Why You Should Write a Word-of-the-Day Story
Using the June 2021 words of the day
My road to writing this article has been anfractuous. First I was inspired by my colleague who wrote about her experience writing a word-of-the-day challenge. She dished the dirt to peach on the challenge, but her summary alone would not have inspired me to go through all the rigmarole to try it myself.
Then I followed the breadcrumb trail back to the writer who originally proposed the didactic challenge. I started to glean how the challenge could benefit writers, beyond those competing for a monetary prize.
It breaks writers from the solipsism of scouring their own reflections and bumptious reactions for story material. However, if you wish to try this same route, I must enjoin you from being too on-the-nose.
The fun comes when you try to fit words into an otherwise normal article. The majuscule start of each sentence and ending punctuation are as usual. Even the poignant emotional ups and downs should be as you would normally write them. But you must include all of the words-of-the-day, preferably in order.
If you are able to pull this off, you will feel like the veriest virtuoso, creating a symphony of words. I realize it is a titanic undertaking, and not for the faint of heart. I would not deride any author who refused to take up the challenge. After all, it is not every writer who is able to compose an article with fealty to such arbitrary rules and restrictions.
Are there any other rules to be aware of? A recommendation, rather than a rule, is to approach the project with a jocund attitude of playfulness. Do not allow the words to harry you, but make them march to your direction. And, of course, follow the standard Medium guidelines, such as not writing calumny, hate speech, or attacks upon others.
Try to make the words and sentences flow trippingly from the tongue, as Shakespeare had it, rather than being abrupt or disjointed.
If you are successful, you may be surprised at the progeny your article unleashes. You will not need to inveigle other authors to join you in the challenge. They will leap to their keyboards, eager to escape the miasma of their own turgid thoughts.
Perhaps, having spurred them on their way, you can then retire to the position of challenger emeritus. Enjoy reading their articles and forswear writing more of your own.
Although, if you miss the affluent flow of ordered words, you can always play with a thesaurus. Challenge yourself to write a story including every synonym for a particular word, until the effort desiccates your imagination.
After completing a strenuous challenge such as this, the writer who was whilom an oaf will find that they have become intellectually hale. It is a fine outcome for a minor effort, as I can now attest!
This article included all 30 June words of the day, in order, from the Merriam-Webster list.
Inspired by Barbara Dalton’s article:
