another word for the creative writing

150+ Synonyms For Creative Writing

Synonyms for creative writing.

When it comes to crafting stories , the term “creative writing ” often takes center stage. But the world of spinning tales is vast and multifaceted, bursting with synonyms that capture the specific essence of different writing styles.

List of Synonyms For Creative Writing

Here is the list of 150+ creative writing words along with their synonyms and meanings:

Ultimately, the best synonym for your writing depends on your specific style and goals. Do you seek to explore the complexities of the human condition with literary fiction, or craft a heart-pounding thriller? Embrace the possibilities!

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Creative writing synonyms

What is another word for creative writing .

• writing language
• written works
• compositions
• composition writing, language
• style language, writing
• instrumentation language, writing
• prose language, writing
• rhetoric writing
• literary texts
• works of fiction
• short stories
• storytelling
• work of imagination
• belles-lettres
• made-up story

Reverse Dictionary

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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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).

About Reverse Dictionary

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 .

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270+ Other Words For "Said" To Supercharge Your Writing

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. 

Which dialogue tag are YOU?

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:

Neutral/multi-purpose words

Happy/excited words 

Sad/upset words 

Angry words 

Annoyed words

Frightened/pained words

Prideful words

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Words to express uncertainty

Words that make fun

Words that ask a question

Words that give an answer

Download this 'greatest hits' list

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.

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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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Synonyms For 95 Commonly Used Words – A Mini-Thesaurus For Writers

