The scoring system means that there's a BIG advantage to making 5-letter words as opposed to 4-letters, but then the advantages diminish.

A 4-letter word scores 1pt, or .25 pts per card used. A 5-letter word scores 2pt, or .4 pts per card used. A 6-letter word scores 3pt, or .5 pts per card used. A 7-letter word scores 4pt, or .57 pts per card used. An 8-letter word scores 5pt, or .62 pts per card used.

Cards are your main resource.

Actions are your other resource to carefully consider. How many actions will it take to make a word? Or to make this pair of words?

Don't worry about having the exact same scores in the early/middle game. You can always focus more on the other player later.

With careful play, 'brilliant' is almost always achievable.