When I am trying to spark my creative thinking due to feeling listless or when I am experiencing Creative Block I often take out my Scrabble Word-Finder and begin searching for words (often verbs) that might help. This can be done with any dictionary or spelling dictionary. I prefer the Scrabble Word-Finder or a Spelling Dictionary because they only have the words without all the definitions making it easier to scan through either of them.

First - Randomly flip through the book searching for words

Second - Make a list of 12

Third - Try to apply each word separately to your challenge to generate new ideas or new perspectives. You may simply play with the word to see what other words come to your mind then try to find links to your challenge or leaps from it.

This week I have chosen five letters to work with and a dozen words each to demonstrate the process. Look at each word and see if you can immediately apply it to your challenge to spark a new idea or perspective. If not think about the words one at a time to see what other words come to mind that then can be linked back to your challenge to cause leaps in your thinking.

Monday - R
rack - rack parts, rack...pool...add a gaming aspect to your challenge. reap
romp
regal
rattle
resale
raptor
respond
reduce
railway
rural
roadway

Tuesday - M
moat
manager
mother
meadow
mammal
Madonna
mercury
milkman
merger
minicab
medalist
minister

Wednesday - D
down
dirty
dampen
divert
deposit
decibel
darkness
downpour
dockhand
demons
deerskin
delegate

Thursday - H
half
hassle
hot dog
humble
hairpin
heirloom
hammock
herbs
humpback
highbred
hardware
hymnal

Friday - P
park
pass
pecan
parade
pound
pauper
partial
pinhole
painting
plaster
prose
playgirl

Best wishes for a creative week.

© 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 Robert Alan Black, Ph.D. CSP