Big words? I love playing Scrabble. (don't get to use big words there often but knowing "wye" is a word is very useful sometimes...LOL). To comment on the above... A writer needs to impress people with the things I listed above. Imagination, plot, characters that you will remember forever. A writer does NOT need to show off his/er vocabulary. And good writers will seldom do that. No need to work "hemidemisemiquaver" into a musical story. It alienates the readers. Perhaps, even making them feel stupid (if they have to look it up). Take a "look" at your audience. Writing a science fiction novel? I suspect the readers in that genre might be a bit more educated (or think they are...hehe "You snobs!"). Writing a novel with a strong love line? Then you might consider more "common" words. If you find yourself wanting to use a specific (and probably difficult) word, ask yourself if your average reader will understand it. Or are you just using it to show "word prowess"? One of the beauties of the English language is its descriptiveness (<---- is that a word?). WOW! There are so many words with small differences in conotation and nuances. I sometimes halt when telling a story to friends because I want to use JUST the right word to describe what I am trying to say. I want them to get the EXACT meaning. BUT, I also try to use a word I know they will understand. Also, remember your characters. A scientist in your novel might very well use words that are unknown to the readers. I think that's acceptable. Lord knows I have to hear similar words from doctors (LOL). So, I think it's OK for your anal-retentive character to use those kinds of words sometimes. "Dune" had its own vocabulary. I think it worked well (and it was easy to check in the glossary provided at the end of the book) Me? I like big words. Sometimes, in arguments/debates with fellow Georgians, I throw in one (or two...hehe) I hope will stump the listeners. But that's a debating tactic. Not to be used when "convincing" readers to love your writing. In closing, I will never forget A word I learned while reading an A. E. Van Vogt book. Eidetic. Hardly anyone knows what it means. But, it was the absolute perfect word for that novel...about a gu with two brains who could remember a place he had visited before so acutely that he could make himself "go" there. OK, I'm done. Just remember, this is a reader's point of view. Not an editor, proof-reader, published author or literary advisor. Just a reader. (Oh, and thanks, dialyn. You're so nice to me.)