"Big" Words
One day I was talking with my cousin about a book that I had
read. I told her how wonderful it was and how I couldn't put it
down. I thought she might be interested in reading it, but I was
wrong.
After listening to what I had to say, she replied, "I like to
read books, but I don't. It's too frustrating." I just looked at
her, waiting for an explanation. I couldn't imagine what she
meant. And then, she explained. When she would read a book, she
felt like she needed a dictionary at her side to look up the
"big" words the author used. It would take her a long time to
read a book, not to mention, make her feel like she was stupid
because she didn't know what some of the words meant-or even how
to pronounce them. And then, I began to think about it. There
were times when I came across words that I really wasn't sure of.
Now, when I read a book, I think about the conversation I had
with my cousin.
And now, when I write, I think about that same conversation. I
want everyone, who would be interested in reading what I write,
to enjoy it. I write to entertain. And I want to entertain as
many people as I can. So, if I start to use a word that I think
might be a "big" word, I find another way to write it.
I don't want to lose my audience; I want to entertain them.