dialyn - "to write one sentence so clear that it rang with the sound of truth inside the reader's mind" Well, with that one, you come pretty close. And you say you're not a poet. Regarding, "writing is the art of trying to achieve a moment of pure, crystal clear meaning," sometimes that takes precisely the right word. I think ChuckEvans has made some pretty good points above. I agree that word choice needs to depend on the audience, the characters in the story, and one's purpose for reading, especially whether it is for entertainment or education. I try to mix the two at once, personally.