Turning a Phrase: Inspiration from Unexpected Sources
tideless depth raw composition
murderous parody A delicious throng of sensations
Words like the gossamer film of the summer
I rarely suffer writer's block, but I wanted to research it because I have been less than inspired recently when writing. Eating is another matter. Inspiration oozes from every gland while stuffing butter-soaked pancakes down my gullet. Eating and writing go well together for me, but it makes the keys stick. But I'm getting off track here; see what food does to me?
What beats in the heart of writer's block is something so simple: Fear. My fertile imagination is a curse and a gift. When I'm feeling fine, I write in a faithful flow; when I'm vexed with worry, I freeze.
Fretting, worry, anxiety, obsessing, thinking I can think my way out of my frozen inspiration doesn't work! Writing is hard enough when I'm motivated. But when my tank of inspiration is running on fumes, it's time to take action. I'm not going to inspire myself, except if I look in a mirror and fill with the inspiration to eat more lettuce--and greenery won't do dang-diddley for my writing.
In my search, I found inspiration from an unexpected source. Project Gutenberg's Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases, by Grenville Kleiser, is an eBook for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. Kleiser subtitles his book "A Practical Handbook Of Pertinent Expressions, Striking Similes, Literary, Commercial, Conversational, And Oratorical Terms, For The Embellishment of Speech And Literature, And The Improvement Of The Vocabulary Of Those Persons Who Read, Write And Speak English."
You have to see this to believe it. The book is divided into eleven sections:
I. USEFUL PHRASES
II. SIGNIFICANT PHRASES
III. FELICITOUS PHRASES
IV. IMPRESSIVE PHRASES
V. PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
VI. BUSINESS PHRASES
VII. LITERARY EXPRESSIONS
VIII. STRIKING SIMILES
IX. CONVERSATIONAL PHRASES
X. PUBLIC SPEAKING PHRASES
XI. MISCELLANEOUS PHRASES
Although the book is meant for writers to acquire a grander and richer vocabulary, in "How To Use This Book," which leads into the lists of phrases, Kleiser wrote:
The study of words, phrases, and literary expressions is a highly interesting pursuit. There is a reciprocal influence between thought and language. What we think molds the words we use, and the words we use react upon our thoughts. Hence a study of words is a study of ideas, and a stimulant to deep and original thinking.
"...study of words is a study of ideas, and a stimulant to deep and original thinking." That's inspiration!
He finished the "Plan of Study" portion of the book by writing:
The taste for beauty, truth, and harmony in language can be developed by careful study of well-selected phrases and literary expressions as furnished in this book. A good literary style is formed principally by daily study of great English writers, by careful examination of words in their context, and by a discriminating use of language at all times.
Kleiser convinced me that not only will I attain a better vocabulary by studying phrases instead of just memorizing definitions of individual words, but that in my study of phrases I will be inspired.
And, boy, was Kleiser correct-a-mundo. As I read the lists of phrases, expressions and similes, I actually felt something kicking inside of me. Those heavy images of pancakes faded, while the neatly categorized phrases, such as "abated pride," "purity of diction," and "in a flash of revelation," stacked image upon image and glued feeling to feeling, until I felt that luxurious pang that foretells the birth of inspiration.
murderous parody A delicious throng of sensations
Words like the gossamer film of the summer
I rarely suffer writer's block, but I wanted to research it because I have been less than inspired recently when writing. Eating is another matter. Inspiration oozes from every gland while stuffing butter-soaked pancakes down my gullet. Eating and writing go well together for me, but it makes the keys stick. But I'm getting off track here; see what food does to me?
What beats in the heart of writer's block is something so simple: Fear. My fertile imagination is a curse and a gift. When I'm feeling fine, I write in a faithful flow; when I'm vexed with worry, I freeze.
Fretting, worry, anxiety, obsessing, thinking I can think my way out of my frozen inspiration doesn't work! Writing is hard enough when I'm motivated. But when my tank of inspiration is running on fumes, it's time to take action. I'm not going to inspire myself, except if I look in a mirror and fill with the inspiration to eat more lettuce--and greenery won't do dang-diddley for my writing.
In my search, I found inspiration from an unexpected source. Project Gutenberg's Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases, by Grenville Kleiser, is an eBook for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. Kleiser subtitles his book "A Practical Handbook Of Pertinent Expressions, Striking Similes, Literary, Commercial, Conversational, And Oratorical Terms, For The Embellishment of Speech And Literature, And The Improvement Of The Vocabulary Of Those Persons Who Read, Write And Speak English."
You have to see this to believe it. The book is divided into eleven sections:
I. USEFUL PHRASES
II. SIGNIFICANT PHRASES
III. FELICITOUS PHRASES
IV. IMPRESSIVE PHRASES
V. PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
VI. BUSINESS PHRASES
VII. LITERARY EXPRESSIONS
VIII. STRIKING SIMILES
IX. CONVERSATIONAL PHRASES
X. PUBLIC SPEAKING PHRASES
XI. MISCELLANEOUS PHRASES
Although the book is meant for writers to acquire a grander and richer vocabulary, in "How To Use This Book," which leads into the lists of phrases, Kleiser wrote:
The study of words, phrases, and literary expressions is a highly interesting pursuit. There is a reciprocal influence between thought and language. What we think molds the words we use, and the words we use react upon our thoughts. Hence a study of words is a study of ideas, and a stimulant to deep and original thinking.
"...study of words is a study of ideas, and a stimulant to deep and original thinking." That's inspiration!
He finished the "Plan of Study" portion of the book by writing:
The taste for beauty, truth, and harmony in language can be developed by careful study of well-selected phrases and literary expressions as furnished in this book. A good literary style is formed principally by daily study of great English writers, by careful examination of words in their context, and by a discriminating use of language at all times.
Kleiser convinced me that not only will I attain a better vocabulary by studying phrases instead of just memorizing definitions of individual words, but that in my study of phrases I will be inspired.
And, boy, was Kleiser correct-a-mundo. As I read the lists of phrases, expressions and similes, I actually felt something kicking inside of me. Those heavy images of pancakes faded, while the neatly categorized phrases, such as "abated pride," "purity of diction," and "in a flash of revelation," stacked image upon image and glued feeling to feeling, until I felt that luxurious pang that foretells the birth of inspiration.
Posted by Tom Eubanks at 2/17/2010 8:19 AM 
Categories: Inspiration and Perspiration
Tags: Rave Vital Resource
Categories: Inspiration and Perspiration
Tags: Rave Vital Resource
Cool resource, in fact the whole website is great. Thanks for sharing.
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