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Weak Words

Hello Gabriella, your Mum happen to mention that you are doing a little bit of writing at the

moment, as well as doing the Pharmacy degree. This note is simply a short lesson on

improving your writing in an easy manner. The improvements don’t happen immediately

but little by little you will get better. (As we do with everything)

An American writer (I can’t recall his name) who blogs for a living did a list of weak words

and I found it extremely helpful from day one. They are all listed below. I needed help then

and still do. I wrote his list of weak words and pinned it to the wall over my desk. So now

when I have written something, I go through my sentences to find any weak words...and

of course I usually do. For example, I may have written “big” so I delete it and try

“enormous” or “gigantic” or “mammoth”. If I have used “went” I’ll delete it and try “sprinted” or “ambled” or “strolled” and the sentence is improved no end. I wrote a story last weekwhich read “the Mercedes went into the lane way”. So I changed it to “the Mercedes



slithered into the laneway”... I tried “sneaked” but slithered was much stronger.

Another little tip I can pass on is ...if the words aren’t flowing, back off and give yourself a

little time. Take a break or go for a walk. Creating doesn’t work to a set time-table. Also

train at writing the same as training for sport or dancing...just repeatedly do...and do

again...and again. Also try to be as passionate as possible. Write with passion until you

can feel it in your sentences. And finally, review your work and then look at it again the

next day and see if you can improve it in any way. Be your own critic but don’t be too hard

on yourself in the beginning.

Enjoy the process Gabby and hopefully you’ll let me see some work you’ve done in the

near future. I wish you well.


John A Wilson March 2017


THINGS STUFF GOT WAS IS ARE AM WENT VERY ALL

IMPORTANT USED TO EVERY NEVER FEEL SEEM OFTEN

ALMOST BIG SMALL HAVE JUST

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