Another example of the word splitting technique

I used this technique when writing my first novel, Giant Slugs. The opening sentence of it is:

We’ll all follow the finer taboos, the tattoos of a pro percussionist’s tom-toms.

To whit:

• We’ll all < wall (every chapter in GS starts with a play on that word)
• pro percussionist < proper
• percussionist’s tom-toms < custom

Thus, the sentence contains the line “We’ll all follow the finer taboos and proper customs.”

I used this technique a lot in writing the novel, but the only other example I can think of at the moment is the line “Wisdom draped from them like clad oaks.” The draped trees therein were originally “cloaks.”

I don’t think anyone will ever really notice this or care, but I had a really great time writing Giant Slugs, and hopefully that pleasure and playfulness comes through.

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