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

• Amazing  — incredible, unbelievable, improbable, fabulous, wonderful, fantastic, astonishing, astounding, extraordinary
• Anger  — enrage, infuriate, arouse, nettle, exasperate, inflame, madden
• Angry  — mad, furious, enraged, excited, wrathful, indignant, exasperated, aroused, inflamed
• Answer  — reply, respond, retort, acknowledge
• Ask  — question, inquire of, seek information from, put a question to, demand, request, expect, inquire, query, interrogate, examine, quiz
• Awful  — dreadful, terrible, abominable, bad, poor, unpleasant
• Bad  — evil, immoral, wicked, corrupt, sinful, depraved, rotten, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, harmful, injurious, unfavourable, defective, inferior, imperfect, substandard, faulty, improper, inappropriate, unsuitable, disagreeable, unpleasant, cross, nasty, unfriendly, irascible, horrible, atrocious, outrageous, scandalous, infamous, wrong, noxious, sinister, putrid, snide, deplorable, dismal, gross, heinous, nefarious, base, obnoxious, detestable, despicable, contemptible, foul, rank, ghastly, execrable
• Beautiful  — pretty, lovely, handsome, attractive, gorgeous, dazzling, splendid, magnificent, comely, fair, ravishing, graceful, elegant, fine, exquisite, aesthetic, pleasing, shapely, delicate, stunning, glorious, heavenly, resplendent, radiant, glowing, blooming, sparkling
• Begin  — start, open, launch, initiate, commence, inaugurate, originate
• Big  — enormous, huge, immense, gigantic, vast, colossal, gargantuan, large, sizeable, grand, great, tall, substantial, mammoth, astronomical, ample, broad, expansive, spacious, stout, tremendous, titanic, mountainous
• Brave  — courageous, fearless, dauntless, intrepid, plucky, daring, heroic, valorous, audacious, bold, gallant, valiant, doughty, mettlesome
• Break  — fracture, rupture, shatter, smash, wreck, crash, demolish, atomise
• Bright  — shining, shiny, gleaming, brilliant, sparkling, shimmering, radiant, vivid, colourful, lustrous, luminous, incandescent, intelligent, knowing, quick-witted, smart, intellectual
• Calm  — quiet, peaceful, still, tranquil, mild, serene, smooth, composed, collected, unruffled, level-headed, unexcited, detached, aloof
• Come  — approach, advance, near, arrive, reach
• Cool  — chilly, cold, frosty, wintry, icy, frigid
• Crooked  — bent, twisted, curved, hooked, zigzag
• Cry  — shout, yell, yowl, scream, roar, bellow, weep, wail, sob, bawl
• Cut  — gash, slash, prick, nick, sever, slice, carve, cleave, slit, chop, crop, lop, reduce
• Dangerous  — perilous, hazardous, risky, uncertain, unsafe
• Dark  — shadowy, unlit, murky, gloomy, dim, dusky, shaded, sunless, black, dismal, sad
• Decide  — determine, settle, choose, resolve
• Definite  — certain, sure, positive, determined, clear, distinct, obvious
• Delicious  — savoury, delectable, appetizing, luscious, scrumptious, palatable, delightful, enjoyable, toothsome, exquisite
• Describe  — portray, characterize, picture, narrate, relate, recount, represent, report, record
• Destroy  — ruin, demolish, raze, waste, kill, slay, end, extinguish
• Difference  — disagreement, inequity, contrast, dissimilarity, incompatibility
• Do  — execute, enact, carry out, finish, conclude, effect, accomplish, achieve, attain
• Dull  — boring, tiring„ tiresome, uninteresting, slow, dumb, stupid, unimaginative, lifeless, dead, insensible, tedious, wearisome, listless, expressionless, plain, monotonous, humdrum, dreary
• Eager  — keen, fervent, enthusiastic, involved, interested, alive to
• End  — stop, finish, terminate, conclude, close, halt, cessation, discontinuance
• Enjoy  — appreciate, delight in, be pleased, indulge in, luxuriate in, bask in, relish, devour, savour, like
• Explain  — elaborate, clarify, define, interpret, justify, account for
• Fair  — just, impartial, unbiased, objective, unprejudiced, honest
• Fall  — drop, descend, plunge, topple, tumble
• False  — fake, fraudulent, counterfeit, spurious, untrue, unfounded, erroneous, deceptive, groundless, fallacious
• Famous  — well-known, renowned, celebrated, famed, eminent, illustrious, distinguished, noted, notorious
• Fast  — quick, rapid, speedy, fleet, hasty, snappy, mercurial, swiftly, rapidly, quickly, snappily, speedily, lickety-split, post-haste, hastily, expeditiously, like a flash
• Fat  — stout, corpulent, fleshy, beefy, paunchy, plump, full, rotund, tubby, pudgy, chubby, chunky, burly, bulky, elephantine
• Fear  — fright, dread, terror, alarm, dismay, anxiety, scare, awe, horror, panic, apprehension
• Fly  — soar, hover, flit, wing, flee, waft, glide, coast, skim, sail, cruise
• Funny  — humorous, amusing, droll, comic, comical, laughable, silly
• Get  — acquire, obtain, secure, procure, gain, fetch, find, score, accumulate, win, earn, rep, catch, net, bag, derive, collect, gather, glean, pick up, accept, come by, regain, salvage
• Go  — recede, depart, fade, disappear, move, travel, proceed
• Good  — excellent, fine, superior, wonderful, marvellous, qualified, suited, suitable, apt, proper, capable, generous, kindly, friendly, gracious, obliging, pleasant, agreeable, pleasurable, satisfactory, well-behaved, obedient, honourable, reliable, trustworthy, safe, favourable, profitable, advantageous, righteous, expedient, helpful, valid, genuine, ample, salubrious, estimable, beneficial, splendid, great, noble, worthy, first-rate, top-notch, grand, sterling, superb, respectable, edifying
• Great  — noteworthy, worthy, distinguished, remarkable, grand, considerable, powerful, much, mighty
• Gross  — improper, rude, coarse, indecent, crude, vulgar, outrageous, extreme, grievous, shameful, uncouth, obscene, low
• Happy  — pleased, contented, satisfied, delighted, elated, joyful, cheerful, ecstatic, jubilant, gay, tickled, gratified, glad, blissful, overjoyed
• Hate  — despise, loathe, detest, abhor, disfavour, dislike, disapprove, abominate
• Have  — hold, possess, own, contain, acquire, gain, maintain, believe, bear, beget, occupy, absorb, fill, enjoy
• Help  — aid, assist, support, encourage, back, wait on, attend, serve, relieve, succour, benefit, befriend, abet
• Hide  — conceal, cover, mask, cloak, camouflage, screen, shroud, veil
• Hurry  — rush, run, speed, race, hasten, urge, accelerate, bustle
• Hurt  — damage, harm, injure, wound, distress, afflict, pain
• Idea  — thought, concept, conception, notion, understanding, opinion, plan, view, belief
• Important  — necessary, vital, critical, indispensable, valuable, essential, significant, primary, principal, considerable, famous, distinguished, notable, well-known
• Interesting  — fascinating, engaging, sharp, keen, bright, intelligent, animated, spirited, attractive, inviting, intriguing, provocative, though-provoking, challenging, inspiring, involving, moving, titillating, tantalising, exciting, entertaining, piquant, lively, racy, spicy, engrossing, absorbing, consuming, gripping, arresting, enthralling, spellbinding, curious, captivating, enchanting, bewitching, appealing
• Keep  — hold, retain, withhold, preserve, maintain, sustain, support
• Kill  — slay, execute, assassinate, murder, destroy, cancel, abolish
• Lazy  — indolent, slothful, idle, inactive, sluggish
• Little  — tiny, small, diminutive, shrimp, runt, miniature, puny, exiguous, dinky, cramped, limited, itsy-bitsy, microscopic, slight, petite, minute
• Look  — gaze, see, glance, watch, survey, study, seek, search for, peek, peep, glimpse, stare, contemplate, examine, gape, ogle, scrutinise, inspect, leer, behold, observe, view, witness, perceive, spy, sight, discover, notice, recognise, peer, eye, gawk, peruse, explore
• Love  — like, admire, esteem, fancy, care for, cherish, adore, treasure, worship, appreciate, savour
• Make  — create, originate, invent, beget, form, construct, design, fabricate, manufacture, produce, build, develop, do, effect, execute, compose, perform, accomplish, earn, gain, obtain, acquire, get
• Mark  — label, tag, price, ticket, impress, effect, trace, imprint, stamp, brand, sign, note, heed, notice, designate
• Mischievous  — prankish, playful, naughty, roguish, waggish, impish, sportive
• Move  — plod, go, creep, crawl, inch, poke, drag, toddle, shuffle, trot, dawdle, walk, traipse, mosey, jog, plug, trudge, slump, lumber, trail, lag, run, sprint, trip, bound, hotfoot, high-tail, streak, stride, tear, breeze, whisk, rush, dash, dart, bolt, fling, scamper, scurry, skedaddle, scoot, scuttle, scramble, race, chase, hasten, hurry, hump, gallop, lope, accelerate, stir, budge, travel, wander, roam, journey, trek, ride, spin, slip, glide, slide, slither, coast, flow, sail, saunter, hobble, amble, stagger, paddle, slouch, prance, straggle, meander, perambulate, waddle, wobble, pace, swagger, promenade, lunge
• Moody  — temperamental, changeable, short-tempered, glum, morose, sullen, modish, irritable, testy, peevish, fretful, spiteful, sulky, touchy
• Neat  — clean, orderly, tidy, trim, dapper, natty, smart, elegant, well-organized, super, desirable, spruce, shipshape, well-kept, shapely
• New  — fresh, unique, original, unusual, novel, modern, current, recent
• Old  — feeble, frail, ancient, weak, aged, used, worn, dilapidated, ragged, faded, broken-down, former, old-fashioned, outmoded, passé, veteran, mature, venerable, primitive, traditional, archaic, conventional, customary, stale, musty, obsolete, extinct
• Part  — portion, share, piece, allotment, section, fraction, fragment
• Place  — space, area, spot, plot, region, location, situation, position, residence, dwelling, set, site, station, status, state
• Plan  — plot, scheme, design, draw, map, diagram, procedure, arrangement, intention, device, contrivance, method, way, blueprint
• Popular  — well-liked, approved, accepted, favourite, celebrated, common, current
• Predicament  — quandary, dilemma, pickle, problem, plight, spot, scrape, jam
• Put  — place, set, attach, establish, assign, keep, save, set aside, effect, achieve, do, build
• Quiet  — silent, still, soundless, mute, tranquil, peaceful, calm, restful
• Right  — correct, accurate, factual, true, good, just, honest, upright, lawful, moral, proper, suitable, apt, legal, fair
• Run  — race, speed, hurry, hasten, sprint, dash, rush, escape, elope, flee
• Scared  — afraid, frightened, alarmed, terrified, panicked, fearful, unnerved, insecure, timid, shy, skittish, jumpy, disquieted, worried, vexed, troubled, disturbed, horrified, terrorised, shocked, petrified, haunted, timorous, shrinking, tremulous, stupefied, paralyzed, stunned, apprehensive
• Show  — display, exhibit, present, note, point to, indicate, explain, reveal, prove, demonstrate, expose
• Slow  — unhurried, gradual, leisurely, late, behind, tedious, slack
• Stop  — cease, halt, stay, pause, discontinue, conclude, end, finish, quit
• Story  — tale, myth, legend, fable, yarn, account, narrative, chronicle, epic, sage, anecdote, record, memoir
• Strange  — odd, peculiar, unusual, unfamiliar, uncommon, queer, weird, outlandish, curious, unique, exclusive, irregular
• Take  — hold, catch, seize, grasp, win, capture, acquire, pick, choose, select, prefer, remove, steal, lift, rob, engage, bewitch, purchase, buy, retract, recall, assume, occupy, consume
• Tell  — disclose, reveal, show, expose, uncover, relate, narrate, inform, advise, explain, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, recount, repeat
• Think  — judge, deem, assume, believe, consider, contemplate, reflect, mediate
• Trouble  — distress, anguish, anxiety, worry, wretchedness, pain, danger, peril, disaster, grief, misfortune, difficulty, concern, pains, inconvenience, exertion, effort
• True  — accurate, right, proper, precise, exact, valid, genuine, real, actual, trusty, steady, loyal, dependable, sincere, staunch
• Ugly  — hideous, frightful, frightening, shocking, horrible, unpleasant, monstrous, terrifying, gross, grisly, ghastly, horrid, unsightly, plain, homely, evil, repulsive, repugnant, gruesome
• Unhappy  — miserable, uncomfortable, wretched, heart-broken, unfortunate, poor, downhearted, sorrowful, depressed, dejected, melancholy, glum, gloomy, dismal, discouraged, sad
• Use  — employ, utilise, exhaust, spend, expend, consume, exercise
• Wrong  — incorrect, inaccurate, mistaken, erroneous, improper, unsuitable

