A Bit Convoluted
By Val
@valmnz (17095)
New Zealand
November 7, 2015 3:26pm CST
I just love that word, convoluted, meaning a bit involved or difficult to understand. It's a word that sort of rolls off the tongue, in spite of its negative connotations.
That was the word that came to mind as I showered this morning, considering a chapter I'd written a couple of weeks ago. When I read it through I just shook my head laughing - too much irrelevant detail, twisting and turning here and there, in parts not even logical.
But hey, that's what first drafts are for, and second as well. Hopefully by the third draft I'll have ironed out all those kinks and the chapter will flow for its readers.
My convoluted thoughts help me get things down on paper. From there it's a matter of polishing them up - that's when the real work begns.
25 people like this
20 responses
my the words are flowing this morning - please don't send me an entire text to read like that! I confess, I had to figure out that first one, disambiguate! Don't you just love words 
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
7 Nov 15
@valmnz Having a good vocabulary never turned out to be as useful as I expected after leaving school. The problem is that the greater one's vocabulary and the more precise you can express yourself, but the fewer people will understand you.
I learned to adjust my speech to suit who I was talking to, but often got carried away composing company emails. People often used to reply to ask me what I had written.
Being a writer you should have a respectable vocabulary.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17095)
• New Zealand
7 Nov 15
@Asylum but I believe in keeping it simple. As they say, if readers don't understand, they give up. Why use a complicated word when asimple one works as well. BTW what time is it there? You've been here at least as long as I have today! It's now 11.25 a.m. here, oh my goodness - four hours!
@allknowing (153544)
• India
8 Nov 15
No I will not bombard you with difficult words (lol). The fact of the matter is simple writing is difficult.
2 people like this
those guys below are having a good time doing so!
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
8 Nov 15
That is a good word and one I thought of earlier today.
2 people like this
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
• Greece
8 Nov 15
@valmnz that is true, the language is shrinking. Even worse the language is changing. I asked someone today how he felt. He said 'I'm Good'. I said are you really sure about that? (It was Sunday and we were in church...) the poor man, who is not English, looked confused. I tried to explain but only confused him further. I expect he uses 'wicked' when he means 'cool' and 'cool' when he means something is great. I give up.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
7 Nov 15
I must say that I have never used this word in conversation. It is a fun word though. I must try it out.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
9 Nov 15
that's one'f the nicer thingies folks call my dribblin' :)
i've done the same, written like a mad demon possessed with too much caffeine 'n then gone back 'n read it with a most puzzled look. sometimes that's 4'r e'en 5 drafts down the road. some days i think i'm'n top 'f my game 'n then realize later i was 'avin' one 'f 'those' days where i'd fooled myself into thinkin' such.
i leave that polishin' to the editor these days. she's worth her weight in gold, that'un!
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
9 Nov 15
@valmnz these days? i'd prolly get laughed off the planet 
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5815)
• Vancouver, Washington
7 Nov 15
Thats gonna work real well you learn a few things from the way a writer sees where the kinks are good work.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
7 Nov 15
yep, the story has to start somewhere, and honestly I find my mind runs faster than my fingers so I often skip bits that I swore I already wrote down!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
7 Nov 15
@valmnz yeah I will reread things and be like, where did all this whole scene go!!!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23978)
• United Kingdom
8 Nov 15
Get it all down initially then cut it to pieces to make it reader friendly!
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
8 Nov 15
so wonderful that you are writing and working on your book
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Nov 15
Convoluted - hmmm, makes me think of my own brain - ha ha! 
It's actually good when one can recognize the convolutedness (is that a word?) of their work - then at least there is a pathway for the polishing - it's just temporarily convoluted 
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It's actually good when one can recognize the convolutedness (is that a word?) of their work - then at least there is a pathway for the polishing - it's just temporarily convoluted . @41CombedaleRoad (5966)
• Greece
8 Nov 15
I like to leave a draft article for at least a week and then read it again with fresh eyes. The problem I most come across is repetition of words too close together.
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
8 Nov 15
Yes I like that word too... but don't get the chance to use it very often....
@vickyrose (2236)
• Cooma, Australia
8 Nov 15
CONVOLUTED, I haven't heard this word for a long time. I thought before that it had the same meaning as 'convulsion'. Maybe a cousin.
@chance216 (278)
• United States
8 Nov 15
Sometimes I like a convoluted story line in a book. Especially when things are left to interpretation.
