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The Writer's Dictionary N-Z
The Education Continues
Hi folks! Mr. Motivator is here once again to stir the savage beast within you, to pump up your writer’s soul, and to gently push you in the direction of greatness.
Last week I gave you the first installment of the Writer’s Dictionary A-M; today we will finish the task covering letters N-Z.
This is just for writers. Firemen need not read this; truck drivers need not read this; hell, my Aunt Martha need not read this. Consider this an early Christmas present for all those kindred spirits out there who have the passion of words, who since the early days of childhood have been scribbling their thoughts in some writing tablet. This is for the lovers of language, the sultans of sentences and the princes of participles. This is for you who suffer from writer’s block, who hunger for illumination and who thirst for knowledge.
Writers…this one is for you!
The first half of the dictionary
- The Writer's Dictionary A-M
A handy reference book designed for writers only.
N IS FOR NAKED
And naked, of course, means without covering, vulnerable and unprotected….just like writers are each and every time they offer one of their writings for public scrutiny. Writing is the ultimate striptease act, baring our souls and showing it all in hopes…in hopes…that our small offerings will be accepted by the vast throngs of readers. Bravo to you for having the guts to put it all out there.
O IS FOR OOZE
Ooze is a verb meaning to move or advance slowly but steadily, and what better definition can there be for the path of a writer. Working daily in relative obscurity, the writer has a plan and that plan requires steadfast commitment to the craft of writing. We build our platforms one article at a time, always moving forward towards our goal.
P IS FOR PACIFY
Another verb meaning to ease the anger or distress of. Writers have the ability to bring peace to their readers. Our words, when perfectly formed, can bridge the gap of race, creed and distance; we can form a common bond among nationalities; we can be goodwill ambassadors through our words, and make this world just a bit smaller, and a bit more peaceful, in the process.
Such an important book for writers
Q IS FOR QUALITY
Let it never be said of your writing that it is not of a degree or grade of excellence. You have declared yourself to be a writer; act like it! Greats came before you; greats will come after you. You are part of a great legacy and as such you should never settle for less than excellence in your work.
R IS FOR REMEDY
A noun meaning something that relieves pain, cures disease, or corrects a disorder. Consider this if you will: writing corrects the disorder of ignorance. Writing relieves the pain of those suffering in this world. Writing cures the diseases of apathy, complacency and inhumanity. Writing is crucial to the advancement of brotherhood and writing continues a long history of freedom of speech. You have been entrusted with a sacred quest; don’t waste the opportunity.
S IS FOR SEEK
Writers are seekers. We are on a journey of discovery every time we sit down to share our thoughts. We investigate, we uncover, we poke and we prod, all in the name of literature and the advancement of intelligence. To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield…..the words of Tennyson beautifully apply to the quest of writers.
T IS FOR TEEM
Teem is a verb meaning to be full of or to give birth to, and what better description of a writer than that? We are overflowing with ideas, words, sentences, thoughts and messages, and through our efforts we give birth to more beauty and damn but the world needs more beauty. Through our words we answer questions, provide information and paint dreams and damn but the world needs more of those things. Yes, writers are teeming and the recipients of each new birth are the readers.
U IS FOR URGENCY
I would submit to you that there is an urgency in the world today for more writers to produce more work; it is of pressing importance that we do so. Throughout the years the opposite of warfare and strife and discord has been the Arts. On one end of the spectrum is death and destruction; on the other….the calming influence of the artists of the world.
V IS FOR VISIONARY
This was an easy one to choose. Visionary….having the nature of fantasies and dreams….a dreamer!
Is there a better definition of a writer? Think about what you give to people. We are the ones who take dreams and bring them to life. We are the ones who chase dreams and believe it possible to actually catch them. We are living, breathing, walking, talking windmill-tilting visionaries and God ain’t it great?
Some more motivation from a pro
My thoughts on the process
W IS FOR WELCOME
To receive with pleasure and hospitality into one’s company or home….yep, that’s what we do when we write and publish….we send our words out into the world in hopes that they will be well-received. Out there in cyberspace another human being is hoping for information or inspiration or answers to endless questions…and we provide those things and more. We are like a favorite relative that has been gone for awhile, stopping to pay a visit bearing gifts, food and drink. We are the comfort-providers and the answer-gurus. We are the warm and fuzzies on a cold night, and we are the hot-toddy that relaxes and soothes.
X IS FOR XANADU
Xanadu, of course, is a mythical place in a poem by Samuel Coleridge; it is described as an idyllic, beautiful place…sort of like the beautiful places that we create with our words. Whether it be memories of simpler days gone by, or human interest stories that raise our hopes, or just some pabulum for the needy, we as writers create beauty with our words.
Y IS FOR YOURS
Belonging to you….your writing, my friends, is your legacy to the world, every bit as much as your children or a thousand acts performed over your lifetime. Long after you are gone your words will live on, and some day, in the near future or distant future, some young human being will be seeking comfort or knowledge and will come across your writings and they will smile. Knowledge transported across the years and across the chasm of nationalities. We bridge those gaps each and every time we write.
Z IS FOR ZONE
I was going to do zygote but discovered at the last second a fondness for zone.
As in being in the writing zone; the passion within us forces us to sit down at the computer. We have kept the ideas bottled up for far too long, and if we don’t write about them we fear we will burst. Sure there are chores; sure there are other responsibilities; but dammit, we must write. The idea comes to us; the words begin to flow; a smile spreads over our face and for one, brief moment, we experience the elation of Bronte and Blake and Hemingway and Steinbeck….we are writers and we are in the zone, baby!
Join me on my writing blog
- Artistry With Words | A topnotch WordPress.com site
A site for writers only, filled with suggestions, discussions, tips and interesting sites.
Are you now motivated to write?
Are You Feeling It?
If not then maybe you aren’t a writer after all, but I suspect you are now inspired and ready to create once again. To all of you, I raise an imaginary toast your way. To the shores of Shanghai and the plains of Kansas….to the high rises of Manhattan and the islands of the UK….to the savannahs of Georgia and the savannahs of Africa…..this toast is for all of you who write. Bless you always!
2013 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Related
Comments
I love the second part of this and so true about all, especially the writer's zone that I seem to get into quite often now, especially when my girls are in pre-school int he afternoon and it is nice and quiet here for me to think and write now. In fact, I can't wait for this afternoon, because I have a few ideas brewing! Wishing you a great Monday now and thanks again.
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Janine, first in line as always. Thank you; it must be close to the zone time for you. Happy writing my dear friend and thank you!
This is very inspiring and useful....
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Jainismus, I am so happy to hear that. Thank you!
Good Morning from the hills of Kentucky!
Bill, I am not anywhere near finished with my 'book', but I have gone
back in the writing and am elaborating. It is great fun. Using the five senses and the element of surprise, have given me and my readers a
few expected frights.
So glad that you went with "zone" instead of "zygote". You might still be writing to explain that one. Ha, ha
Have a great week and let us all have more time to write, write, write!
DJ.
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DJ, I hope this finds you and Kentucky doing well this morning. As for your book....hooray! I love that you are giving it depth and using the senses. I am smiling ear to ear today.
As always, thank you my friend. May we write for many years to come.
bill
I love your writers alphabet, Bill. Another word that comes to mind for the letter Z is zealous. And P for passion. They're literary cousins.
Enjoy your week. I'm going to concentrate this week on coming up with and logging ideas.
Ah, what a great Monday motivator you are, my friend! Was just writing to a fellow follower of yours--Casey aka abetterwaytolive--and shared with him how I was going to introduce him to another inspirational writer but then discovered that he was already following you. Thank you for being such an infectious influence, my friend! LOL!
This alphabet cereal was great breakfast fare, complementing what appears to be--as I adjust the blinds in my bedroom/office and peer outside--another amazingly prolonged Indian Summer day! Thank you for sharing a delightful drink from your Fountain of Literary Youth, Bill! Yes, I am as pumped as the delivering end of another Seahawks defensive sack!
Aloha, my friend!
~Joe
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Sounds like a plan, Sha, and thanks for the alternative words for the dictionary. You are oh so right.
