What is another word for creative writing .
Writers Write creates writing resources and shares writing tips. Use this mini-thesaurus to find synonyms for 95 commonly-used words when you write.
If you do a lot of writing, it’s good to have a selection of synonyms for commonly used words to hand. If you can, keep a thesaurus nearby or use an online thesaurus . Or you could just bookmark this page and use it as needed.
If you are unsure of the replacement word, look it up to see if it has the correct meaning for the sentence you are writing.
Synonyms for 95 Commonly Used Words in the English language
If you are looking for more resources, you might like these posts:
very educative
I love this list. I find the use of a thesaurus both helpful and a hindrance, but it is a necessity at times.
Excellent work.
I especially liked the list for “move”. Maybe “like” could be added to the list?
Can you add “awesome”? Now there’s an overused word.
Hang on, how is improbable an alternative to amazing…? Or arouse an alternative to anger? Not to mention arouse is an adjective and anger is a noun… Angry -> excited? That’s as far as I read. Someone must have been really confused reading some books….
Thanks for the list. I have a thesaurus on my computer which my husband found. The one above is for the basic words that pop up all the time and I appreciate being given the list.
move? You left one out. In reflection seismology a synonym is migrate.
This is an awesome list. Great work!
This is really helpful! It can be very frustrating trying to come up with a word.
Guys checkout an awesome motivational blog to boost your moral.
http://motivationalthoughtsforyou.blogspot.in/
I’m sure you will definitely love it.
How I wish everyone would read this. Conversation would be so much more interesting and accurate.
I live by my thesaurus and this one is really handy!
Such an great list to write something which is simple and catchy to eyes. As a writer it would be helps a great deal to make my writing meaningful and understandable to others. Thats stuff is seriously an applauded work by author.
This is very helpful for student and also word power make a strong, if you give a deaily word power so it could be help us.
nice sir it could be help ful for word power for student .
oh! i always need this thing thank you so much
Thank you so much for posting this. I am constantly trying to expand my every day vocabulary. These words are simple enough for daily use, yet not the average choice for most. Love it.
Thank you for the feedback. We appreciate it.
Good look up table for writers .terrific.
Generally useful list, but it ignores some important distinctions. “Notorious” is not a synonym for famous; it refers to fame as ignominy. You can write about notorious bank robbers, notorious swindlers, even notorious celebrities when their reputations have been muddied. But you would, in contrast, call, Adele a notorious singer. Nonetheless, I found most of the list helpful for everyday words.
Oops. I meant to say that you would NOT call Adele a notorious singer. Sorry for the word lapse.
Wow, Its so lovely post, So many vocabularies to know into the knowledge.
Very useful. Thank you!
Comments are closed.
© Writers Write 2022
Being a creative writer can be a lot of fun. Whether you’re writing novels, short stories, fan fiction, or even poetry, you can create worlds. Unfortunately, being a creative writer can also be really challenging. It’s not just difficult to imagine new things all the time—coming up with new and interesting ways to say things is also part of the challenge.
There are some words in creative writing that are terribly overused and common. Luckily, a good dictionary and thesaurus can work wonders on strengthening your writing.
So, we’ve rounded up some of the words writers most often use over and over. We’re not saying you should never use these words, but there are more interesting alternatives you might want to consider next time you sit down to write.
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Writing strong dialogue can be difficult. Not only is it hard to write as people talk, it’s hard to incorporate dialogue naturally into a narrative.
Writers typically default to the straightforward verb said to indicate dialogue. This is not always a problem; readers tend to skim over the word without noticing its overuse. However, said isn’t always the only (or best) word you can use. For example:
He said, “She is really smart.”
She said, “No, she is not.”
He said, “Yes, she is.”
Zzzz … snoozefest.
There are lots of good alternatives for said to make dialogue a lot more dynamic and engaging. For example, you could substitute said with a verb like:
Check out that same dialogue (from above) with our new words:
He asserted, “She is really smart.”
She retorted, “No, she is not.”
He concluded, “Yes, she is.”
OK, still not the most exciting dialogue ever, but you get the point.
Another verb that can be quickly overused in creative writing is moved .
It’s the most bread-and-butter word to express that a character is doing some kind of action. But, like said , it can get really boring. Not only that, it’s not as descriptive as some alternative verbs, such as:
The word moved can serve an important purpose, but if you find yourself using it too many times, try one of these instead.
Amazing is an amazing word. And it’s so amazing how many amazing uses it has.
Is your head spinning yet? Do you really understand what we’re trying to say?
Amazing has the distinction of being not only an overused word in creative writing, but also in daily life.
While amazing initially referred to something that causes astonishment or wonderment, now it is used to refer to anything a notch up from “just OK.”
If you find yourself reaching for this adjective, try to drill down and really think about what you’re trying to express. Some alternatives are:
Very is a modifier that we use all the time in daily life, no problem-o. On the page, though, very is kind of flat. It’s an adverb that’s used for emphasis, but if it’s overused it loses some of its punch.
Instead of using very a hundred million times in your creative writing (and definitely don’t use it more than once in a row, like “this is very, very, very boring”), there are tons of other alternatives you can use for emphasis. Some of our favorites adverbs are:
That said, sometimes it’s enough to let the narrative speak for itself. If you’re tempted to use a modifier for emphasis, go back over the sentence and ask yourself if it’s truly necessary. Sometimes a light touch, like very , can actually be best.
Love is a wonderful thing. We love love. Who doesn’t?
