The Uncommon Word: Surprising Our Readers with Extraordinary Language

In the library the other day, I came across a copy of Michael Wolff’s tell-all book, Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House and, even though I’m pressed for time to read lately, I decided to check it out. The book turns out to be a great dish on the chaotic and cringe-worthy first year of the current administration, but what surprised me most about it is was the language Wolff uses. Scattered across the pages are words I am embarrassed to admit I don’t know: words like samizdat, revanchism, myrmidons, quant, and hortatory.

To be truthful, I wasn’t expecting this level of vocabulary in what I thought would be a People type of read. To be clear, the book is quite good; it provides a fascinating first-hand look at the temperament of the current president and the political machinations of the people he chooses to work for him. But I have had to keep my phone handy while reading this book, just so I can look up some of the unfamiliar words I’m encountering as I go along.

This process of looking up new vocabulary words brings back some of the best memories of my childhood. I was one of those kids who loved to read and enjoyed diving into books above my recommended reading level. I delighted in learning new words, and discovered, as an interesting by-product, that doing so taught me to be a better writer, as well as a reader. But at some point in my life, I lost this drive to discover new vocabulary words. I replaced it with a desire to acquire more content in what I was reading. Now I’m wondering if it was a good idea to lose interest in growing my vocabulary.

While many of us enjoy discovering new words in the books we’re reading, most of us who write don’t have the same feeling about pushing the vocabulary envelope. It’s a tough job just to get the words on the page on some days and forcing ourselves to write with more complex language is sometimes not a priority. But I have to admit that when I read books that are written with an elevated vocabulary, I find that I’m more likely to remember them as the books I love the most.

My appreciation for heightened language is ironic considering that in the college business classes I teach, I urge students to write with short, simple words. Some of the rationale behind this pedagogy is that when writing for business, the primary goal is to be clear. But when it comes to writing fiction and nonfiction books, the goal is a little different. In those cases, we are telling stories. Our purpose, for the most part, is to inform and entertain. And I would argue that in those cases, the type of words we use matter more.

Finding just the right word to describe a character or situation might take the writer a little more time, but the end result can be captivating and memorable, and can make our stories soar. I know some will argue that forcing readers to stop and look up words might take them out of the stories we write. There is some truth to that. But reading Wolff’s work has reminded me that in addition to developing a good storyline and creating memorable characters,  I also need to up my game when it comes to the language I use in my writing. I believe I owe it to my characters, my stories, and most of all, to my readers, especially if I want them to remember my books as the ones they love the most.

Locating Your Tribe: Where to Find Readers for Your Books

First, a happy Labor Day to all of the hardworking readers and authors out there who got to enjoy a much needed day of rest (I know I sure needed one!).

I just returned home from a three-day weekend at the Barona Indian Reservation, where I sold copies of my books Favorite Daughter, Part One; Face Value: Collected Stories; and Coyote Heart. Before I discuss the powwow, please know that I am not Native American by heritage. I discovered the world of powwows when I wrote my first novel, Coyote Heart, which is a contemporary love story about a married woman who falls in love with a man from the Pala Indian Reservation here in San Diego.

When I was promoting the first edition of Coyote Heart (which was agented and traditionally published by a small press back in 2009), I discovered that there was a core group of readers here in San Diego County who were interested in Native American fiction. I learned this fact by getting out and doing book signings at local bookstores and libraries (there were still a lot of bookstores around at that time, so I was lucky to be able to do a four–state signing tour with the book).

After realizing that readers enjoyed the regional and/or native elements of Coyote Heart, I decided to see what it would be like to be a vendor at a number of local Native American gatherings (remember, I just had the one book, Coyote Heart, to sell) and rented booth space at powwows at San Luis Rey, Pala, Barona, Pechanga, Balboa Park, and Sycuan the summer after the book was released. As a result, I was able to meet a number of powwow attendees (both tribal members and local readers) who liked that Coyote Heart was about the Indian tribes here in San Diego (this was especially true of the Luiseno and Cupa readers who were familiar with the Pala Reservation). I sold a lot of copies of Coyote Heart that first summer, and then attended a string of powwows during the following summer, where I ran into many of my former readers who wanted to know when I would have another book out.

Much happened after those first powwow appearances – I hired a publishing attorney and got the rights back to Coyote Heart, which I rewrote as a second edition. I self-published the new edition of Coyote Heart, along with a collection of short stories I had written during 2001 – 2007, called Face Value: Collected Stories. I published both books in January, 2014, and then completed the final draft of part one of my historical novel about Pocahontas, Favorite Daughter.

I published Favorite Daughter, Part One in July of this year, which was, unfortunately, past the registration dates for a number of summer powwows held here in San Diego. But even though it was late in the game, I signed up for the Barona powwow, which took place this past weekend, and sold all three of my books there.

It was unusually hot and windy all three days, and the long hours of setting up, selling books, and then tearing down the booth every evening was tiring. But what a treat it was smell the scent of sage again, to view the gorgeous regalia and intricate footwork of the swirling fancy dancers, and listen to the hypnotic and soothing drumming and singing. Best of all, I ran into a number of my former powwow readers, who expressed great delight at seeing me there and who were happy to know that I had written some new books that they could buy.

I sold a lot of books this weekend (surprisingly, my first book, Coyote Heart, was still popular – it outsold the new book, Favorite Daughter). And what I learned was that once you’ve developed a core group of readers, they will stay with you, even if it takes years to produce another book.

So, my answer those who ask “How do I find readers?” is that in addition to all the promotional work you do online, you might also want to get out there where readers of the type of books you write congregate – whether it be at fantasy conventions, medieval fairs, children’s plays, young adult library events, mystery theater gatherings, professional meetings, historical reenactments, street festivals, or even regular book signings – and talk to them. Ask them what they like to read and listen to their answers. Tell them about your book and offer to sign copies for themselves and their friends and families. Most of all, treat them as members of a very special family – your tribe, if you will. They will buy from you, they will remember you, and, most important of all, they will be there when you’re ready to tell them about your newest publishing adventure.