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LOL...good morning Joe! When will summer end my friend? I guess this is a metaphor for our youth, is it not?
If I am inspiring others, Joe, then I am a very happy writer. That's what i try to do; we all need it, and others inspire me in turn. It is a great community as long as we all do our share and support one another.
Have a great walk buddy and I'll see you down the proverbial road.
Aloha
bill
I don't agree with you Bill; I don't think this hub is just for "writers". Some firemen or truck drivers might have the writing bug in them but don't know it yet or are just afraid of writing. Writing is such a gift; some people can transport you in another world with fantastic stories but writing allows also some people to write about all kind of subjects.
Thanks for sharing your interview on youtube!
I started by reading your Writer's Dictionary N-Z... now I have to go to A to M :-)
Thanks for sharing. Have a great week!
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kidscraft, good point and I appreciate it.
So you start at the end and work forward, huh? Sounds like someone else I know. LOL
Thank you my Ottawa friend.
Nice hub, inspiring and useful as always.
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Thank you Abhinav!
It's so true Billy! A few of these struck a chord with me, if not all, but the one that spoke to me the most was that "we must write". People who aren't writers in my personal life just don't understand. When I get an idea in my brain and run to the computer or do everything to find a paper and pen, they can't understand. LOL
The Writer's Dictionary N-Z great hub writers must keep on writing in order to be motivated. well done on another helpful hub, informative, useful and always something to think about
I'm building my writer's bookshelf back up and, of course your dictionaries are going to be front and center of my new library. Toni Morrison is a great writer to mimic. My daughter gave me a copy of Morrison's book titled, "Beloved". It sat on the shelf for about five years before I would pick it up to read it. I didn't think I would enjoy it. But, when Morrison came to speak at a friend's college graduation, I decided to read it. At first, it was difficult to grasp Morrison's style, but once I caught on, I was captivated by the storyline. After reading Beloved, I sat for quite a while, holding the book in my hand - spellbound (much like I was after reading The 12/59 Shuttle - from Yesterday to Today). I want to write like that.
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Brandi, no, they will never understand. Only we writers get it....and that's why we need each other so much. Thank you for stopping by...no go write! :)
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Thank you DDE; I'm so happy you enjoyed this and found it useful. Blessings to you my friend.
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Marlene, what a rush it must be to write a spellbinding book. Thank you for your kind words. I have had glimpses and you will as well. The trick is to take the glimpses and combine them all into one book that will last the test of time. That's what II'm working on now, a novel that I can be proud of forever and that will truly be considered brilliant. Will I make it? Only time will tell, but I know I have to try. :)
Hi Billybuc. Fantastic hub. I enjoyed reading it. Voted up and awesome.
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Thanks Benjamin; I appreciate you stopping by.
Bill,
Good Afternoon,
I love how you put it out there with creativity and wit. You are truly inspirational, and I appreciate your words of wisdom and ability to present them in such an upbeat manner. Thank You My Friend.
Blessings,
Kim
Well done! You certainly know the dilemma of a writer's heart and soul. This was fun to read and think about applying to one's own work.
i feel like singing the alphabet song. Seriously This was most creative and enjoyed reading it today...Where do you keep coming up with soooo many wonderful ideas...Hope you are enjoying Monday....
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Good afternoon Kim! Thank you so much. I want us all to be successful and to continue to love writing. Feed the passion my friend and never lose that love of writing.
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Stephanie, thank you. I'm glad you found this worthwhile and I hope your writing is going well.
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Carol, I don't have a clue where the ideas come from. They just keep popping into my head and I'm very grateful that they do. Thank you very much and I hope your Monday is rewarding.
Billy, or should I say "Mr. Motivator", also "Mr. Clever"! I think my favorite is being in the ZONE. You know you're there when you have a vague idea that someone may have been speaking to you, but you really don't care what they said. You know you're there when the words flow faster than you can type. You know you're there when you vow to finally set up that 'Dragon' software you bought, but you just can't stop now because you're in the ZONE!