But love is a word whose meaning is notoriously hard to pin down. When you’re writing about feelings of great affection, romantic or otherwise, love might seem like an obvious word to use. But we recommend using the word love sparingly, like nutmeg. Or salt. Love can be either a noun or a verb. If you’re using love as a noun, such as “I felt a strong feeling of love,” consider some of the following alternatives:
If you’re using love as a verb, as in “I love you,” we recommend some of these alternatives:
There’s nothing wrong with the classic love , but consider some of these options next time you put pen to paper.
Look is another basic verb that is often overused, similar to said and moved . In boring writing, characters are always just looking, whether at objects or each other.
But there are so many more exciting ways to describe someone experiencing something via sight.
For example, there are verbs like:
fAh, thing. We’ve saved the worst for last. No offense to The Thing , thing is like a lead balloon in the middle of a story.
We have an entire thesaurus (and dictionary of course) full of thousands of vibrant, specific, interesting words to replace the imprecise, overworked noun thing .
Next time you find yourself describing something as a thing , take another pass at it. Dig in deep and use a word that really conveys what you’re talking about. Consider if the thing you’re referring to is an emotion, a particular object, or an idea and, then, name it.
The thesaurus is your friend. Don’t hesitate to pull it up and take a look around to find the bon mot , the just-right word or expression, to take the place of thing .
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This reverse dictionary allows you to search for words by their definition. Check out RelatedWords.org to get words related to a single word.
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Finding words related to your query... Please be patient! :)
Words for " creative writing ".
As you've probably noticed, words for " creative writing " are listed above. Hopefully the generated list of words for " creative writing " above suit your needs. If not, you might want to check out Related Words - another project of mine which uses a different technique (not though that it works best with single words, not phrases).
The way Reverse Dictionary works is pretty simple. It simply looks through tonnes of dictionary definitions and grabs the ones that most closely match your search query. For example, if you type something like "longing for a time in the past", then the engine will return "nostalgia". The engine has indexed several million definitions so far, and at this stage it's starting to give consistently good results (though it may return weird results sometimes). It acts a lot like a thesaurus except that it allows you to search with a definition, rather than a single word. So in a sense, this tool is a "search engine for words", or a sentence to word converter.
I made this tool after working on Related Words which is a very similar tool, except it uses a bunch of algorithms and multiple databases to find similar words to a search query. That project is closer to a thesaurus in the sense that it returns synonyms for a word (or short phrase) query, but it also returns many broadly related words that aren't included in thesauri. So this project, Reverse Dictionary, is meant to go hand-in-hand with Related Words to act as a word-finding and brainstorming toolset. For those interested, I also developed Describing Words which helps you find adjectives and interesting descriptors for things (e.g. waves, sunsets, trees, etc.).
In case you didn't notice, you can click on words in the search results and you'll be presented with the definition of that word (if available). The definitions are sourced from the famous and open-source WordNet database, so a huge thanks to the many contributors for creating such an awesome free resource.
Special thanks to the contributors of the open-source code that was used in this project: Elastic Search , @HubSpot , WordNet , and @mongodb .
Please note that Reverse Dictionary uses third party scripts (such as Google Analytics and advertisements) which use cookies. To learn more, see the privacy policy .
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples of creative in a sentence.
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'creative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
When adjectives drift into noun territory
creativeness
“Creative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/creative. Accessed 17 Aug. 2024.
Nglish: Translation of creative for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of creative for Arabic Speakers
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Words are the building blocks of stories, the tools that paint vivid pictures and stir emotions in our readers. But for aspiring writers, the vast ocean of vocabulary can feel daunting. Fear not, wordsmiths! This guide delves into the treasure trove of creative writing words , helping you unearth gems that will elevate your craft.
Astonishing
Captivating
Charismatic
Conspicuous
Contemplate
Effervescent
Enthralling
Fantastical
Illuminating
Incandescent
Indomitable
Inquisitive
Mesmerizing
Paradoxical
Rambunctious
Resplendent
Scintillating
Spectacular
Spellbinding
Spontaneous
Transcendent
Clandestine
Quintessential
Serendipitous
Superfluous
Unfathomable
Here is the table of Creative Writing words with their meanings and examples:
Mastering creative writing words is a journey, not a destination. Embrace the exploration, have fun with language, and let your creativity flow! With dedication and practice, you’ll soon be wielding words with the confidence and skill of a true storyteller.
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Throw out the term “thesaurus words ,” and you’ll probably get some side-eye from writers who see the thesaurus as a crutch for amateur writers trying to make their writing sound more sophisticated.
But a thesaurus can help you find the right words for your project — the ones that say what you need to say, just the way you need to say it.
The words every writer should know, after all, are the words they need to tell a compelling story or to get their point across with clarity, simplicity, and elegance.
So, the best thesaurus for writers is the one that helps them find those words as efficiently as possible, so they can get back to the business of writing.
What if you need a more evocative thesaurus for your writing project ? By that, I mean a thesaurus that helps you find the words most likely to evoke the right images or feelings in your reader?
Also, it helps to have a printed book you can thumb through whenever you need it, without having to rely on your internet connection.
Online thesauruses are fine for the random, occasional search for synonyms or antonyms.
But when you need a go-to resource to help you find the right words (more than once a day) for your current work in progress, you need something close at hand.
The following tools provide thousands of well-organized words for writers . Don’t be surprised if more than one of them end up in your cart.
Offering real-life example sentences and a selection of the most relevant synonyms for each word, the Oxford Thesaurus should have pride of place on your writer’s library shelf -- right alongside the Oxford Dictionary.
It even has a Word Finder section, organized by subject, as well as a comprehensive language guide and tools for selecting and using vocabulary.
