So occasionally you'll see Noah limp, hop, shuffle, or stumble. When he's tired or worked too hard, the leg hurts, and he can't run very well. While Lucky's injury needs only be portrayed for one third of a book, Noah, in The Angel of 13th Street suffered an old injury that still effects him.

'Lucky hobbled across the parking lot, his crutches more hindrance then help' also serves a reminder. 'Lucky hobbled across the parking lot.' Even though a reader may wonder at first why he's hobbling, they'll remember the injury. It doesn't require a repeat of the injury scene, or droning on about 'My poor leg!' All the reminder requires is one word, or rather, one of several handy words. Readers may wonder, 'Why doesn't Lucky simply run away from the bad guy?' forgetting that he suffered a leg injury on page sixty in Collusion. Therefore, they forget details every now and then, at least, I know I do. They read in fifteen minute intervals on breaks at work.

Once more I'm picking on Lucky from Diversion and the upcoming Collusion. Today I'm still singling out that word, but taking things a step further, using synonyms for not only adding description and ambiance to a scene, but also to allow readers to remember a critical piece of the story they may have forgotten. Last week I ranted explained my dislike of the word 'walk' to describe a character's mobility.

Desert Falcon by Feliz Faber