Ask the Author: Raynetta Manees
Answered Questions (8)
Raynetta Manees
By a “big” word I am assuming you mean a word that is either lengthy and/or cerebral.
The most important factor in your choice of words is to use the right word, that is, the word that most the appropriately conveys your message. The “size” of the word in and of itself is not a reason to use it.
One factor to consider in choosing the most appropriate word is your targeted audience. The vocabulary you would use in writing a children’s storybook would probably be quite different than the words you would use in a book targeting college students.
To use a big word just because it is a big word when a smaller word would be more appropriate would make your writing seem fake, pompous, and/or ostentatious. I have read authors that do this and it only detracts from their writing.
On the other hand, to use a smaller word when a larger word would better fit your context could make your writing seem simplistic, or worse, not properly or fully convey your intended message.
To sum up, your choice of words should depend basically on two factors: its fitness for the context of your material, and your targeted audience, not the “size” of the word.
To answer your second question, it is absolutely critical that you understand each word you use, otherwise, how could you determine that it is the best word for your writing? I would advise you to never use a word you don’t understand. The better choice would be to use smaller, simpler word that you do understand. To do otherwise is to risk your writing failing entirely to express your point.
The most important factor in your choice of words is to use the right word, that is, the word that most the appropriately conveys your message. The “size” of the word in and of itself is not a reason to use it.
One factor to consider in choosing the most appropriate word is your targeted audience. The vocabulary you would use in writing a children’s storybook would probably be quite different than the words you would use in a book targeting college students.
To use a big word just because it is a big word when a smaller word would be more appropriate would make your writing seem fake, pompous, and/or ostentatious. I have read authors that do this and it only detracts from their writing.
On the other hand, to use a smaller word when a larger word would better fit your context could make your writing seem simplistic, or worse, not properly or fully convey your intended message.
To sum up, your choice of words should depend basically on two factors: its fitness for the context of your material, and your targeted audience, not the “size” of the word.
To answer your second question, it is absolutely critical that you understand each word you use, otherwise, how could you determine that it is the best word for your writing? I would advise you to never use a word you don’t understand. The better choice would be to use smaller, simpler word that you do understand. To do otherwise is to risk your writing failing entirely to express your point.
Raynetta Manees
A writer who helps others write books or other material is called a ghostwriter. Just google the term "ghostwriter" and any number of ghostwriters for hire will be listed.
But do your research before hiring someone. As is unfortunately the case in just about every area of our lives these days, there are scam artists out there. Ask to see referrals from people they have previously ghostwritten for. Read books you have confirmed they have ghostwritten. There are a lot of good, reputable ghostwriters out there but just be careful who you pick and research the person before hiring them.
There are websites on "how to hire a ghostwriter". Google that term also for additional guidance on how to go about it. Good luck!
But do your research before hiring someone. As is unfortunately the case in just about every area of our lives these days, there are scam artists out there. Ask to see referrals from people they have previously ghostwritten for. Read books you have confirmed they have ghostwritten. There are a lot of good, reputable ghostwriters out there but just be careful who you pick and research the person before hiring them.
There are websites on "how to hire a ghostwriter". Google that term also for additional guidance on how to go about it. Good luck!
Raynetta Manees
I’ve come to realize that over the years I’ve developed a fondness for alliteration.
I don’t think it’s ever happened that I said to myself, “Hmmm, an alliteration would fit nicely here.” What usually happens is I write a passage that has two or more similar sounds. Sometimes I’ll then start looking for a way to fit in more similar sounds.
One example is in my book, “All for Love.” There was a scene in which one character originally says, ” I could have gladly cleaned his clock for that.” After reading it over I decided to change it to, “I could have cheerfully cleaned his clock for that.”
In “Wishing on a Star” there’s this exchange:
“'Holly Hollister'--has a nice ring to it, don't you think,honey?"
She's a beautiful woman, Shay thought, but it's awful hard to look seductive when you're three sheets to the wind.
"Uh... Well, it's alliterative, all right," Shay replied aloud with an almost concealed smile.
"All-litter-what-tive?" Holly asked, trying to focus on Shay, clearly not sure if this was a compliment or not."