You’ll also find helpful commentary (on certain words) by noted contemporary writers, including Zadie Smith and David Foster Wallace.
This is Book 1 of the Writers Helping Writers Series by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. Writers have hailed this bestselling thesaurus as “the gold standard for writers.”
Each entry offers body language cues, thoughts, and visceral responses, so you can show rather than tell what your character is feeling.
If you’ve ever looked for just the right word to show what your character was feeling, so your reader could feel it, too, this book will be an indispensable part of your writing resource library.
The old standby thesaurus now comes in an edition specifically for writers . Organized by meaning, each entry in the book provides a pronunciation guide, definition, antonyms, synonyms, and a sample sentence.
You’ll find inspiration and expand your vocabulary the more you use this book. Updated for the 21st century, Roget’s Thesaurus may be the first one you open when you’re struggling to think of just the right word to use.
Book 6 of the Writers Helping Writer Series, this thesaurus specializes in words related to psychological trauma and emotional wounds. Readers to connect to characters who’ve experienced trauma or heartbreak.
Painful experiences lend depth and pathos to a character who might otherwise feel two-dimensional and unrelatable. But if you’ve ever had difficulty finding the words you need to give your damaged characters that depth, you need this thesaurus on your shelf.
A self-described “ultimate guide to powerful language,” this unique thesaurus focuses on the words we use every day and addresses mispronounced and misused words.
The goal here is to learn how to expand your vocabulary and know how to use the right words (scholarly or simple, depending on the context) correctly and with the best results.
Because being well-spoken is less about knowing lofty words and more about knowing what words best suit the moment and using them correctly.
Speaking of evocative thesauruses, if you’re looking for the right words to appeal to your readers senses -- so they see, hear, smell, taste, or feel what you’re describing -- you need Linda Hart’s Thesaurus of the Senses .
The most compelling words are those that invoke the senses. And even the best writers can struggle sometimes to think of the right ones to use. Keep this thesaurus on your shelf to make those moments far less frequent.
Every important character in your story -- especially the protagonist -- needs both flaws and redeeming qualities. But how do you choose the right positive traits for a character with specific flaws . And how would those positive traits manifest?
Enter the Positive Traits Thesaurus, which gives you a large selection of positive attributes to choose from, each with possible causes for those traits to emerge, along with the attitudes, behaviors, thoughts, and emotions that tend to go with it.
You’ll also see real character examples from literature, film, and television to illustrate each positive trait and show how it influences each character’s arc and actions.
If you love distinctive words and have a passion for precise, evocative language, this thesaurus is for you. Meltzer’s thesaurus puts each word in context with examples that show exactly how to use it and what it brings to the sentence.
His introduction argues the importance of broadening your vocabulary and learning how to use the “one right word.” Both are important not only for everyday speech but for writing content your readers will enjoy and learn from.
Book 2 of the Writers Helping Writers Series, this thesaurus is all about finding the right flaws for your characters, understanding how those flaws might have developed, and knowing how they might drive your characters and affect those around them.
Real examples from literature, film, and television show how each flaw can influence a character’s actions and decision-making -- as well as what you can do to help your flawed character’s avoid common pitfalls.
If you’re running short on space for printed books — or you’d just rather use online dictionaries and other resources — we’re here to help you find the best writer’s thesaurus online for your purposes.
Here’s a shortlist of the best options we’ve found:
More Related Articles:
The Perfect Writing Software And Apps For Your Writing Style
6 Excellent Writing Prompt Generators To Inspire Content Ideas
The Author’s Guide To Writing Dialogue Between Two Characters
Now that you’ve looked over 9 of the most useful thesauruses for writers, which ones stood out to you the most? Which do you think you’d get the most use out of — either with your writing or with your own personal development?
I hope you found more than one to add to your writing resource library. The right word at the right time is magic. I hope you use the resources listed in this post to bring more of that magic into your life and the lives of your readers.
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Want to making your writing clearer? Using synonyms in your writing is an easy way to connect with your audience and keep your writing fresh. Today we share 10 tips for how to use synonyms and choose the right words everytime you write.
Have you ever caught yourself in the middle of writing and notice you’ve been using the same word or expression over and over? Did you ever feel stuck because you were striving for variety but were having difficulty finding the right words?
Keeping a limited and mind-numbing vocabulary is certainly no one’s idea of fun. Writer or not, it takes a while to expand knowledge on word stock.
Simple rephrasing or rewording sometimes doesn’t work. There’s context and structure to consider. Being able to refer to the same thing in varying ways is what makes writing a formidable skill to master. Consistency in pursuing knowledge and practice is what makes an excellent wordsmith.
Here are some ways to help you in becoming an expert scribe and finally master the use of synonyms in your writing once and for all.
Self-awareness of what words you choose to use is the key to becoming a better writer. Observe the words or key phrases you always use. Research for alternatives.
Once you identify which words need changed, slowly replace the ones you regularly use with their alternatives. If you use them enough, eventually it will stick. You can make it a goal to work on 5 phrases or words at a time.
for example | for instance, to illustrate, let us say |
really | certainly, absolutely, indubitably |
said | babbled, blurted, commented |
in conclusion | all things considered, in a nutshell, to sum up |
actually | clearly, certainly, veritable |
A thesaurus is a great tool to help broaden word choice, but it’s not always easy enough to just pick any old word from a list. Don’t substitute words without considering context. While it presents you with words that are related to what you have, they may have slightly different definitions.
Consider the yellow bananas above. If you call them mouth-watering, this paints an entirely different meaning than you might if you just called them delicious.
