How I Started My Word Hunt
So I needed words. Simple words, fast words, for this cooking blog thing I’m writing. Couldn’t think squat. Just staring at that blinking cursor like an idiot.
First I tried my phone dictionary app. Typed “quick” and got nonsense like “expeditious” “rapid” all that fancy junk. Who even talks like that? Wanted to chuck my phone out the window.
The Dumb Stuff I Tried First
Remembered that dusty book on my shelf – the big chunky thesaurus. Opened it and bam! Cloud of dust hit my face. Spent ten minutes flipping pages looking for “easy” and found “effortless” “elementary” whatever. Not helpful!
Asked my nephew who plays word games. Kid starts babbling about triple letter scores and seven-letter combos. Told him I just need “fast” and “simple” synonyms. Got that blank Gen Z stare.
Where Stuff Actually Worked
Lightbulb moment happened at the grocery store. Saw those little word magnets on fridges? Grabbed a cheap set. Dumped them all on my kitchen table.
Sorted them like this:
- Swapped boring verbs: got “use” became “grab” “try” “pick”
- Made adjectives pop: changed “nice” to “fresh” “crisp” “bright”
- Killed filler words: trashed “very” “really” all those lazy crutches
Started building sentences right there on the floor. Felt like playing with Lego blocks but for words.
My New Go-To System
Now I keep that word pile in a cookie jar. Yes, a cookie jar. When I’m cooking up words for posts:
- Dump jar on counter
- Pick random words to kickstart
- Keep short words separate from long ones
Best part? I never touch that stupid thesaurus anymore. Saw it yesterday collecting dust – almost felt sorry for the thing. Almost.
Found all my simple words in the last pizza box I ordered. True story. That little magnet pack cost less than two bucks and saved my writing butt.