I know there are many other such spots in my books. But, again, they were not planned, per se. They were more or less kind of propagated out of a passage with potential. [LOL]
I don’t think it’s ever happened that I said to myself, “Hmmm, an alliteration would fit nicely here.” What usually happens is I write a passage that has two or more similar sounds. Sometimes I’ll then start looking for a way to fit in more similar sounds.
One example is in my book, “All for Love.” There was a scene in which one character originally says, ” I could have gladly cleaned his clock for that.” After reading it over I decided to change it to, “I could have cheerfully cleaned his clock for that.”
In “Wishing on a Star” there’s this exchange:
“'Holly Hollister'--has a nice ring to it, don't you think,honey?"
She's a beautiful woman, Shay thought, but it's awful hard to look seductive when you're three sheets to the wind.
"Uh... Well, it's alliterative, all right," Shay replied aloud with an almost concealed smile.
"All-litter-what-tive?" Holly asked, trying to focus on Shay, clearly not sure if this was a compliment or not."
I know there are many other such spots in my books. But, again, they were not planned, per se. They were more or less kind of propagated out of a passage with potential. [LOL]
Raynetta Manees
I have been writing romance novels for 20 years now, and I have frequently had readers tell me they "fell in love" with one of my characters. I fully understand that because I have unfailingly fallen in love with each of the heroes of my books.
It's rare in life, I think, to meet a person of your dreams. I say "a" person and not"the" person because I think each of us could find complete happiness with a number of dissimilar people.
We are all flexible and we all have multiple facets. So I could be as completely happy with my superstar entertainer, Darryl Bridges, in one scenario as I could with my country preacher,Tyler Barnett, in another.
We all have imaginations to some degree or another; else there would be no movies other than documentaries. There would be no such thing as fiction in writing. Fiction is by definition a function of imagination.
When the author's imagination taps deeply into that of the reader is a situation in which a person could fall in love with a fictional character.
It's rare in life, I think, to meet a person of your dreams. I say "a" person and not"the" person because I think each of us could find complete happiness with a number of dissimilar people.
We are all flexible and we all have multiple facets. So I could be as completely happy with my superstar entertainer, Darryl Bridges, in one scenario as I could with my country preacher,Tyler Barnett, in another.
We all have imaginations to some degree or another; else there would be no movies other than documentaries. There would be no such thing as fiction in writing. Fiction is by definition a function of imagination.
When the author's imagination taps deeply into that of the reader is a situation in which a person could fall in love with a fictional character.
Raynetta Manees
Aug. 30, 2017--The original plan was to release Book 3 of the SuperStar series (Tiffani's story) later in 2017. However, I had a massive heart attack earlier this year and was totally unable to deal with my writing, or any of my other business affairs, for several months. I am just now returning to my writing career. As a result, I am now months behind. For this reason, the release of the new SuperStar book had to be moved back to 2018.
I was and now am again also working on another book, a new romance that is not a part of the SuperStar Series. It was originally targeted for a 2018 release. My aim--if I can manage it--is to stick to the 2018 release for this book, if I can. So hopefully I'll have two new books released next year.
I was and now am again also working on another book, a new romance that is not a part of the SuperStar Series. It was originally targeted for a 2018 release. My aim--if I can manage it--is to stick to the 2018 release for this book, if I can. So hopefully I'll have two new books released next year.
Raynetta Manees
Get a copy of The Writer’s Market and a copy of Become a Successful Author by Deatri King-Bey. Every writer who wishes to become published or continue to be published should have a copy of each.
Raynetta Manees
The best part of being a writer is being able to, a least for a short while, live in a world totally of my own imagination.
Raynetta Manees
One great thing about writing a book is that it doesn't have to be written in same order it will be read. So if I'm in Chapter 4 of a book and I get stuck as to how to continue, I jump ahead to another part of the book, say to Chapter 7, where I have a pretty good idea of a scene or scenes, and how I want to write them. Then I'll go back to the impasse in Chapter 4 later. I often find that the answer to the Chapter 4 problem will come to me while I'm doing something else, many times when what I'm doing has nothing directly to do with writing. I find this technique usually gets me past the bottleneck.
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