This is why they say in order to improve one’s writing style, the person must also be willing to invest time reading. By reading, you observe what makes sense to use by noticing how words differ in meaning and usage.
There are also some instances, like learning colloquial terms, which can be learned by conversing and interacting with people which brings us to our next point.
One of the things you may want to consider including in your writer’s notebook is maintaining a record of new words you come across.
Take note of their meaning and how they were being used. Cite examples.
Doing so will allow you to easily recall and use them when needed. Try to use them in your day to day conversations to grow accustomed to it.
Keeping track of your favorite synonyms and jotting down different ways to say something can help you with writing dialogue and also improving the revision process of your work.
Euphemisms are the “nice words” we say when other words might be too strong. Unless it was your intention to be blunt or harsh, a good grasp of euphemisms can help improve your communication style and avoid miscommunication.
fire someone | let someone go |
abort | terminate |
died | passed away |
euthanize | put to sleep |
unemployed | in between jobs |
homeless | on the streets |
short | petite |
bankrupt | financially challenged |
Idiomatic expressions can make a reader pause, think and evaluate a situation.There are instances wherein using idioms can help denote cultural aspects as well.
The trick with using idioms in your writing is to use them sparingly and only when absolutely necessary – you don’t want to risk your work sounding cliché.
Here are some interesting idioms you can use as synonyms while writing:
let the cat out of the bag | tell a secret |
split hairs | argue over small details |
be glad to see someone’s back | be happy to see someone leaving |
cutting corners | doing something badly |
in the doghouse | to have some people unhappy with you |
Merely using an adjective is not going to provide a reader with the most vivid picture of what’s going on. Take the time to use the surroundings as means of comparison or contrast. These are some ways you can say it better:
The room is hot. → The room’s temperature is oven-like. John is tall. → John almost reaches the ceiling. He is noticeable. → You will not miss his presence once he enters the room. She is very beautiful. → Her face could stop the traffic whenever she crosses the street. The house is very messy. → The house is akin to a big dumpsite. You would take hours rummaging through the household items to find what you need.
The author of Dead Poets Society, N.H Kleinbaum, pointed out that using “very” to describe something is an act of laziness, to which we absolutely agree! For lack of apt words to describe something, people tend to insert the word “very” to up the degree of the adjective. This can be avoided by introducing new words into your vocabulary to properly portray the intensity you aim for. Case in point:
very strong | unyielding |
very old | ancient |
very afraid | terrified |
very poor | destitute |
very risky | perilous |
very big | immense |
very weak | feeble |
very large | colossal |
very cold | freezing |
very stupid | idiotic |
very noisy | deafening |
very shy | timid |
very quick | rapid |
very shiny | gleaming |
very short | brief |
Keep a pile of nonfiction novels for a good read. This form of writing exposes you to different approaches to describing a scene or situation. Best selling authors have acquired the skill of using words and phrases to perfectly paint a clear picture or situation. They take you to the plot and let you imagine what happens next as if you were there.
There are quite a lot of vocabulary quizzes you can take online. You can learn something new and have fun at the same time.
Merriam-Webster for one has become crafty by coming up with an online quiz they call, “How Strong Is Your Vocabulary” which you have to answer in 10 seconds. Enhancing the inner thesaurus in you does not have to be boring. Always challenge yourself. Aim to continuously improve your communication skills.
Learn 18 Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary Skills Here
Editing other people’s write-up could make you keen on frequently committed errors in grammar, flow, clarity, etc. It could help you pick up new words, learn alternative ways to say things and acquaint yourself with other styles of writing. You could harvest new learnings from what you are reading and editing.
There’s nothing you will regret from opting to expand your vocabulary and enhance your communication style. Learning to write using synonyms and say things better will make it easier for you to interact with people better and be clearer with your intentions.
Do you have any tips for writing with synonyms and choosing words for your writing? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below!
Eric Pangburn is a freelance writer who shares his best tips with other writers here at ThinkWritten. When not writing, he enjoys coaching basketball and spending time with his family.
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Word lists, cheat sheets, and sometimes irreverent reviews of writing rules. kathy steinemann is the author of the writer's lexicon series..
Do You Depend on Smiled or Laughed Too Often in Your Writing?
This post provides ninety-nine alternatives. Before studying them, though, consider the other possibilities available to you.
Rather than rely on direct phrases such as she snickered , try body language, weather, and surroundings to show the happiness of your characters:
His eyes crinkled at the corners.
The glowing appreciation on her face shone brighter than the noonday sun. (Overstatement that might function for a character in love, perhaps.)
She hummed softly, a sparkle in her eyes.
Her voice grew bubbly.
He slapped the table and doubled over with mirth.
His shoulders shook so hard he peed himself.
Wilma spewed coffee down the front of Fred’s shirt. Hmm, he thought, I didn’t realize the joke was so funny.
Harry didn’t respond but held his sides as though he had a stomachache. I studied his face . The subtle upward quirk of his mouth told me he was smothering a laugh.
If you need additional beats, consult a body language dictionary . (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Add Laughter With Dialogue
“Mwah ha ha.”
“That’s hilarious.”
“You’re a hoot.”
“I tell ya, Harry, that there gal looks like she done swallowed the entire Cheshire Cat.”
Capitalize on Clichés
Clichés have their place. Be careful, though. Not all pieces lend themselves to this type of writing:
He brought the house down.
She sent everyone into convulsions.
The audience rolled in the aisles.
The comedian’s barrel-of-laughs routine earned him a recurring gig at The Comedy Club.
Avoid acronyms such as LOL and ROFL unless you’re writing a piece that incorporates text messages or social media posts.