Have a happy day my adroit friend ;) Pearl
Voted Up across the board
Yet another great and inspirational hub! I wasn't going to share this, but I will. When I saw your first word was "naked" I thought you were going to lay some comedy on us and say it had to do with us being able to write at home and not even have to get dressed in the morning. Ok ... maybe it's just me being in one of my weird moods. Great job and keep them coming!
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Connie, you just said it infinitely better than I did. Perfect examples; yes, that is being in the zone.
Thank you my friend; I'm so happy you enjoyed this.
bill
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LOL...Sheila, that falls under the category of "things I should have written." I'm very sorry now I didn't write that because honestly, it had dawned on me to do so. LOL Thank you for the laugh.
Mr. Motivator did a great job! I love that you have a two part piece. I think I missed the first one, but I'll get back to it.
You're creative to come up with a word for every letter of the alphabet!
I love the poll, too. We must all be writers, because no one picked the Twinkie. LOL.
Thanks for sharing this with us, and I hope you had a fantastic weekend!
~ Kathryn
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Kathryn, thank you. It's nice of you to take time out from your hectic last week to visit and comment. I greatly appreciate you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a Twinkie to eat. :)
Well, I wouldn't choose a Twinkie even if I couldn't write a word! haha. Those ARE the extremes of motivation, I'd say! Cute.
I just love this, Bill. I also missed the first part of the mini-series and must go check it out!
I seldom need motivation to write, thankfully, but every one of your alphabetically related-to-writing and its motivation words are truly applicable and useful. I voted it up and across!
Besides, it's a whole-new approach to the subjects. Your mind is an awesome TEEMing ZONE! Thanks for the Monday treat! :-)
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Nellieanna, a teeming zone? I can live with that description of my mind. :) It has been called much worse. LOL Thank you so much kind lady. I will try never to let you down.
Bill- I love all of these. It is definitely hard to put basically what amounts to a brain-dump out there for the ENTIRE world to see and then have them pick it apart, good bad or indifferent! From N-Z, all of these describe the craft and crafters perfectly. Another hub well done and very needed!
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Liz, a brain dump for the entire world....I love that description. And yes it is very hard, but despite it all we keep moving forward because why? That is what we writers do!
Thank you and I'm really glad you liked this.
I'm not sure if I've ever hit the "awesome" button on anyone's hub before this one. I loved it! "Sure there are chores; sure there are responsibilities..." but those things will always be there, and these thoughts in my head might disappear if I don't get them out! I agree with "naked" too. It is a very humbling and scary thing to put yourself out there as a writer. Thanks for the encouragement! - Ginger
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Ginger, thank you so much. I knew fellow writers would understand this and appreciate it. We need all the understanding an encouragement we can get. Thank you for being one of my supportive peers; you are appreciated.
bill
I love that introduction to this last half of the writer's dictionary and I believe I love the last half even better than the first half, if possible. LOL I am smiling at your "savage beast" for you will see in my next write .... so ironic!
Loved this inspiration. Up and more and sharing
Blessings, Faith Reaper
Hi bill. Great opener and great hub. I was reminded of all those dusty old notebooks I have stacked in a corner filled with "naked" memories from before I even knew up from down. Something thirty years ago inspired me to "write it all down". And I'm still going strong today!
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Thank you Faith. I'm glad you enjoyed the second part and I always appreciate your support.
blessings always my friend
bill
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Brian, I love it. I'm about five feet from my dusty old notebooks. LOL Thanks for the visit.
I need the Zzzz cause it is so late but I got the Y bill....because we love you!
It is sort of like a nice disease, though, huh? Writing that is. If I had all the time to do as I want half would go for writing and half for photography. Doesn't a picture often make you want to put a story behind it? Well I may give a little more time to writing....
I was being a little 'cute-alecky' (my Mother's word for it) - but, trust me - you know that I meant it in the highest regard as praise, Bill! I respect, admire and love the way your mind works! :-)
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Jackie, many of my writing ideas come from pictures. I just got a new camera and I'm excited to take more pictures; now all I have to do is find the time. Sigh!
Thank you dear lady.
