The Writers' Circle

A good Dictionary/Thesaurus is essential and should always be in reach when reading and writing. Its use is obvious: Correct spelling, correct pronunciation and it gives us the meaning of any new word that we encounter.  But as writers do we sometimes abuse it? Do we use a word simply because we personally like it? Do we repeat words for the sake of it? Do we sometimes use words and phrases that are redundant or ambiguous or indulge in bombastic or flowery language which is as bad as showing off in company? 

For me when I read a novel for pleasure the words have to be like a transparent medium through which the incidents are revealed. When I become conscious of the words being used the story loses its clear focus and I start to yawn and quickly discard the book as boring and not worth the effort.   

 A well written novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a badly written novel tells us the truth about its author.