Instead of repeating the familiar and often mundane, invent a phrase. Idioms weren’t considered trite the first time they appeared. In each case, someone produced an imaginative phrase that appealed to the public. Over time, it joined the ranks of clichés shunned by authors and poets.
Who knows? Your turn of phrase could become as popular as He laughed all the way to the bank.
Get Down and Wordy
If your word count isn’t restricted, try making a person’s laugh a character trait in longer passages such as the following:
A smirk replaced his frown of suspicion, and then the room resounded with his distinctive laugh akin to the heavy bellowing of a donkey before it reaches full bray. He jumped out of his chair and met me halfway across the office, where we thumped each other on the back .
The noise Penny made came from deep within her throat, reminiscent of a snorting pig — apropos for her snout nose and pink complexion.
You can’t wax poetic with every sentence you write. Too much fluff and you bore readers, or an editor might brand your writing with the dreaded purple prose label.
Verbs and Phrases to Replace Laughed or Smiled
If you’ve exhausted the alternatives, or economy of words is crucial , the following list could save you multiple trips to your thesaurus(es).
B babbled, bared one’s gums, barked, bayed, beamed, belly-laughed, bent in two, bent over, boomed, brayed, broke up, bubbled, burbled, bust a gut
C cachinnated, cackled, cawed, cheeped, chirped, chirred, chirruped, chittered, chortled, chuckled, clucked, convulsed, cooed, cracked a smile, cracked up, crooned, crowed
D to H dimpled, doubled up, fleered, flashed one’s teeth , forced a smile, fractured, giggled, grinned, guffawed, gurgled, hee-hawed, honked, hooted, horse-laughed, howled
J to R jeered, jiggled, joggled, joked, joshed, juddered, leered, lost control, lost it, made merry, neighed, nickered, peeped, purred, quaked, quavered, quivered, roared, rolled in the aisles, rolled on the floor, rumbled
S screeched, shook, showed one’s teeth, shrieked, simpered, smiled, smirked, snickered, sniggered, snorted, snuffled, split one’s sides, spluttered, squawked, squeaked, squealed
T to Y teased, tee-heed, thundered, tittered, trilled, trumpeted, tweeted, twinkled, twittered, vibrated, warbled, whickered, whinnied, whooped, yelped, yowled
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I’m pretty sure i’ve never heard or seen the word “cachinnated”. It looks like a word i’d never use. I’d have to go way out of my way to use it. But my narrator is attracted to words exactly like this, so it could be worth an aside conversation just to get it in. My narrator doesn’t have to start this conversation, so it could be natural. It could add some color to more than one character. It’s this kind of exercise i’m looking for. Perhaps the root “cachinnate” fits the scene easier.
Agreed. Not every word is appropriate for every story, Stephen. “Cachinnate” came into use in 1824, and it produces about 61,000 results in a Google search. However, it’s a rare verb.
Thanks for popping by!
Dearest Ms Kathy, I really appreciate your articles..These docs helped me a lot I m from the Philippines & English is my second language
Praying for your continued success in your endeavors
Ester Garampil
Thanks, Ester.
All the best!
Dear Ms Kathy, I really appreciate your posts especially for me who is just starting to write. You are so generous..GOD bless you & your family
Ester Espina
Thanks, Ester. Have a great day of inspiration and productivity!
Thanks a lot..Im just beginning to write. These words will surely add more descriptions to my characters..
Thank you, Ester. Good luck with your writing journey!
This is a veritable treasure trove, Kathy. You should write a book.
Don’t know why that comment came through twice!
🙂 I’ll delete the first one.
Thanks, Tom. I already have a name for the book, and even more words for each list. Do you have any favorite words or phrases you’d like to see explored?
I hope you’re saving all this for a book. These are great posts!
Thanks, Katie. You must have read my mind!
Yes, I’m collecting for a book–with even longer lists.
Thanks for sharing. This is a wonderful post.
Heh heh. Thanks, Tess. Next week: two word lists for “Noisy” or “Loud”.
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Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.
Head of Content at Reedsy, Martin has spent over eight years helping writers turn their ambitions into reality. As a voice in the indie publishing space, he has written for a number of outlets and spoken at conferences, including the 2024 Writers Summit at the London Book Fair.
If you've read our previous post on writing dialogue , you'll know that you shouldn't be afraid to default to he said , she said , or they said when you're tagging your dialogue. After all, it's probably the clearest, least distracting way to indicate who's saying what. That being said, it can be useful to deploy a specific and powerful dialogue tag every now and again.
Find out in just a minute.
