Pro tip: Ignoring the dictionary helped my poems sound more real

I used to stop and look up every fancy word while writing. It killed the mood and broke my train of thought. A writing buddy told me to just put down plain words first. Honestly, the simple language actually packed more punch. Ngl, my stuff feels truer to life now.

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oliviabennett7mo ago

Disagree hard on this one. Learning new words gave me more colors to paint with, not less real feelings. My early poems used only basic language and they felt flat, like a kid's drawing. Now when I learn a precise word, it helps me say exactly what I mean. The trick is to know the word so well it feels like your own, not like you're showing off.

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the_linda7mo ago

@oliviabennett, kid drawings? Harsh. Your early stuff had its own vibe.

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faith_palmer517mo ago

Your "more colors to paint with" idea matches what I read once.

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