Antony West (Author)

When teaching creative writing, vocabulary is our currency. And as Alex Quigley explains in his work, we need to be deliberate about teaching it. Forget those dreary vocabulary lists. Instead, let’s make it fun. Create ‘word banks’ for different genres. A horror story needs ‘creeping,’ ‘whispering,’ and ‘chilling’ words. A fantasy story might need ‘majestic,’ ‘ancient,’ and ‘luminous.’ Make it a game. Get students to collect words they like, like a magpie collecting shiny things. By giving them the right words, we’re not just expanding their vocabulary; we’re expanding their ability to express themselves.