One of my favorite writing things is coming up with weird verbs and actions to describe completely unrelated activities. And how you can make seemingly unrelated words work in concert to produce meaning.

An example I just used recently happened when I was trying to figure out how to describe someone sprinting very quickly.

And I mean sure, I could *say* it, but that wouldn't illuminate what's going on nearly as well as I'd like to. It's serviceable, but it's very...hm. Screenplayish. If that makes any sense?

Like one of the things it took me longest to learn--and the thing the really helped me level up to where I wanted to be as a writer the realizations that the medium affords. You can make comparisons and use descriptions and analogies few other mediums afford.

And one of the last things I saw writers in slush unlearning during my time in charge of fiction editing on a small national magazine was the reliance on completely visual imagery. I knew I was in good hands if the author could put me in someone else's body.

ANYWAY! The example. I needed sprinting. But I couldn't just say "he sprinted." I wanted to illustrate the vigor it takes, the exact speed, and what it sounds like for someone to run as fast as this guy was going.

So I tackled it first with "Breath punched free of his throat" "His heart was rattling the bars of his ribcage". And I noticed the thru line of freedom/imprisonment. So I made a note to tie that in with the larger themes of what this character is accomplishing in a later draft.

Then I moved on. I'll touch it up in a later draft. That worked for now. I had the strain. But I was still missing speed and sound. I still needed to communicate the urgency in a way that painted a picture.

(Or rather, made a soundscape.)

And as I'm trying to figure out what sprinting sounds like, I hit "His shoes clapped the street." And I knew what I needed to do. I added, "As fast as enthusiastic applause." And I just really liked the usage there. Showing sound and speed in concert like that. Idk.

I just like the weird dichotomy where clapping is analogous to running just due to the sound and it was a cool way to thread that needle. Idk of "enthusiastic" will make the cut in later drafts but for now I'm a fan.

Idk if anyone else will get anything out of this thread but I just wanted to take a moment to illuminate my process and the ways I try to take advantage of the medium I'm in. I hope someone maybe finds this helpful. Or just like...interesting.