Welcome to 2022

Before embracing the New Year, let’s review the fifteen most popular posts for writers in 2021. Each link will open in a new tab.

#1: 400+ Ways to Exploit Facial Expressions in Writing: In real life, scowls, smiles, and curled lips reflect underlying emotions. They should do the same in fiction or creative nonfiction.

#2: 400+ Ways to Describe Human Eyes: A character might hide a smirk behind a hand, but the micro-movements of the eyes, eyelids, and brows will reveal the truth.

#3: 600+ Ways to Describe Lips and Mouths: More than kissing or eating machines, lips and mouths reflect overt or hidden emotions. This post shares hundreds of ways to describe them.

#4: 500+ Ways to Describe Fire: Since ancient times, humans have known about fire. We have feared it, welcomed its warmth, and harnessed its power.

#5: Ways to Describe Breath & Breathing: Labored? Effortless? Panic-stricken? An asthmatic’s breathing will differ from that of an athlete or a nervous job applicant.

#6: 250+ Ways to Describe Voices: Your protagonist’s voice will evoke varied reactions. As a writer, your task is to make readers hear what you want them to hear.

#7: 400+ Words to Describe Hair: People judge others and make snap assessments based on appearance. Hair is a reflection of personality and lifestyle.

#8: 500+ Ways to Describe Body Build and Physique: Writers must compromise between the desire to depict every wrinkle, and the need to keep readers engaged. This post will help.

#9: 300+ Words to Describe Skin: The perfect adjective engages readers. Here are more than 300 descriptors for skin color, tone, complexion, and texture.

#10: 500+ Ways to Describe Faces: The face is usually the first thing people notice when they meet, and is often what they rely on to make snap judgments. What do your characters’ faces reveal?

#11: 600+ Words to Describe Smiles: Someone once said that everyone smiles in the same language. This post presents ways to include that smile language in prose and poetry.

#12: Ways to Say “Blush” in Writing: Why do people blush? Writers should know their characters’ motivations. Then, their duty is to show readers the cause of each blush.

#13: 100+ Ways to Say “Roll the Eyes”: “Roll the eyes” is a common idiom. However, even in children’s books, overuse of any expression is taboo. Check these alternatives.

#14: 222 Ways to Avoid “Very” in Writing: Very big. Very nice. Very colorful. Too many instances of “very” in your writing? Try these alternatives.

#15: 300+ Ways to Replace “Sigh”: You just reviewed your novel and found more than 100 instances of the verb sigh? Here’s how to fix your story without a major rewrite.

Another Five-Star Review for The Writer’s Lexicon

Invaluable for every writer, this book will always be within my reach as I apply my fingers to the keys to write, to review, and to edit. Forever grasping for the ‘mot juste’ my copy is already well-thumbed. Examples emphasise each point and exercises add to the enjoyment, some even made me laugh out loud.

So, trash those taboos and root out those redundancies; no more shrugging, sighing or frowning, because there’s always a better word or a different way to describe.

Highly recommended for authors everywhere… now onto the next volume!

Thanks, Chris Hall!

How Is 2022 Treating You So Far?

2020 and 2021 stunned us all.

Although we can’t predict what the next twelve months will bring, we can maintain a positive attitude and treat everyone with kindness and respect.

May the year 2022 be productive for everyone who reads this. If I were an alien from the planet Vorton, I’d give you four optimistic thumbs up. Since I’m only a human, two will have to do.