If you are looking for more resources, you might like these posts:

• 17 Pretentious Words & What to Use Instead
• Persuasive Writing – Emotional vs Intellectual Words
• 106 Ways To Describe Sounds
• 75 Words That Describe Smells – A Resource For Writers
• 22 Common Nouns & What You Can Use Instead
• 16 Old Words for Young People
• 30 Filler Words To Cut Out Of Your Writing

28 thoughts on “Synonyms For 95 Commonly Used Words – A Mini-Thesaurus For Writers”

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.

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200+ Other Words For Said: Synonyms to Spice up Your Writing

General Education

One of the words that comes up most commonly in various types of writing, from fiction to academic writing, is the word “said.” Any time a writer is referencing the words or thoughts expressed by another person, whether that be thoughts expressed verbally or in writing, an appropriate way to introduce--or attribute--that person’s thoughts is with the phrase “said.” 

But if you’re incorporating a lot of quotations in your writing, you might find yourself repeating  the word “said” a lot. Repeating the same phrase in a piece of writing can start to feel monotonous, which is why incorporating synonyms or an oft-used word or phrase can make your writing more interesting and accurate. But here’s some good news: there are tons of other words for “said” out there for you to use! 

To help you build a repertoire of words to replace “said,” we’re going to do the following in this article: 

• Explain the importance of using word variety and avoiding repetition of the same word in your writing
• Explain when to use “said” and when not to use “said” 
• Provide a comprehensive list of alternative words for “said,” organized into categories based on emotion and intention

Ready to check out some synonyms for “said”? Then let’s get going!

Other Words for Said 

To give you the most comprehensive and easy-to-navigate list, we’ve organized our list into two main categories: first, we’re including several lists of other words for “said” by emotion , and second, we’re including several lists of different words for “said” by intention or action . You can decide what meaning you’re trying to express in your writing, and use our lists accordingly!

Happy Words to Use Instead of “Said”

We’re going to kick off our list by giving you a lot of other words for “said” by emotion, starting with synonyms for “said” that convey a happy, joyful, or positive tone. 

Sad Words to Use Instead of “Said” 

Sadness is a common emotion expressed in writing--let’s look at a few synonyms for “said” that convey sadness. 

Angry Words to Replace “Said”

There are a ton of synonyms for “said” that express anger, and we’ve included several of them for you here. 

Different Words for “Said” That Express Shock or Surprise

When you want to communicate a tone of shock or surprise in your writing, try using these synonyms for “said”! 

Other Words for “Said” That Express Fear

The last emotion it might be helpful to be able to express accurately and vividly in your writing is fear. Here’s a list of synonyms for “said” that you can use to demonstrate a feeling of fear. 

Words to Replace “Said” That Are Expository

If you’re working with a quote in which the speaker is clarifying information or explaining something, you can try out these words instead of “said”!

