Great Verbs

Rewriting my own work makes me acutely aware of strong verbs in others' writing. I especially love when authors coax words into unexpected meanings. Here are a few of my favorite verbs for the week:

• bracelet: "A thin red line bracelets her wrist."


• crosshatch: "Docks and moorings crosshatch the water nearest shore."


• jewel: "Stars jewel the sky."


• bleed: "Sunset bled across the lake."


• spiderwebbed: "Silver spiderwebbed the orb's surface."

I like Lewis Carroll's thoughts about language, as expressed in Through the Looking Glass: 'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone,' it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.'

Today, I will practice coaxing my own words into order :)

~Cheryl