I have a powerful tool that vastly improves my creativity and the overall quality of my writing. No, it’s not the cut and paste feature in Microsoft Word. No, it’s not spell check either (though both of those are really helpful).

It’s the dictionary. When I’m stuck, I open the book (or if I’m away from my desk, I visit dictionary.com), plug in a key word related to the topic I’m working on, and poke around.

Sometimes I find a definition I wasn’t aware of, or a synonym that adds a new dimension of meaning; other times a word’s origins trigger an idea.

I suggest trying the dictionary the next time you need some inspiration. Worst case it will provide a few minutes of high-brow procrastination.