Diction
Diction is the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing. In poetry, diction also implies that each specific word carries its own weight and set of associated meanings or connotations.
via Oxford English Dictionary
Example
Take the two statements: “I thought the performers amazing” vs. “I thought the performers sensational”
How do these word choices affect your interpretation? Does the word "amazing" really amaze you? Even though there's no exclamation point after "sensational" it feels like there is. When considering your diction look at both your nouns and verbs. Think, too, about how a statement like this can change when the word "performers" is substituted for “ballerinas,” “electric eels,” or “dancing houseplants.”
Prompt
Write a poem describing a happy memory. After the first draft, have a friend circle words throughout the poem then change the selected words, searching for moments when the language can be made more lively.
Give special attention to your verbs! "She went to the store" could turn into "she bounced to the store" or "she twerked down the street to the store." Notice how word changes affect the tone, intensity, and overall meaning of a poem.
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