To help you find that perfect synonym to inject action and emotion into your dialogue, here are over 270 other words for said:
Acknowledged Added Agreed Announced Articulated Asserted Backtracked Began Blurted Called Commented Communicated Conferred Considered Contended Declared Denoted | Drawled Elaborated Emitted Ended Enunciated Expounded Expressed Greeted Interjected Mentioned Noted Observed Orated Persisted Predicted Pronounced Quipped | Recited Reckoned Related Remarked Repeated Replied Responded Shared Slurred Stated Suggested Told Urged Uttered Vocalized Voiced
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Approved Babbled Beamed Bubbled Chattered Cheered Chimed in Chortled Chuckled Congratulated | Complimented Crooned Effused Exclaimed Giggled Grinned Gushed Jabbered Joked
| Laughed Praised Rejoiced Sang Smiled Thanked Tittered Trilled Yammered
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Agonized Apologized Bawled Blubbered Cried Fretted | Grieved Groaned Lamented Mewled Moaned Mumbled | Sobbed Sighed Sniffled Sniveled Wailed Wept |
Accused Choked Badgered Barked Bellowed Chastised Cursed Demanded Exploded Fumed | Glowered Growled Hissed Insulted Raged Ranted Reprimanded Roared Scolded
| Screamed Screeched Snarled Spat Shouted Swore Thundered Vociferated Yelled
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Bleated Complained Condemned Criticized Exhaled Groused | Grumbled Grunted Heaved Insisted Mocked Rasped | Rejoined Retorted Scoffed Smirked Snapped Whined |
Coughed Cautioned Gulped Howled Keened Panted Prayed | Quavered Screamed Shrieked Shuddered Squalled Squealed Trembled | Wailed Warbled Whimpered Yelped Yowled Warned
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Advertised Bloviated Boasted Boomed Bossed Bragged Broadcasted | Crowed Exhorted Dictated Gloated Moralized Ordered
| Prattled Preached Sermonized Snorted Swaggered Trumpeted
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Breathed Doubted Faltered Hesitated Lilted Mumbled | Murmured Muttered Shrugged Squeaked Stammered
| Stuttered Swallowed Trailed off Vacillated Whispered
|
Derided Jeered Heckled Lampooned Mocked | Mimicked Parodied Ridiculed Satirized Scorned | Spoofed Sneered Snickered Taunted Teased |
Asked Begged Challenged Contemplated Guessed Hinted Hypothesized Implied Inquired | Interrogated Invited Mouthed Mused Pleaded Pondered Probed Proposed Puzzled | Repeated Requested Requisitioned Queried Questioned Quizzed Solicited Speculated Wondered |
Accepted Advised Affirmed Alleged Answered Assured Avowed Claimed Conceded Concluded Confided Confirmed | Explained Disclosed Disseminated Divulged Imparted Informed Indicated Maintained Notified Offered Passed on Proffered | Promised Promulgated Released Reported Revealed Shared Specified Speculated Supposed Testified Transmitted Verified |
For this infographic, we've narrowed down the 270 most essential dialogue words for you to know! Simply enter your email below to get it in your inbox within minutes.
FREE RESOURCE
Get our Dialogue Tag Cheatsheet
Upgrade your dialogue with our list of 270 alternatives to “said.”
To see how master writers assemble their dialogue, head over to our final post in this series for some choice examples of dialogue.
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Understanding the Numbers When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors — like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.
Many of life’s great stories that are told in the form of literature, film, short stories and poetry, among many other outlets, first get their start in the minds and on the pages of creative writers.
Creative writing is a professional discipline that is unique in many ways and has the potential to take your career in a vast array of different directions.
If creative writing is a field you’re interested in pursuing, it’s important to keep in mind that while it can be a challenging and competitive profession, it also offers a number of distinctive benefits.
“Creative writing” is a broad term that, when it comes to professional careers, encapsulates many different forms of writing.
“There are so many genres,” said Melissa Hart , an instructor in the online Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program in Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).
Hart, who has a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and an MFA in Creative Writing, has authored seven fiction and nonfiction books and published articles and essays in The New York Times, Smithsonian, CNN, The Washington Post, Slate and The Los Angeles Times, among others.
She said the career pathways for creative writers are virtually unlimited.
“Creative writers can be poets and screenwriters, personal essayists, novelists, short story writers,” Hart said, explaining that even within the world of creative writing , there are a number of creative avenues you can take. Some of these include:
Much like their earning potential, the daily duties of a creative writer can vary greatly depending on what projects they’re working on at any given time, Hart said.
“I think duties differ writer to writer,” she said. “In my work, I practice writing almost every day — usually rough drafts, and then revisions, of novel chapters and nonfiction book chapters, magazine and newspaper articles and essays and newsletter posts.”
According to the BLS , how you spend your days as a creative writer depends largely on what type of writer you are, some of which include:
And in today’s digital world, another form of writing that continues to thrive is blogging , which is defined by global website development leader Wix as articles posted to a website focused on a specific area of interest.
Social media writing , too, continues to emerge with many large organizations like Mailchimp establishing specific standards for its social media writing.
Hart pointed out that creative writing is a unique profession in that it doesn’t require a degree or academic credential of any kind in order to succeed.
“You don't need any credentials," she said. "You just need an open mind and a willingness to learn your craft in the genre that most interests you.”
However, high-quality college programs in creative writing can be an excellent way for writers who have natural talent and abilities to further develop their skills, Hart said. For instance, in the SNHU online Bachelor of Arts (BA) program in Creative Writing and English, students develop and sharpen their skills in a number of areas, including:
There is also an abundance of resources you can look into on your own to better position yourself for a career as a creative writer .
“There are piles of books, for instance, on how to write children's fiction,” Hart said. “Ditto poetry, screenplays, creative nonfiction... and there are so many resources online, as well.”
Another aspect of creative writing that makes it a unique professional field, Hart said, is that it involves both natural talent and skills that can be learned.
“Perhaps a person is born with an innate talent for storytelling, but reading and practicing and studying creative writing for years will give you the skills you need to write fiction and nonfiction and poetry that appeals to readers,” she said.
Hart said that she’s had a love of language since the age of five, which is when she started writing short stories. It was her passion for writing and storytelling that inspired her to work hard developing her skills.
“All that practice gave me skills as a creative writer,” she said. “I believe I developed a talent for writing in particular genres because I studied them so deeply.”
While for many, learning to be a creative writer could be characterized as hard, Hart explained that “time consuming” is probably a better way of putting it.
