My thesaurus is akin to the array of spices in my
cabinet, the gravy on my mashed potatoes, or the drizzle of raspberry vinegarette
on my lettuce.
When I have
the meat of an essay, a hearty pile of information for an article, or a chunk
of an idea, I like to enhance the flavor with improved word choices. My
creative juices flow when I scan the pages of my well-worn manual. Like a chef
searching through a treasured cook book for the perfect recipe, I feel a sense
of satisfaction when I get the seasoning just right. I am proud to present the garnished
product for consumption.
Although a thesaurus is a serious writer's tool, I
sometimes use mine playfully to inspire my poetry. I fan through the book sort of like a child's cartoon flip book, front to back and then in reverse. I
like the feel of words breezing by. I stop randomly ten times and peruse the
copious salad of synonyms seasoned with sharp, spicy, pungent adjectives,
vigorous verbs, and knock your socks off nouns. I select an interesting word
from each page, toss them together, layer the stanzas, and dish up a poesy, a
sonnet, or a rhyme.
My thesaurus has proven to be a recipe for success. Sometimes I am surprised at what I cook up. Do
you use a thesaurus? Give this technique a try.