April 13, 2012 – YA Chit Chat

This is a continuation of the A-Z blog challenge. Click here to see the list of all 1935 participants!

Loquacious: [loh-kwey-shuhs]

1. talking or tending to talk much or freely; talkative; chattering; babbling; garrulous: a loquacious dinner guest.

I love this word. It tickled me even more when Hermione Granger used it to describe Victor Crum; well, rather what Victor Crum wasn’t. I’m sure Rowling sent some kids to the dictionary on that one.

I tend to do that, too…you know, send kids to the dictionary. I don’t like dumbing down a novel or story. As a YA author, I think it’s important for kids to learn a new word a day. It’s my job, my lot in life. It is my diabolical plan.

I’ve been told by some that I’m more loquacious than I should be. I highly doubt this as I’m actually a rather shy person when it comes to talking to people face to face. I admit, though, that sometimes my blogs ramble on. When speaking with friends and family, I ramble on. My stories ramble on. I even have a character, a meadow gnome by the name of Twiller, in my novel, In the Shadow of the Dragon King, who is quite loquacious. (You know, they’re a very talkative sort, meadow gnomes. I suggest avoiding them all together or you’ll be stuck in conversations with them for hours. They really don’t know when to shut up.)

Of course, talking a lot can have its advantages, too. Blabbering and chattering to your neighbors and friends and co-workers about a new product like a new book, is a great marketing tool. You simply have to make sure you don’t overdo it and bore your audience with all your enthusiasm, even though enthusiasm in the right amount is quite contagious. Contagious enthusiasm. Hey. I like that marketing term. I wonder if it’s been used before. Oh, what am I saying? Of course it has. Marketing is contagious. Oh! Oh! You know what is else is contagious?

Laughter. Ever hear someone burst out with a funny laugh, and all of a sudden you have to laugh along with them just because their laugh tickles your funny bone? Haven’t you ever kept laughing because you’re laughing? Oh my gosh, I do that all the time until my sides hurt and it’s hard to breathe. Laughter is great for the soul, you know. Experts say you should have at least 5 good belly laughs a day because it takes away stress and just makes you feel better all the way around. I’m way behind on my laugh quotient for the day. Actually for the last umpteen years of my life. I wonder if you can ever catch up on belly laughs. Wouldn’t that be kewl if you could harness a belly laugh, you know, collect it and store it in a laugh box so when you needed to laugh, you’d have one right there at your disposal? Oh wait…*snap fingers*…that’s an idea for a story. Shhh. No way! I just had a brainstorm. Huh?…What’s that?…I’m being too loquacious?…But I just got started…Oh, okay, I’ll let someone else talk for awhile. Geez…tough crowd…and just when I was getting on a roll. *ouch!* Ok, ok, I’m going. Oh, wait, I forgot something. *taps on computer screen* Hey, you. Yeah, you on the other side of the glass. I’ve got a question for you.

Who is the most loquacious character you’ve ever read about? Take the stage for a while and don’t afraid to be loquacious in your answer. After all, it is Friday the 13^th. If you can’t gibber-jabber today to keep the evil spirits away, when can you?