways we shared her time recovering was by reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets together. While I noticed JK Rowling made mistakes like using the same word in close proximity together, what everyone remembers I think is her fantastic made up names in the magical world: quiditch, muggles, Nimbus 2000, mudbloods, Nearly Headless Nick, Moaning Myrtle and on and on all through the series.
Of course Shakespeare is the master wordsmith as are several early English writers like Chaucer, John Donne and Jane Austen.
I truly think my recent acceptance at The Colored Lens is due to word choice. When I sat down to rewrite the story before submitting it again, I focused on words that would give vivid imagery and emotions. I think it elevated it from a cute story to something meatier and more meaningful…at least that’s how I perceive it in my own mind 
Who are your favorite wordsmiths? I left out a whole bunch, so please fill up the comment section!