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I do know that, Nellieanna, and thank you....I haven't heard that word in fifty years. LOL
Z is for zone....perfect choice....must be in the zone! So sorry I midsed this one yesterday. I have been slowing down here a bit....too much baby...too little time....
just a thought on "ooze" some people here, including me, ooze in many different ways, oozing sweetness, sarcasim, humour....just a thought!
Have a great day! Thank you!
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Randi, apologies aren't necessary. We are all busy; we all have lives to live. I'm just grateful whenever you do make it here. Thank you and continue oozing. :)
V IS FOR VISIONARY was my favorite. Great hub.
Have many more great writing days
Greetings from Cape Town
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Thank you Nadine and may all your days as a writer be filled with wonder.
Hello, Mr Motivator! :-) Another great (and motivating!) post.
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Hello Monis! LOL Thank you so much. Glad you liked it.
Words indeed have great power. It's up to us to use them well and carve our art carefully. My inspiration has always been my father who was great with words and passed his enthusiasm on to me. I've written a little about him and want to write more but feel vulnerable about such an emotional subject; as you say, we are laid open to scrutiny but you've pushed me a little further to doing something on those lines. You have the power, Bill, and you use it well. Thank you. Ann
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Ann, I'm going to tell you something I finally learned after years of hiding behind a carefree smile and laugh....people share common experiences. The joy, the pain, the human emotions that you feel about your father, millions will relate to those things. We are all alike we humans. I have "made my bones" on HP by writing about personal events and detailing the emotions related to those events. People respond kindly because the understand and relate to emotional events.
Vulnerable? Most definitely, but I have received nothing but love and understanding by being vulnerable as a writer.
Best wishes to you my friend, and thank you!
Yes, especially in this community of hubpages, I know others will relate; I'll take a big breath, count to 10 and have a go!
LOL @ billy! You know what they say about great minds thinking alike.
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Love it, Ann! I can hardly wait to see the product. Very good my friend.
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I do indeed, Sheila. You should be worried. LOL
Another great and wonderful lesson.
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Thank you as always vkwok....you are appreciated my friend.
Interesting, as always, Bill. My favorite letter in your alphabet is Z. I love being in the zone - it's wonderful when it happens.
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Alicia, it's my favorite place to be. :) Thank you!
Hello Bill.
Infrangible , from " a " to " z " absolutely essential. Coming from Mr. Motivator, the informations, suggestions , counsel and recommendations are more than helpful more than appreciated. I was learning great deal of " secrets " for a few and chosen ones - writers. Well, shall I say it, shall I not? - disappointedly the last one for " writers " - which by the definition "those who write professionally for pay. " Rules are rules. . . A seeming suggestion for the " none qualified " to find other place ... Or maintain for awhile " illegally " . (What a disliked word.)
Voted up and awesome and useful.
Blessings to you my friend.
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Michael, it is always a pleasure my friend. As is always the case with my writings, take what you need and can use and leave the rest for someone else. :) I greatly appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.
blessings always
bill
I wish you could have been my professor in college. I learn so much just by reading your hubs and listening to you on video. I can't imagine sitting in front of a class. I like how you motivate and encourage us writers to achieve greatness. Good hub & very creative too. voted up
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Doc, we all need motivation and encouragement. Writing is not easy; those who think it is are doomed to fail.
Thank you for so many visits today my friend. I hope you are well and happy.
I love this dictionary! I am ready for Xanadu, isn't that what your photo is about? Love those mountains!
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Dianna, you and me both. One of these days I'm going to travel and relax on my own farm; until that day, I write. :) Thank you my friend.
Well done Bill. A great angle from which to inform and motivate.
Graham.
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Thanks Graham! I had fun with this one. :) Have a great weekend.
Very inspiring, Bill. I can happily attest that you were definitely in the writer's zone with this one. Quality all the way!
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Well, drbj, I'm out of the zone now and will be for the rest of the weekend. Thank you my friend and have a great weekend.
Thanks as always, Billy, for your words of wisdom and inspiration.
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My pleasure, Deb; thank you!
I was looking forward to this second installment! Thanks for more inspiration.
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And thank you Glimmer! Inspiration is my middle name. :)
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