Last week I asked the writers in all the groups to jot down some words: words whose meaning appealed to them; words with good associations; words that sound pleasant when spoken out loud; words that feel good when rolled around on the tongue; words that just happened to pop into their minds in that moment, with pen in hand.
Here are some of the many words that came up.
This is a long read! Take your time. Read the list in order. Or jump around. Consider this: what words would you add to this list?
haiku today fluid gaggle meow honeycomb chickadee unglued amaryllis waves vibrant hedgehog lark mulch calendar popsicle gazette bluebird solitude cuss bodacious chocolate twilight iris gibberish marmalade stamina chewy ligularia chrysalis kindness luminous pyramid mango cowgirl azalea friend bold sanguine nonsensical forbearance buttercup compassion y'all bedtime birthday jalopy generous roiling wrinkle moonshine flexible howdy delicious serenity dill conundrum pumpernickel puddle magic owlet underpants reincarnate salacious hug sassy nosh perchance ribald juicy cherish rainbow cusp genie thrive alacrity mellifluous prolific delphinium heartbeat resilient inevitable lascivious ruse serendipity raunchy contentment trickle formidable
jocular rhubarb heretofore hiccup seashell yammer penmanship coffee surreal recycle guffaw paranormal water ancient jumble tidbits generous chronometer charismatic laugh juxtaposition frowzy family listen carousel dare omnivore scandal magpie hallelujah whisper iridescent daydream illuminate precipitous raspberry kawaii quench puppies hilarity limning bicycle cupcake peace chickpeas calendula balance persnickety bud papaya galoshes Buddha plotz tango solace passion reverie onomatopoeia infinite scrumdidleeumptious cuddle dreamscape stretch murmur hootenanny squishy enigmatic calypso impeccable mosaic shinola balsamic pineapple karaoke superfluous souffle caramel peony Crocs vagina elf oy Amazonian fantasy schmutz seabreeze capricious shitake rambunctious trellis bumbershoot undulate whirligig caterwaul exhale eccentricity verdant ambidextrous loquacious auspicious clairvoyant toe bristle circle wizardry wishbone flagrant mellow universe spritz dormant root pure hapless slippery mindful bonafide extravagant celestial flippant buttons forgiveness sultry horticulture firelight jolly tacky doodle welcome birdsong unfathomable foodie splendiferous accessorize wordlessness
Contributors (thank you all!):
Barbara Cartwright, Blue Waters, Deirdre Silverman, Donna DiCostanzo, Gabrielle Vehar, Grace Celeste, Hannah Utter, Jim Mazza, Linda Keeler, Liz Burns, Louise Vignaux, Mike Schaff, Molly Sutton, Nancy Gabriel, Nancy Osborn, Nina Miller, Priscilla Walker, Rob Sullivan, Sara Robbins, Stacey Murphy, Stacey Payette, Sue Crowley, Sue Perlgut, Susan Lesser, Yvonne Fisher, Zee Zahava