Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Have Fun with Words

"Have Fun with Words" by Joan Y. Edwards


After listening to John Claude Bemis at a Carolina's SCBWI conference in September 2011, I ordered a book that has exercises similar to the ones he mentioned. It is called Writing Open the Mind by Andy Couturier http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Open-Mind-Tapping-Subconscious/dp/B004JZWVOU/

In this book, Couturier has exercises to experiment with your writing by using different words, settings, plots, and other writing topics. It was fun for me to use words from unusual, random places. It gave me many new words and ideas for my project for National Novel Writing Month. Perhaps it’ll help you with your writing, too.

Keep a section in your writing notebook for the words that intrigue you. Put them on note cards or sticky notes. Here are ten words I chose because of their sound, emotion, or meaning:


  1. dude
  2. spry
  3. slowly
  4. tantalize
  5. persecute
  6. amaze
  7. abandoned
  8. fabulous
  9. comforting
  10. scintillating
Write down:

  • ten of your favorite settings, places you’d like to be;
  • ten settings where you’d most hate being.
  • ten names you like; ten names you hate.
  • ten towns you like. ten towns you’d hate to be from (perhaps your antagonist can be from there)
  • ten tragic things that could happen to the main character in your work in progress; ten ways your character can make them worse.
  • ten jobs you’d love to have; ten jobs you’d hate to have
  • ten most proud things that could happen to you or to your main character; ten most embarrassing things that could happen to you or to your main character
  • ten of your favorite foods; ten of your most hated foods
  • ten of your favorite sayings; ten of your most hated sayings

Choose words from newspapers, magazines, books, signs, websites, dictionaries, maps, television, movies, etc. Use words your family and friends say.  Write down words that pop out at you or magnetize you. I even used a crossword puzzle book and wrote down all the words that called out to me.

I chose ten words and put them at the bottom of the manuscript I was working on at the time. I did free writing or writing that came to mind that was in tune with the story. When I used the word, I deleted it from the list. You can also put your list of words next to the computer and cross them off when you use them. Choose a way that suits you.

Set a timer and write 3 minutes using one of the words. Spend the next three minutes disagreeing with everything you wrote the first three minutes. That’ll add tension to your story. You can save this as a draft. Use what you like and save the unused part for another time and/or another story.

Have fun using words you like in your writing. Thanks for reading this blog. Please leave one or more of your favorite words in the comment area.

Good luck with your writing.
Celebrate each word.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards



11 comments:

  1. I always have fun with words. I carry a small notebook with me all the time to jot down words, phrases, descriptions, etc.

    Vivian

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  2. Sounds like a great writing exercise.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Rena and Denny,
      Thanks for writing. I hope you'll try using the exercise or at least collecting words you like to hear. I hope you discover all kinds of ways to energize your writing with words you enjoy!

      Celebrate you and your love of writing.
      Never Give Up
      Joan Y. Edwards

      Delete
  3. Joan, what a great writing exercise. This would be a great way to get the 'muse' stirring.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Karen,
      Thanks for writing. I'm glad you believe this is a great writing exercise. You're right. It does get the inner "Muse" stirring. She's a happy camper when we use different words.
      Celebrate you and your willingness to share your expertise with others.
      Never Give Up
      Joan Y. Edwards

      Delete
  4. Dear Vivian,
    Aha! You are one of the great word-munchers with a note book. Awesome. I am proud of you for doing that. I'm glad you always have fun with words.

    Celebrate you and your love of writing,
    Never Give Up
    Joan Y. Edwards

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  5. Wonderful ideas. Thanks for the post, Joan & thanks, Vivian for pointing me in this direction.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Janet,
      You're welcome for the post. Thanks for writing. I'm glad you liked the ideas of how to play with your favorite words. Celebrate you and your love of writing.

      Never Give Up
      Joan Y. Edwards

      Delete
  6. Joan,
    A fun post! I love the exercise you've suggested. It sounds like a great way to move forward when the writing seems dull or the writer is spinning wheels. Thanks for the wonderful suggestion and your examples.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Linda,
      Thanks for writing. I'm glad you thought this was a fun post. I hope you find this exercise filled with fun words to get intriguing words on your paper.

      Celebrate you and your gift of playfulness.
      Never Give Up
      Joan Y. Edwards

      Delete
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