“For instance, I just spent three years learning to cross-country ski when I’d never been on skis before,” she said. “I think it generally takes people at least three years to grow adept at creative writing in a particular genre because you’re constantly reading and deconstructing literature and thinking about it and writing and rewriting and rewriting some more.”
That said, among the many benefits of a career in creative writing is the flexibility and freedom it provides, Hart said.
“Creative writers can work anywhere they want,” she said. “I've written novel chapters in my car outside my daughter's dance studio, on airplanes, on the bank of a local river while my kid looked for newts.”
According to Hart, many of her students work in a corner of their house with noise-canceling headphones, while others write on their lunch breaks or in bed late at night.
“You can train yourself to get into a creative writing space the moment you open your laptop,” she said. “It just takes a while.”
Is creative writing a good career.
What determines if writing is a “good” career will vary person to person, but there are a lot of considerations to keep in mind if it’s a path you’re interested in following, Hart said.
“It’s a good career for me, because I get to write about topics and issues which interest me,” she said. "However, it's my husband who has the great health insurance. If I didn't have health insurance, it might not be a viable career option because freelance writers and authors don't get subsidized health insurance — we must pay for our own."
While freelance writers and authors typically do find and fund their own health insurance, there is a growing number of writer unions and guilds that can assist with health insurance plans, according to Find the Plan , an online hub for freelance writers. And non-freelance copywriters, social media writers and blog writers usually get health benefits through the organization for which they work.
Unlike other professional fields — in areas like business, engineering, education, medicine and law, among others — that typically have a salary range based on experience and the level of your degree, there is a vast disparity in what creative writers earn.
While high-profile, bestselling authors can command six-figure advances for their work, they comprise just a small fraction of those earning a living as creative writers, Hart said.*
“Most of us are midlist writers, earning modest advances and royalty checks,” she said. “It's interesting to note that I can earn as much off of two 4,000-word researched essays for magazines as I can for one of my young adult novels.”
Hart said that it’s common for creative writers to generate their income from a combination of different forms of writing for a variety of outlets, along with other professional activities where they’re paid for their professional expertise. For example, Hart said she earns her living through a combination of:
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean annual wage for writers and authors in 2023 was $87,590.*
“But creative writing isn't about the money, for me,” she said. “It's about getting to join the conversation and put something beautiful and inspiring out into the world.”
Discover more about SNHU's online bachelor’s in creative writing : Find out what courses you'll take, skills you'll learn and how to request information about the program.
*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.
Cary Jordan is an Iowa-based writer with more than 20 years of writing and editing experience on a wide range of issues related to higher education. Cary has held administrative and cabinet-level positions at multiple colleges and universities, and his writing has spanned topics related to undergraduate education as well as graduate education in the areas of business, law, medicine and engineering, among others.
About southern new hampshire university.
SNHU is a nonprofit, accredited university with a mission to make high-quality education more accessible and affordable for everyone.
Founded in 1932, and online since 1995, we’ve helped countless students reach their goals with flexible, career-focused programs . Our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH is home to over 3,000 students, and we serve over 135,000 students online. Visit our about SNHU page to learn more about our mission, accreditations, leadership team, national recognitions and awards.
574 other terms for creative writing - words and phrases with similar meaning page 2.
Alternatively
What is "creative" or "artistic" research how is it defined and evaluated how is it different from other kinds of research who participates and in what ways - and how are its impacts understood across various fields of inquiry.
After more than two decades of investigation, there is no singular definition of “creative research,” no prescribed or prevailing methodology for yielding practice-based research outcomes, and no universally applied or accepted methodology for assessing such outcomes. Nor do we think there should be.
But institutions need rubrics against which to assess outcomes. So, with the help of the Faculty Research Working Group, we have developed a working definition of creative research which centers inquiry while remaining as broad as possible:
Creative research is creative production that produces new knowledge through an interrogation/disruption of form vs. creative production that refines existing knowledge through an adaptation of convention. It is often characterized by innovation, sustained collaboration and inter/trans-disciplinary or hybrid praxis, challenging conventional rubrics of evaluation and assessment within traditional academic environments.
Artists are natural adapters and translators in the work of interpretation and meaning-making, so we are uniquely qualified to create NEW research paradigms along with appropriate and rigorous methods of assessment. At the same time, because of Tisch's unique position as a professional arts-training school within an R1 university, any consideration of "artistic" or "creative research" always references the rigorous standards of the traditional scholarship also produced here.
Over the long-term, Tisch will continue to refine its evaluative processes that reward innovation, collaboration, inter/trans-disciplinary and hybrid praxis. At the same time, we must continue to incentivize faculty and student work that is visionary and transcends the obstacles of convention.
As the research nexus for Tisch, our responsibility is to support the Tisch community as it embraces these challenges and continues to educate the next generation of global arts citizens.
Advertisement |
Painting, woodworking, writing: Whatever you turn to creatively, it could equal or exceed work in terms of maintaining mental health, new research shows.
"Crafting and other artistic activities showed a meaningful effect in predicting people's sense that their life is worthwhile," said study lead author Dr. Helen Keyes , of Anglia Ruskin University in Britain. Advertisement
"Indeed, the impact of crafting was bigger than the impact of being in employment," she added. "Not only does crafting give us a sense of achievement, it is also a meaningful route to self-expression. This is not always the case with employment."
Folks were asked about their level of participation in cultural, digital and sporting activities.
People were also queried about their levels of loneliness and "sensations of happiness, anxiety and life satisfaction, and to give their impression of whether life is worthwhile," according to a journal news release.
More than a third (37.4%) of respondents said they'd been involved in some kind of arts or crafts activity over the past month. Advertisement
People who engaged in a creative pursuit scored higher in terms of happiness, life satisfaction and the sense that life is worthwhile, compared to folks who weren't involved in arts or crafts, the researchers found.
