composeconceivecreate

Just another WordPress.com site

  • About Laura Kostur

grumplain

Posted by kosturcompose76 on November 21, 2012
Posted in: Uncategorized.

New word alert.  Grumplain.

Grum-plain [gruhm-pleyn] (verb, used without object)

  1. to grumble and complain. (Used in a sentence, “You agreed to go out dancing tonight, so don’t grumplain.”)
  2. to express dissatisfaction.
  3. to murmur or mutter in discontent; complain sullenly.

Origin:  2012 (To be exact, last night in bed when I wanted to snuggle while my husband was busy reading.)  Canadian. Based on the English word grumble (grum-) and the English word complain (-plain).

Do you think it counts as being a published author if one of your invented words gets picked up in common-use enough to end up in a dictionary?  And does dictionary.com count?  (I think I might be able to hack that one.  It’s way harder to hack the hard copies of dictionaries in bookstores and libraries.  People totally notice when you sit for hours putting peel-and-stick notes into all the books.)

Words change over time.  I used to fight against that, demanding a static nature of language so that I had some hope of mastering orthography (spelling and stuff).  But then I realized that if I don’t fight the dynamic nature of language, then it can work to my benefit.  I can invent new words and new spellings for old words and never be wrong.

Animal – a.m.i.n.a.l – Aminal.

That’s not how you spell animal.

Is now.

Writing Exercise:

Using unexpected words can bring life and interest to your writing.  Playing with words can be lots of fun, but sometimes it is hard to break out of our own word habits.  This exercise is intended to help free your mind. Write a short descriptive poem.  Or borrow your favourite poem.  (If you don’t have one, tsk tsk, now is the time to find one.)  Read the poem out loud several times.  How does it feel? Then circle all the verbs in the poem and replace them.  Don’t use a synonym finder (that’s cheating).  Think of each verb and the object or subject of that action.  How else could that noun act?  For example rather than fear flashing across a face, or shocking someone into silence.  Perhaps it crept across the room, or crawled down a spine. Rather than sitting down, a person can drape themselves across a piece of furniture.  If you can’t think of a verb, consider making one up.  Spend ten minutes exploring alternative words.  Happy writing.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Posts navigation

← Tomato, T’Psycho
They Almost Fit – A metaphor for life? →
  • Recent Posts

    • I may be a criminal at heart
    • Fire and Ice
    • Miette Resort = Kellerman’s – Dancing
    • Roadtrip!
    • Seeking a Use for My New Special Skill
  • Archives

    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • May 2017
    • November 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • January 2016
    • July 2015
    • May 2015
    • March 2015
    • January 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • October 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
  • Latest Tweets

    • My husband the speaker and the light of my life. #proud twitter.com/AndreKostur/st…Tweeted 1 month ago
    • “You need to play hard to get lucky… luck is a big part of the publishing industry. But, none of that will matter i… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…Tweeted 3 months ago
    • RT @YouTravel: #Writers brainstorming @SiWCtweets this weekend at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford #SiWC2022 #SiWC22 https://t.co/c1265dfmSBTweeted 3 months ago
    • “Success is contagious; like Covid.” - @DarrenGroth #siwc22Tweeted 3 months ago
    • “Today you are one day closer to your next inevitable success.” - @DarrenGroth #SiWC22Tweeted 3 months ago
    Follow @LauraKostur
  • Blogroll

    • The Bloggess
    • Pioneer Woman
    • Women at War – Veterans Affairs Canada
    • Surrey International Writers' Conference
    • Academie Duello
    • Home – ComposeConceiveCreate
  • Blog Post Categories

Blog at WordPress.com.
  • Follow Following
    • composeconceivecreate
    • Join 28 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • composeconceivecreate
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Copy shortlink
    • Report this content
    • View post in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: