“Practice: General and Specific Words Invent (or collect from conversation, newspapers, television broadcasts, etc.) some very general statements; write down as many as you can. Try to use as much general language as possible: That was a good dinner. She’s a nice person. Read some of these aloud and pay attention to what happens in your mind as you hear them. What do you notice? Now go back through your list and pick one of your general statements. Rewrite it to make it more specific. Invent details if you have to. Then take each remaining general statement and rewrite it, using specifics. Now read each general statement out loud again, and then read the revised version out loud. What do you notice? What’s the difference in the effect the general statement has on you and the effect the specific statement has?”