"The well-being effects were present even after we accounted for things like employment status and level of deprivation," Keyes said in a journal news release. "It seems that crafting can contribute positively to your well-being above and beyond these other aspects of your life."
Perhaps because many arts and crafts are done while alone, engagement didn't seem to affect people's levels of loneliness.
The study was only designed to show associations, so it could not prove cause and effect.
In her own life, Keyes said she's an avid devotee of DIY projects such as painting and decorating.
"There is certainly something immensely satisfying about seeing the results of your work appear before your eyes," she said. "It feels great to focus on one task and engage your mind creatively."
Policymakers might want to take guidance from the new findings, Keyes said.
"Governments and national health services might consider funding and promoting crafting, or even socially prescribing these activities for at-risk populations, as part of a promotion and prevention approach to well-being and mental health," she said. Advertisement
More information
Find out more about the benefits of being creative at the American Psychiatric Association .
Copyright © 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Employees with strong relationships at work are more creative, collaborative, and likely to stay with their organization.
Managers sometimes turn to team-building activities to build connections between colleagues. But which activities and practices would work best for your team? And how can you put them into action most effectively? In this article, the author offers advice and recommendations from three experts. Their activity suggestions are intended to inspire ideas that you can then tailor to your team’s size, sensibilities, and circumstances. These activities don’t need to be extravagant or overly structured — what matters is being intentional about making team building happen. Stay attentive to your team members’ needs, involve colleagues in planning, and show sincere interest in getting to know them. By doing so, you’ll help build a positive, inclusive team culture that tackles loneliness and helps everyone succeed together.
In the era of remote work and scattered teams, managers face a key challenge: fostering connections among employees, no matter where they happen to be located.
COMMENTS
Another way to say Creative Writing? Synonyms for Creative Writing (other words and phrases for Creative Writing).
Synonyms for creative writing include literature, narrative, nonfiction, novels, fiction, short stories, works of fiction, fable, romance and narration. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com!
Synonyms For Creative Writing. Explore a spectrum of synonyms that capture the essence of different writing styles, from captivating fiction to evocative poetry. Discover your perfect storytelling niche and unleash your creativity!
What's the definition of Creative writing in thesaurus? Most related words/phrases with sentence examples define Creative writing meaning and usage.
Another way to say Creative Writing? Synonyms for Creative Writing (related to writing).
Synonyms for creative writer include writer, author, scribe, penman, hack, scribbler, wordsmith, novelist, columnist and essayist. Find more similar words at ...
More 60 Creative writing synonyms. What are another words for Creative writing? Literature, writing, fiction, written works. Full list of synonyms for Creative writing is here.
Different ways to say 'creative writing'. Find more synonyms and antonyms for 'creative writing' at bab.la.
Writers Write creates writing resources and shares writing tips. Use this mini-thesaurus to find synonyms for 95 commonly-used words when you write.
Do you find yourself reusing certain words in your writing? We have rounded up the most common words and alternatives to keep your writing fresh.
Synonyms for 'Creative-writing'. Best synonyms for 'creative-writing' are 'creative writing', 'book report' and 'composition'.
Words For " creative writing " As you've probably noticed, words for " " are listed above. According to the algorithm that drives this word similarity engine, the top 5 related words for "creative writing" are: literature, belles-lettres, creative, creative writer, and literate.
Synonyms for CREATIVE: innovative, inventive, imaginative, talented, innovational, gifted, original, ingenious; Antonyms of CREATIVE: unimaginative, uncreative ...
Creative Writing Words. Unlock the magic of creative writing words! This guide explores how to choose powerful verbs, craft vivid descriptions, and leverage figurative language to elevate your storytelling and captivate your readers.
78 Words Instead of Ask. Using other words instead of ask will spice up your dialog. Ask is a common word used when writing dialog. Using alternate words to replace ask gives you the opportunity to add emotion to your dialog. There is some controversy among writers about using other words beside said and ask.
Whether you're writing an essay or speaking in front of a group, there are certain big words you can use to impress your audience.
Other phrases to say Creative Writing? Phrases for Creative Writing (alternative phrases for Creative Writing).
Throw out the term "thesaurus words ," and you'll probably get some side-eye from writers who see the thesaurus as a crutch for amateur writers trying to make their writing sound more sophisticated.
Want to making your writing clearer? Using synonyms in your writing is an easy way to connect with your audience and keep your writing fresh.
Do you depend on "smiled" or "laughed" too often in your writing? This word list provides ninety-nine alternatives. #Words #WritingTips WritingCommunity
Here are 270 other words for said that you might not know! Plus key tips on how to use these words to create masterful dialogue.
Creative writing is a professional discipline that is unique in many ways and has the potential to take your career in an array of different directions.
Another way to say Creative Writing? Synonyms for Creative Writing (other words and phrases for Creative Writing) - Page 2.
The W's MFA in Creative Writing expects around 28 students for the fall semester, as it kicks off its 10 th year. The program is a hybrid between online and in-person classes. Much of the course load is achieved through synchronous online classes during the regular semester.
What is "creative" or "artistic" research? How is it defined and evaluated? How is it different from other kinds of research? Who participates and in what ways - and how are its impacts understood across various fields of inquiry?
Painting, woodworking, writing: Whatever you turn to creatively, it could equal or exceed work in terms of maintaining mental health, new research shows.
Managers sometimes turn to team-building activities to build connections between colleagues. But which activities and practices would work best for your team? And how can you put them into action ...