Sticky words - What Hallie's Writing

HALLIE EPHRON: Once again, it's WHAT WE'RE WRITING WEEK on Jungle Red. I'm not sure that you'd call what keeps me busy right now writing. A whole lot of idea scribbling, blogging, and noodling about in my head.

Kasey Goodwin
Paul's Valley
Noodling Tournament

And because I'm barely writing full sentences, never mind paragraphs or chapters, I'm going to focus on words. Expressions. "Noodling about," for instance. I have no idea where I got that expression (apparently it's also a slang expression referring to the catching of catfish), but these days I'm finding a lot of my words and expressions are creeping in from other media.

My friend and Clever Girl Organizer Kathy Vines uses a word sticky to express the way things like words can, well, stick. 

I've always been susceptible. Years ago, my husband I saw a dubbed-in-Italian SHREK on television in a hotel in Italy, and ever since we've referred to one or the other of our daughters as the Principessa. (Pronounced: Prin-chee-PAY-sa). When I've got too many clothes to pack, I'm likely to say, "We’re going to need a bigger boat." (JAWS) "Sometimes the spaghetti likes to be alone" (BIG NIGHT) has a million uses.

My vocabulary has taken a decidedly British turn when I adopted. "I could use a bit of Wensleydale" from WALLACE AND GROMMIT. "Don't Panic" (said with eyes rolling and arms waving about) from CHICKEN RUN. And the simple "Thanks, Luv" from VERA.


Lately I've been watching THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW (I am not a baker but I find it mesmerizing... even the episodes I've already seen) and I find myself adopting a whole new vocabulary. Who knew biscuits are cookies (I'm sure Debs and Rhys did). That a British pudding isn't gooey and creamy unless it's undercooked. I'm dying to know what royal icing or creme pat or fondant tastes like.More than that, the baking show has larded my language with all sorts of new expressions. I find myself:

• Complaining about having to do detail work with lots of fiddly bits
• Being chuffed for some kind words from a reader
• Finding the chocolates I made for Christmas scrummy
• Encouraging my husband to crack on
• And hoping that a bit of writing I've done ticks all the boxes.

I do have to be careful not to allow all of this run off to flow into my writing, since this is not the way my characters talk. 


What expressions have stuck to you from the TV shows and movies and social media you're imbibing?