Vocabulary, Meaning, & Method--what we do with language

Interpretive Writing Intensive

The Workshop for Interpreters Who Write

In This Issue

Vocabulary, Meaning, & Method

Interp Writing Intensive in N. Colorado this October

What's in the Interp Writing Intensive

Words can sometimes, in a moment of grace, attain the quality of deeds.

Elie Wiesel

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Interpretive Writing Intensive

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October 11-16, 2010
Wilder-Nest Retreats
Loveland, CO

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Interpretive Writing Intensive
Oct. 11-16, 2010
Wilder-Nest Retreats in Northern Colorado
See below for details

Vocabulary, Meaning, & Method
Some mostly random thoughts about language and what we do with it

It's been an interesting summer.

Most summers, I work (writing coaching, writing, editing, and an occasional workshop),

Judy's neglected garden

invent ways to avoid yard-work, volunteer for the Front Range Family Theatre Project (we're half-way through a five-year cycle of plays based on L. Frank Baum's Oz stories, and it's a great excuse for not weeding the garden),

Oz Parade

do one Big New Thing (this summer, I'm taking a playwriting class and an ongoing scriptwriting workshop), and read.

Reading is, for a writer, as important as writing. Reading the works of superb writers inspires me and challenges me to push myself harder in my own work.

When I read, part of my brain is always paying attention to how the writer is telling the story. What metaphors does the author use? What language choices? How does the structure of the story--whether it's a single paragraph on a signpost or a 90,000-word novel--help or hinder? Is the author manipulating me, and if so, how?

A single word can make a world of difference.

Slaves or enslaved?

The metaphor you select can define a universe.

Fiscal storm.

Storms are scary, unpredictable, powerful, destructive, and caused by nature, the gods or God, not caused by man...so, too, for economic ups and downs? Are we powerless against the forces of local and global finance? Are we brave sailors or tornado chasers? Do we venture forth only when the weather is calm? Who defines calm?

The June 22 issue of The Denver Post ran a front-page splash titled, "How much oil is that really? A little mathematical context to the spill size can put the environmental catastrophe in perspective." Reporter Seth Borenstein has the right idea--numbers, especially large numbers, are meaningless without context--but even in this short article, there is plenty of vocabulary for thought.

The article begins:

"126,300,000 gallons spilled since the oil rig exploded on April 20. That calculation is based on the higher end of the government's range of barrels leaked per day and BP's calculations for the amount of oil siphoned off as of Monday morning."

First the oil rig exploded--that brings up an image of impressive destruction. Then millions of gallons spilled--which triggers an image of something not huge, but not small, either, and the gallons got out fast, all at once, like spilling a pitcher of milk all over the kitchen floor. Range of barrels leaked conveys an entirely different image; leaks are small, and they come out little bit by little bit. Siphoned? Makes me think smaller yet, sucking up a bit of mess from the surface, like using a Dustbuster to clean up cracker crumbs on the sofa.

So by the end of this short opening paragraph, I'm already beginning to think that maybe this mess isn't so bad after all. The structure of the paragraph acts as a funnel, mayhem and destruction at the beginning sloping down to a narrow neck that minimizes this catastrophe. Whether intentionally or not, the writer of the paragraph is implying that I should calm down and not worry so much.

This impression is reinforced by two of the four examples Borenstein uses to illustrate the "mathematical context" of the oil spill.

"For every gallon of oil that BP's well has leaked, there is more than 5 billion gallons of water in the Gulf of Mexico." (Patrick Semansky, AP) One gallon isn't very much. That's the size of a milk jug.

"If all the oil spilled were divided up and equal amounts given to every American, we would each get about four soda cans full of crude oil." Only four pop cans? No worse than a couple of oil changes in my car. Nothing to worry about.

And it's (somewhat) counterbalanced by his other two examples:

Converting the oil spilled to gasoline produces "58.6 million gallons of gas--the amount American drivers burn every three hours and 43 minutes. It's enough to fill up the gas tanks in nearly 3.7 million cars." This one is actually closer to the middle: we'd burn through the oil in less than half a day--so maybe that's not so bad (though wow, now I'm feeling really guilty about being an American, even though I ride my bike all the time); but I really don't know how many 3.7 million cars is. More than four pop cans and a gallon of milk, that's for sure.

"If you put the oil in gallon jugs and lined them up, they would stretch about 11,000 miles. That's a round trip from the Gulf of Mexico to London, BP's headquarters, and a side trip from New Orleans to Washington, D.C." This one is better in that it puts the numbers in an understandable, tangible context. It also tweaks us with a bit of humor (our round trip could have gone somewhere other than BP's HQ--to Japan and partway back to Hawaii, for example*

). It's almost as one-sided as the first two examples, but supports the "other" side.

I'm not saying that the author is right or wrong in his approach. I'm not defending or attacking his message. I am paying close attention to how he is communicating his message: the vocabulary he chooses, the method he uses, and the meaning he ultimately conveys.

Peter Parker's Uncle Ben told him,

"With great power comes great responsibility."

That's true for writers, not just Spiderman.

As writers telling some of the most important stories in the world, stories that help people understand and care for the world and each other, we have a tremendous responsibility. We need to get it right. That means thinking about the story, the message contained within the story, and the words and ways we convey that story.

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*In researching this article, I asked Googlemaps for a route from New Orleans to Japan (because I am too lazy to look up the mileage and knew Googlemaps would calculate it for me). Google's directions are great; I now know where to put my kayak in (right turn at NE Northlake Way, Seattle) to cross the Pacific Ocean, and then on the other side of Hawaii, I take a left onto Kalakaua Ave. and cross more Pacific Ocean until I get to Japan!

Interpretive Writing Intensive
October 11-16, 2010
Wilder-Nest Retreats
in
Northern Colorado

Early Bird Registration Now Open
Register today and save $200!

ALL-INCLUSIVE OR COMMUTER RATES

Arrive Monday October 11 between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m.
Depart Saturday morning, October 16, 2010.

Important:Wilder-Nest Retreats has a limited number of rooms.

If you want to stay in this beautiful bed and breakfast (we'll be meeting there every day), register now. Rooms (and workshop space) are first-come, first-served.

REGISTER by midnight, September 15--SAVE 200.00!
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All-inclusive: $1479.00
Commuter: $949.00

After Sept. 15: Regular Registration
All-inclusive: $1679.00
Commuter: $1149.00

Group Registration

WHAT'S INCLUDED: ALL-INCLUSIVE RATE

5 nights' lodging at Wilder-Nest Retreats (Monday night through Saturday morning);
5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 4 suppers;
snacks, coffee, and tea;
workshop and materials;
one half-hour individual consulting session; and
instructor review of one previously submitted writing sample.

All-inclusive registration fee does not include transportation.

WHAT'S INCLUDED: COMMUTER RATE