Learn a new word each day.

As writers, we should constantly be expanding our vocabulary. Using the right word in our stories can make a tremendous difference in the reader’s perception.

As long we don’t go overboard, a thesaurus can inspire us to use more appropriate vocabulary and avoid the humdrum.

For example, how many of us still overuse the word NICE? There are other options.

http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/nice?s=t

(by Seomra Ranga)

You can create your own word cloud picture at http://www.wordle.net/create

Your writing task: Use your new word of the day in a short story — or in that novel you are writing.

Many excellent daily email versions of the word-a-day exist. Perhaps you would like to try this one:

http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/

noun

1. an old game in which the players snatch raisins, plums, etc., out of burning brandy,

and eat them.

2. the object so caught and eaten.

QUOTES:

Thou art easier swallowed than a flap-dragon.

— William Shakespeare, Love’s Labour’s Lost, 1598

You can learn a little Shakespeare at the same time!