David Writing Tutor
... bringing the writing class to you
Word Banks
Word Banks are an excellent tool for writers.
They help you prepare for your writing and are a proven way to avoid “blank page syndrome.”
A Word Bank lets you collect words and short phrases about a subject and note them down. It’s like putting money in the bank: you save up ideas now and use them later when you need them.
You can use a Word Bank for character design, outlining scenes, describing places, or world-building. They’re also helpful when preparing blog posts and other online writing.
In the Word Banks I use in class, we start by choosing a subject.
Then there’s space for the first words that come to mind.
After that, you can add any additional thoughts, including words from a dictionary or thesaurus.
Finally, there’s space for any other creative ideas that writing the Word Bank has brought to mind. This might include writing a short verse or a haiku.
Here are a few subjects to get you started:
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Nature – summer, winter, forests, the sea, trees, flowers, butterflies, foxes
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Feelings – happy, sad, fear, joy, contempt, power, vulnerability
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Everyday life – travelling, work, sleep, food, family, holidays
I’ve included a couple of Word Bank examples from my journal to show how they work along with a free downloadable blank Word Bank Worksheet.
Completing Word Banks will keep your creative writing muscles nicely toned.
Enjoy your writing!
David
“Never be lost for words with a Word Bank.”
Downloadable Word Bank Worksheet
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