Other Words for “Said” That Are Argumentative

When you incorporate quotes or dialogue that make an argument, use these synonyms for “said” in your attributions.

Words to Use Instead of “Said” That Are Critical 

If a speaker in a quote or piece of dialogue is forming a critique, incorporate one of these different words for “said” in your attribution.

Words to Use Instead of “Said” That Are Implicative

Try using these alternative words for “said” that imply meaning. 

Words to Replace “Said” That Seek Information

Sometimes you need to include an attribution that shows a speaker is searching for information. These synonyms for “said” can help you establish a tone of inquisitiveness!

Words to Replace “Said” That Reveal Information

Finally, if you need a word other than “said” that reveals information, try out the options in the list below. 

When to Use Different Words for “Said” in Your Writing...And When Not To

In most cases, deciding when to use words other than “said” in your writing is up to your discretion. But there are actually some situations when it’s correct to use “said” exclusively to attribute a piece of dialogue or a quote in your writing . This depends on the type of writing, so we’re going to break down the situations when you should definitely use “said” here!

The first situation where you can expect to see writers exclusively using “said” is in any type of writing that relies on AP Style . “AP” stands for “Associated Press,” and this set of style guidelines is the standard for journalistic writing. This includes writing for newspapers, magazines, and public relations in the United States. AP Style provides a lot of rules about grammar, spelling, punctuation, and language use, and using “said” for quote attribution is one of those rules.

Impartiality and objectivity are two values that are extremely important in journalistic writing. Unlike many synonyms for “said,” which reveal a speaker’s feelings, attitude, or intentions, “said” doesn’t try to interpret the feelings, attitude, or intentions of the speaker. “Said” just states factual information: the words in the quote were spoken by a person or group of people . Using “said” allows the journalist to remain impartial and objective about the information, and it also lets readers interpret the meaning of quoted material on their own. 

Technical Writing

While not exactly a rule, using “said” is an unspoken expectation for quote attribution in technical writing. Technical writing is a style of writing used in business environments and some scientific fields, like engineering . It’s important for this style of writing to be clear, specific, and, in most cases, concise. In fact, readers of technical writing appreciate a writer’s ability to communicate directly and plainly by using short, direct words. That’s why “said” is the best choice for introducing quotes or paraphrases in technical writing: it’s clear, specific, and concise. 

Creative Writing 

Creative writing is a third situation that might require you to think strategically about when to use “said.” In creative writing--like fiction, for instance--when and how often to use “said” is pretty much up for debate. There are a lot of synonyms for “said” that you can use to convey the emotions or intentions of a character in dialogue, but you don’t necessarily have to use some flowery synonym for “said” every time you include a piece of dialogue in creative writing. In fact, sometimes it’s okay to strategically omit attributions altogether. 

Here’s one example of a way to present dialogue in creative writing that doesn’t overuse attributions: 

“I suppose I didn’t see the point.” Paige shook her head. “It’s not like you would’ve let me go if I’d told you ahead of time.” 

“That’s really selfish, Paige.” 

Even without attributions for every piece of dialogue in the example above, you can still get an idea of how the characters feel and what their intentions are through the dialogue beats (“She crossed her arms angrily,” and, “Paige shook her head”) . Alternatively, dialogue attributions in creative writing are another place where word variety is important. Your attributions are a great way for you to add emotion and imagery to your work. That means sometimes you might simply use “said,” sometimes you might use a more expressive synonym for “said,” and other times you might forego attributions altogether.

Academic Writing

One final writing situation where you’ll find yourself needing to make decisions about when to use “said” is academic, research-based writing. In academic writing, it’s important to be clear about who you are quoting and to provide adequate context for the quote you include. For example, if the scholar you’re quoting is making an argument in the quote you include, it would be more accurate to say, “Dr. Garcia argued” or “Dr. Garcia claimed,” instead of “Dr. Garcia said .” Using a quote attribution that gives your reader a clearer sense of the speaker or writer’s purpose and tone. 

3 Reasons Why Word Variety Is Important in Writing

Word variety is important to any type of writing for three main reasons: using a variety of words can make your writing more engaging, more accurate, and more expressive .

First, using a variety of words can make your writing more engaging and interesting for the people who are reading it. In some types of writing, like poetry , repetition is used as a strategic stylistic device. In lots of cases, though, writers repeat the same word because they don’t know its synonyms. After a while, readers might feel a bit exhausted by repetitiveness in a piece of writing. That’s one reason why knowing and using synonyms for commonly repeated words is so important!

Second, word variety can make your writing more accurate. For example, while “said” is always going to accurately describe a piece of dialogue or a quote from an outside source, there are words to use instead of “said” that can reveal the intention behind dialogue or the information conveyed in a quote . 

Let’s say you incorporate a quote where the author is disagreeing with a point made by a scholar. Sure, you could introduce that quote with, “Dr. Smith said.” But you could be more accurate by introducing the quote with a word that indicates that the quote is going to express disagreement, like, “Dr. Smith countered ” or “Dr. Smith responded .” 

Finally, your writing is expressive and vivid when you avoid repetition . When your word choice reflects the emotions or tone expressed by a quote or piece of dialogue that you include in your writing, your readers can get a better sense of your intended meaning. Using synonyms for “said” to create tone and imagery in your writing can help readers better understand your position and make them more willing to buy into your ideas. 

What’s Next? 

If you’re studying for the verbal portion of your SAT or ACT, we’ve got you covered. Here are our expert guides to the verbal portions of the SAT and ACT , and we even have tips and tricks to help you tackle the essay sections ! These are just a few of the tons (and tons!) of resources we have, so be sure to check out our blog for more information.

This cheat sheet for ways to say “said” can be really helpful if you’re starting to write your college admissions essays . Learn how to start your essay off perfectly , and make sure you know the biggest mistakes you should avoid , too.

