W is for WORDS

Hey! Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. Then, go here to see who else is taking part in the 2014 A to Z Blogging Challenge.

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WORDS.

You can’t write without them.

But will just any word work?

Sometimes, when I’m stuck for the right word, I use my thesaurus, or even the dictionary to see if something sparks my creativity. I jot down fun words, or words I might want to use in the future in my notebook — you never know when they might come in handy. Like transpiration (I’m told that there will be a Chase book about this in the future) or Xerces which is my sister’s middle name.

No one expects you to know the dictionary inside and out, but there are a couple of ways you can increase your word power.

1. Games: Crossword puzzles and games like Scrabble can be a fast, and fun, way to learn new words.
2. Word apps: Do you have a Smart Phone or a Tablet? There are several free applications that send you an email or text with a “word of the day.”
3. Read: Self explanatory, right? Try keeping a notebook of some of your favourite words from the books you’ve read.

Have fun! I gotta jet!

— Chase Superman Duffy