Bono on Great Writers

[Josh]

The man is a genius.

"Some of my favorite writers are clever with words. But the ones I go back to are the ones that are clever with ideas."
-Bono, 2001

[DvChWi]

True statement, but being clever with both certainly helps.  

[Vlad!]

I like that sentiment as well. Although what DvChWi says is a good point, a good writer whose words are essentially empty is of less worth than a poor writer who speaks profound truths.

Not that well-written but empty words don't make for some good reading from time to time ;]

[Josh]

I learned on The Cosby Show that "big words are for people with small minds."  

See my sig. quote for more information.

[DvChWi]

Interestingly, this ties into my other thread about my friend who is "classics only."  He doesn't like that modern authors use smaller, more commom words more often.  He likes the authors who use as many different words as possible, to keep the text varied.  I think that Josh's sig accurately sums up my views on that.

[Vlad!]

I like 'big words' (it may be more accurate to say 'obscure words,' since many common words are longer than many words that are considered 'big') because they are generally more precise than their smaller, commoner counterparts. However, the purpose of writing is to convey ideas and information. So just because the vocabulary of a certain book is more varied than that of a second book does not mean that the former is better or that the latter is worse, because maybe the first book is harder to understand or simply has a crappy plot.

[linds]

bono is my hero.
i will drive, fly, or sail absolutely anywhere to see a u2 concert whenever they have a tour next.

(maybe not sail, though, as i don't know how.)