The Lightning Bug: Word Choice in a Thesaurus-Driven World

With the advent of new technology, there is an undeniable shift in the techniques and themes of literature. This is a trend that has permeated history. With the replacement of typewriters by digital word processors, we were introduced to a new ease of revision; with the invention of reading tablets like the Nook or the Kindle, we saw an alternative to spacious personal libraries; and with the increasing accessibility of the internet we’ve experienced the obsoleting of physical dictionaries and thesauruses.

The Dance of Style and Content

For each new story, a writer must make a slew of stylistic choices. What’s the literary perspectice? Should the language be in low or high diction? How will I dictate internal monologue? All too many writers assume these choice are arbitrary, yet a seasoned author will tell you that these decisions are hardly choices at all.

Scroll to top