If you’re using this guide to help you write creatively, you might be a great fit for a creative writing degree ! Here’s a guide to the best creative writing colleges and programs in the United States. 

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Descriptive Words List: 400 Words to Make Your Writing Pop

Describing words or adjectives bolster the detail of your writing by modifying the language. Our descriptive words list will help you engage your readers.

Using descriptive words will help you better include your reader in your narrative. They fill in the gaps and change a sentence from merely informative to captivating.

Descriptive words are adjectives which modify nouns and pronouns, or adverbs, which describe verbs, adjectives and other adverbs. Identifying and using these will help you write stronger pieces and descriptive essays. Our descriptive word list is a good place to start. It also pairs nicely with our list of mood words .

What is the Purpose of Describing Words? 

Common endings for adjectives, example sentences using adverbs, what are some good descriptive words, what words describe movement.

Descriptive words  take writing from boring to engaging. Consider this sentence:

• She swam across the water.

While this tells you what is happening, it has little to help you imagine the scene. If you add some adjectives and adverbs and transform the statement into this:

• She swam speedily across the choppy water.

Now you have a better picture of what happened. In order to transform your writing in this way, you need a number of descriptive words at the ready, and this list of descriptive words will help.

List of Adjectives in English

Adjectives are the most common type of descriptive words, so first, we will look at these. These words describe features like shape, texture, color, and size. They help differentiate between items in a group by calling out distinguishing features.

In  English  grammar, you can use the following to describe nouns and pronouns:

• Adventurous
• Accomplished
• Comfortable
• Embellished
• Enthusiastic
• Everlasting
• Fashionable
• Intelligent
• Quarrelsome
• Questionable
• Thoughtless
• Uninterested

This list is not exhaustive, and there are many synonyms and other words that could be added. In addition, all colors are considered adjectives and describing words . Nationalities, like American or English, can also fit this list.

As you work on creating descriptive writing, get used to using these and similar words. You might also find our list of pronouns useful.

Example Sentences Using Adjectives

To better understand how adjectives look in sentences, consider these examples:

• The fuzzy red fox jumped over the tall fence. (red, tall)
• We like to visit the beautiful forest (beautiful)
• The garden shed feels damp this morning. (garden, damp)
• The trip to Disney World was magical. (Magical)
• The beautiful bird sat on the rough branch and sang. (beautiful, rough)
• The woman is short, but her husband is tall. (short, tall)
• I prefer cold climates. (cold)
• The luxurious hotel included soft robes for each guest. (luxurious, soft, each)

Because listing all adjectives in the English language is impossible, knowing their endings is helpful, especially for ESL language learners. Some of the common endings for adjectives include:

If you see a word ending in one of these, and you know it isn’t a noun, chances are high it is an adjective.

List of Adverbs in English

The English language also uses adverbs to describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. These descriptive words show intensity, number, and extent. They often end in -ly.

• Accidentally
• Aggressively
• Apathetically
• Assertively
• Astronomically
• Beautifully
• Begrudgingly
• Deceivingly
• Deliberately
• Differently
• Dramatically
• Emotionally
• Exceptionally
• Frightfully
• Frenetically
• Frivolously
• Hysterically
• Inquisitively
• Intelligently
• Impressively
• Ludicrously
• Methodically
• Mysteriously
• Neglectfully
• Obnoxiously
• Occasionally
• Pointlessly
• Significantly
• Splendidly 
• Substantially
• Technically
• Unexpectedly
• Victoriously
• Vivaciously
• Voluntarily

Again, this is not an exhaustive list. As you learn to identify adverbs or use them in your writing, look for words that describe verbs and other descriptive words that end in -ly.

Editing tip: Sometimes, adverbs can also serve as filler words that you can remove or use to slow down or speed up a piece.

To better understand how adverbs show up in sentences as descriptive words, consider these examples:

• The electric car drove so quietly we didn’t hear it coming. 
• My dog barked angrily at the intruder.
• The girls sang beautifully .
• He swam across the pool quickly .
• The box is surprisingly heavy for its size.
• The toddler walked very carefully across the slippery floor.
• Language learning is incredibly easy for some studentsand incredibly hard for others.

Like this? Check out our list of sensory words .

FAQs on Descriptive Words List

Descriptive words are words that make something easier to identify by describing its characteristics. Some good words that fit this include: Bright Adventurous Jovial Charming Peaceful

Some descriptive words describe the movement of an object. These include: Swiftly Fluidly Gracefully Smoothly Disjointedly

Creative Writing Words

Words related to creative writing.

Below is a list of creative writing words - that is, words related to creative writing. The top 4 are: poetry , screenwriting , journalistic and playwright . You can get the definition(s) of a word in the list below by tapping the question-mark icon next to it. The words at the top of the list are the ones most associated with creative writing, and as you go down the relatedness becomes more slight. By default, the words are sorted by relevance/relatedness, but you can also get the most common creative writing terms by using the menu below, and there's also the option to sort the words alphabetically so you can get creative writing words starting with a particular letter. You can also filter the word list so it only shows words that are also related to another word of your choosing. So for example, you could enter "poetry" and click "filter", and it'd give you words that are related to creative writing and poetry.

You can highlight the terms by the frequency with which they occur in the written English language using the menu below. The frequency data is extracted from the English Wikipedia corpus, and updated regularly. If you just care about the words' direct semantic similarity to creative writing, then there's probably no need for this.

There are already a bunch of websites on the net that help you find synonyms for various words, but only a handful that help you find related , or even loosely associated words. So although you might see some synonyms of creative writing in the list below, many of the words below will have other relationships with creative writing - you could see a word with the exact opposite meaning in the word list, for example. So it's the sort of list that would be useful for helping you build a creative writing vocabulary list, or just a general creative writing word list for whatever purpose, but it's not necessarily going to be useful if you're looking for words that mean the same thing as creative writing (though it still might be handy for that).

If you're looking for names related to creative writing (e.g. business names, or pet names), this page might help you come up with ideas. The results below obviously aren't all going to be applicable for the actual name of your pet/blog/startup/etc., but hopefully they get your mind working and help you see the links between various concepts. If your pet/blog/etc. has something to do with creative writing, then it's obviously a good idea to use concepts or words to do with creative writing.

If you don't find what you're looking for in the list below, or if there's some sort of bug and it's not displaying creative writing related words, please send me feedback using this page. Thanks for using the site - I hope it is useful to you! 🕸

• screenwriting
• journalistic
• originality
• professional writing
• short stories
• composition
• feature story
• non-fiction
• academic writing
• horror fiction
• technical writing
• crime fiction
• literary genre
• k–12 education
• lou l. labrant
• master of arts
• writer's block
• university of east anglia
• angus wilson
• malcolm bradbury
• bachelor of fine arts
• problem-solving
• master of fine arts
• narrative structure
• writing workshop
• plot generator
• literary technique
• michael chabon
• kevin brockmeier
• kazuo ishiguro
• karl kirchwey
• david benioff
• rose tremain
• peter farrelly
• darren star
• united kingdom
• english studies
• louis menand

That's about all the creative writing related words we've got! I hope this list of creative writing terms was useful to you in some way or another. The words down here at the bottom of the list will be in some way associated with creative writing, but perhaps tenuously (if you've currenly got it sorted by relevance, that is). If you have any feedback for the site, please share it here , but please note this is only a hobby project, so I may not be able to make regular updates to the site. Have a nice day! 🐴

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Say it Better: Using Synonyms as a Writer

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.

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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.  

1. Observe and Replace

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. 

2. Gauge Word Fit Based on Context

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.

3. Maintain a Record of New words You Encounter

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.

4. Enhance your writing style with Euphemisms

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.  

5. Use Idioms to Spice It Up

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:

6. Be Precise

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.

7. Avoid the use of “very.”

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:

8. D evelop a love for stories and creative pieces.

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.

9. Take vocabulary quizzes.

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

10. Offer to edit other people’s work

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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Advertisement

• creative thought

noun as in imagination

Strongest matches

• inspiration
• intelligence
• inventiveness
• originality
• resourcefulness

Strong matches

• fabrication
• perceptibility
• realization
• supposition
• thoughtfulness
• visualization

Weak matches

• flight of fancy
• mental agility

noun as in imaginativeness

Example Sentences

Show me one of our young artists who can stand like Fudo in the flame of his own creative thought!

Creative thought has manifested itself in images, in music, which is to sound what the concrete image is to sight.

For these mighty and noble contributions, his name will be inscribed in imperishable letters in the history of creative thought.

Physical life in this sphere may be treated as a means; but it must also be dealt with 'in harmony with the creative Thought.'

Her poetic imagination and creative thought were inexhaustible treasures.

Related Words

Words related to creative thought are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word creative thought . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

noun as in power to create in one's mind

On this page you'll find 102 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to creative thought, such as: artistry, awareness, fancy, fantasy, idea, and image.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

KathySteinemann.com: Free Resources for Writers

Word lists, cheat sheets, and sometimes irreverent reviews of writing rules. kathy steinemann is the author of the writer's lexicon series..

Ways to Say “Laughed” or “Smiled”: A Word List for Writers

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

Discover more from KathySteinemann.com: Free Resources for Writers

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15 thoughts on “ Ways to Say “Laughed” or “Smiled”: A Word List for Writers ”

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”.

Writing Creatively to Make Sense of the Times We Live In

Journalist katrin schumann talks about why she writes fiction..

Updated July 12, 2024 | Reviewed by Davia Sills

• Studies show that the act of all kinds of writing hones our reflective abilities.
• Creative writing stretches our imagination, increases emotional resilience, and alleviates stress.
• Writers of nonfiction examine complex issues that are relevant to our times.
• Novelists examine the issues using characters as a vehicle for empathy.

Studies show that the act of writing hones our reflective abilities, stretches our imagination , increases emotional resilience , and alleviates stress . In my conversation with journalist-turned-novelist Katrin Schumann, we discuss how creative writing, in particular, is a worthy pursuit to understand the issues of our time. Schumann is the author of the nonfiction books Mothers Need Time Outs Too and The Secret Life of Middle Children, as well as the novels The Forgotten Hours and This Terrible Beauty .

You’re a trained journalist and the author of nonfiction books. Why, in the last few years, have you focused on writing fiction?

Writing nonfiction has been a way for me to examine complex issues that are relevant to our times, including psychological ones, but I’ve found that in recent years, I’ve been drawn to fiction because it allows me to get closer to the subject. In exploring thorny issues like loyalty and trust or co-dependency , I’m able to do more of a deep dive in fiction. The form allows me to sit with the complexities, to live in the gray areas with my characters.

I can’t always do this with nonfiction, where I’m approaching the topic from a specific angle, seeking solutions. In fiction, I have space to explore nuances that fascinate and confuse me and try to make sense of the inevitable contradictions. It’s messier and more delicate than nonfiction. For me, this feels more true to the human experience.

All writing involves deep reflection. Do you find the act of writing fiction to be a different kind of therapy?

Yes. Spending years creating characters and situations that grapple with serious, real-world problems lets me explore my own difficult experiences. For instance, I’d been wrestling with the aftermath of dealing with a narcissist when I started writing my first novel. By fictionalizing those challenges, I was able to find the courage to linger in the dark areas, examining them from all angles in order to find where the light might get in.

I discovered greater empathy and resilience in myself while also being able to acknowledge the trauma I’d been through. It’s using my imagination, combined with researching some very real and current psychological challenges, that ultimately feels most powerful to me and an effective way to reach readers.

How does fictionalizing the story give you more latitude or depth in exploring topics? You write about things like self-reliance and depression, and I’m wondering why not just write articles about it.

I write to figure out my own issues and to learn, but also to share. For me, fiction writing makes me work harder and go deeper. I’m trying to change people’s minds and hearts in subtler ways. I’m reflecting on experiences I’ve had, wrestling with what they mean, and how we can all learn from them and come out the better for it.

Yet, I don’t want to be prescriptive; I want people to draw their own conclusions. I research deeply about whatever topic I’m tackling.

To write my last novel, I studied the history of neuropsychology, dissecting studies on substance abuse . I conducted interviews. For all my books, I gather and study facts and figures, but with novels, I take that a step further. I put those facts and figures into play with my imagined characters to explore what happens. I imbue the impersonal with empathy and allow readers to try to figure out how they feel about how the characters contend with the issue. This approach leads me to meaningful personal discoveries while also taking the reader along on the emotional journey.

How do you decide whether to approach a topic in a nonfiction book or in a novel?

The more I’m personally involved with the topic, the more I want to explore it in fictional form. Ironically, for fiction, I feel like I should have an even better understanding of some of these psychological challenges than if I were covering them through straight nonfiction reportage. I first have to understand the topic and its history so my story is not only realistic but feels authentic.

I want readers to trust me, which means I have to be thorough. It’s my aim to take them on a ride that’s compelling as well as informative. And I love learning something new when I’m immersed in researching and writing fiction.

If writing fiction is about wrestling with your own demons, why not simply journal?

Journaling is, without question, a beneficial reflective activity. Yet what differentiates this kind of work from journaling about our problems or writing blog posts is that novelists are committing more time and energy to the deep dive on a specific topic. My last novel took almost three years to write, and during that time, I was reading everything I could get my hands on about the topic in order to distill it so that readers might find it relevant to their own lives.

At that stage, it’s not really about me anymore; it’s about the human condition. And in the end, that’s what readers relate to, I think. It’s what makes them call their friends and say, “I just finished this great book. You’ve got to read it.”

More about Katrin Schumann 's work

Lynne Griffin, R.N., M.Ed. , researches family life and is a novelist.

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Remembering Jack Driscoll

One of two founding instructors of Interlochen’s Creative Writing Division, Driscoll established many of the division’s enduring traditions and nurtured the talents of thousands of young writers.

Driscoll in 1979.

Jack Driscoll (center) teaches a creative writing class during the 1978-79 school year.

Driscoll (second from right) introduces visiting writer Robert Bly (far right) during the 1975-76 academic year.

Driscoll (center) and his workshop students pose on the Writing House balcony during the 2007-08 academic year.

Driscoll (left) chats with a creative writing student following a reading during the 2009 Camp season.

Driscoll leads a reading and master class for Intermediate creative writing students during the summer of 2011.

Interlochen is deeply saddened to share that longtime Interlochen Arts Academy Instructor of Creative Writing John F. “Jack” Driscoll (IAA Fac 75-08) passed away on June 25, 2024. He was 78.

“Jack was a transformative teacher and a father figure to so many of us," said Interim Director of Creative Writing Brittany Cavallaro , who studied with Driscoll at Interlochen Arts Academy from 2002-2004. "Whether he was writing five-page single-spaced critique letters for student stories (each with their own specific clip-art), singing “Why Must I Be A Teenager in Love” at Writing House karaoke while we groaned and laughed and covered our eyes, telling possibly apocryphal stories about his adventures with Creative Writing instructor Mike Delp, or sitting in his office (with Rosanne Cash on in the background) while he gave us kind and thoughtful advice on poetry and life and how to be a person, he was a constant, brilliant presence in our lives. He was so proud of his students, and so generous with his praise. I am unbelievably lucky to have had him in my life and to teach in the creative writing department he founded. I can’t begin to describe the impact he’s had on the lives of decades of his Interlochen students.”

Raised on the East Coast, Driscoll discovered his passion for writing at an early age. He studied creative writing at Windham College in Vermont with novelist and short story writer John Irving—whom Driscoll credited as a pivotal influence on his career, writing, and teaching style.

In 1975, Driscoll—then a 29-year-old construction worker—applied on a whim for a teaching role in Interlochen Arts Academy’s soon-to-be-launched Creative Writing Division. Driscoll was offered the position, and became one of the Division’s two inaugural instructors.

“I knew absolutely nothing, and I am still amazed they hired me,” Driscoll said in a 2022 interview with the Lansing City Pulse .

Driscoll made an immediate impact on both the direction of the Creative Writing Division and the young writers of Interlochen Arts Academy. In 1976, he established the Academy’s in-house art and literary journal, The Interlochen Review , and received one of three awards from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards honoring the educators who submitted the most outstanding group of student entries. Driscoll and former Director of Creative Writing Loretta Sharp earned the prize so many times that, in 1977, Scholastic changed the rules to allow a teacher to be eligible for the award only once every five years. He also initiated the Academy’s robust Visiting Writers Series, which has welcomed high-profile guests such as Jim Harrison , Robert Bly, Karen Russell , Ross Gay , and Adrian Matejka , among many others.

Although Driscoll initially assumed Interlochen would be a temporary stopover on his way to his next position, he quickly came to believe that Interlochen was the place he was always meant to be.

“[Interlochen] has been a centering for me, a place and a source, a wellspring of energy,” Driscoll said in a 2005 Crescendo article. “This is where I discovered myself as a writer and as a teacher."

Interlochen was also the place where Driscoll found the love of his life: The late Interlochen Arts Academy Liberal Arts Instructor Lois (Larson) Driscoll (IAA Fac 71-11) . The duo shared a passion for reading, and Lois served for many years as Jack’s primary reader and editor.

As an instructor, Driscoll instilled a love for poetry in his students and would frequently recite aloud from pieces he’d memorized. He also sprinkled his classes with advice for students who wanted to pursue a career in writing: “Talent will take you so far, but the thing that ultimately has to rise up to meet it is hard work.”

Inspired by the influence of his own mentor, Driscoll sought to provide the young writers of Interlochen with the encouragement and support that his younger self had craved.

“I hope that I've been inspirational in the classroom, and nurturing to [apprentice] writers in ways nobody was to me,” he told Crescendo in 2005. “I try to teach as honorably as I can."

Lesley Alicia Tye (IAA 90-93) , an instructor of Creative Writing and Film & New Media at Interlochen Arts Academy, fondly recalled Driscoll’s guidance in a 2018 faculty feature.

“Jack Driscoll was incredibly influential because he treated me like a writer, not just a student,” Tye said. “He was willing to have the difficult conversations with me about my work. His feedback was honest and nurturing and constructive.”

Driscoll reserved a separate bookshelf in his home for books written by his former students, and frequently said he was prouder of his students’ works than he was of his own. In a 2016 interview with The Interlochen Review , Driscoll shared that he would trade the rest of his extensive book collection for the contents of that shelf.

Jack Driscoll (seated, center) poses with former Interlochen Arts Academy students and faculty after the Aug. 27, 2023 reading of his latest book, "Twenty Stories," at The Alluvion in Traverse City. Standing L-R: Doug Stanton, Teresa Scollon, Anne-Marie Oomen, Michael Delp, Nick Bozanic, Steve Tavener, and Tim Wade. Seated L-R: Brittany Cavallaro, Jack Driscoll, and Lesley Tye.

Beyond his role as a teacher, Driscoll maintained an active career as a poet, novelist, and short story writer. Driscoll authored 12 books, including four novels, four books of poetry, and several short story collections. His debut novel, Lucky Man, Lucky Woman , won the 1998 Pushcart Editors’ Book Award and the 1999 Independent Book Publishers Award for Fiction. His 2017 story collection The Goat Fish and the Lover’s Knot was a winner of the Michigan Notable Book Award and was a finalist for the John D. Gardner Short Fiction Prize. Other accolades include two NEA Creative Writing Fellowships, two Pushcart Prizes, the PEN/Nelson Algren Fiction Award, and seven PEN Syndicated Short Fiction Awards.

After retiring from his role at Interlochen, Driscoll remained connected to the institution. He frequently returned to campus for readings, master classes, and as an artist-in-residence.

Following his wife’s death in 2021, Driscoll returned to his hometown of Mystic, Connecticut, and began teaching in Pacific University’s M.F.A. program.

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Dave Bayley of Glass Animals reflects on struggles that came after "Heat Waves" success, creative journey for new album

By Anthony Mason , Analisa Novak

July 19, 2024 / 10:12 AM EDT / CBS News

Dave Bayley, lead singer of Glass Animals, recently walked down Beck Road in East London, a place filled with memories. It was there, during the peak of the pandemic, that Bayley filmed the music video for the band's hit song "Heat Waves."

Neighbors in lockdown participated by filming from their windows, helping to create a video that now boasts over 720 million views on YouTube and more than 3 billion streams on Spotify.

"It's a sweet little street," Bayley said.

The success of "Heat Waves" catapulted Glass Animals—Bayley, Joe Seaward, Edmund Irwin-Singer and Drew MacFarlane—into mainstream success.

"It was bonkers," said Bayley. "You're kind of clinging to the bottom of the rocket and it's taken you right up into space."

Fame brought awards, opportunities and a GRAMMY nomination, but Bayley said he struggled with success.

"I think I was trying to do so much that I stopped doing a lot of the things that grounded me," he said. "I had a big existential crisis."

Last year, Bayley secluded himself in a hilltop Airbnb in Los Angeles. He began to write extensively, letting inspiration take hold.

"I started kind of writing my way out of this hole," Bayley said.

He described it as "a vomit of information and words and melodies and chords."

From this, a new album about love and human connection emerged, set against a space theme. The new album, "I Love You So F***ing Much," is out now.

In his London studio, Bayley assembled a wall of synthesizers for the new record. He aimed to create a sound similar to a '70s space movie.

In a visit to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, Bayley's bandmates said there were some nerves about how to follow up the success of "Heat Waves." 

But once Bayley showed the rest of the group his galactic songs, Seaward said that fear vanished.

"How do you follow something like that? But that question was completely out the window as soon as we started," said Seaward.

Glass Animals is set to embark on a massive 44-date world tour called Human Music Group Sensations Glass Animals: TOUR OF EARTH. Starting in August in the U.S., the tour will take the band across North America, Europe, the UK, and Australia. They will be headlining the biggest venues of their career, including iconic locations like Madison Square Garden in New York and The O2 in London.

Bayley said the new album is deeply personal, which is something he previously struggled to crack with a cosmic-themed album.

"Every time I tried to do a space album, it never felt human," Bayley said. "It felt cold."

On the new Glass Animals album, Bayley found a way to bring humanity, connection, love, and heartbreak into a intergalactic setting. Though he finally got his space-themed record, Bayley said the vulnerability of it, especially in the shadow of "Heat Waves," brings some anxiety.

"It's like, parts of it are quite scary to me," he said. "It's like walking out naked with all your secrets written on your body, on your skin."

The willingness to get personal paid off. Seaward said from the moment he heard the songs for the first time, he could see clearly what was in store for Glass Animals' next chapter.

"It's kind of like Christmas Eve when Dave comes in and plays us songs. It's this moment where you're like … the next two or three years of my life is sort of unfolding before my eyes," Seaward said. "Luckily, so far they've always been incredibly exciting. But you kind of get this feeling like, wow."

Anthony Mason is a senior culture and senior national correspondent for CBS News. He has been a frequent contributor to "CBS Sunday Morning."

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