Creative Writing Vocabulary Lists
Instructions: Write a story of your own creation using the vocabulary lists provided. Always use
synonyms based on vocabulary words provided unless the word has no synonym.
Requirements: These elements must appear and be followed strictly when submitting your story.












Computerized format: Font 12 with Times New Roman
350-450 words (Maximum)
Your name (left hand side of the page at the top).
Date of submission (right hand side of the page at the top).
Indicate below your name (skip a line), on the left hand side, the genre or genres that
you are using to frame your story.
You will have ten (10) vocabulary words and you must choose five (5) to tell your
story. You may use all ten words but they must have impact in the story
The list of vocabulary words with the synonyms you will be using to tell your story
must appear at the end of the document.
Find the synonyms in a thesaurus. Use the synonyms to tell your story.
Do not use the dictionary meanings/definitions of the vocabulary words in your story.
Do not use the examples you are given as phrases and insert them in the story.
Make sure you write out the definition of the vocabulary word you are using at the
end of your story.
Identify the synonyms in the story with italics or bold.
Finally, you must provide a word count of your story, which should appear below
your story on the right hand side.
You must, throughout the year, use all of the following genres at least once:
Drama/Action
Dear Diary
Romance
Dialogue/Monologue
Magazine/Newspaper Article
Science Fiction/Fantasy Fiction
Scoring of your creative writing stories is completed in the following fashion:
See attached rubric for scoring breakdown and parameters.
Suggestions and Advice for writing creatively
The value of a story is better served when you write a less creative piece of work with a storyline
that is cleaner and more cohesive. Avoid grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors because those
kinds of mistakes detract from the enjoyment of the story by the reader. Furthermore, mistakes
force the reader to work harder to decode the gist or what you are trying to say with your story. As a
consequence the marks for story cohesiveness tend to go down because the “sense” of the story is
lost in a jumble of separate meanings. Focus on getting the story “right” first then work on the
creative aspect. Write first, edit last. Do not edit while you are writing. Allow your story idea
to live by writing it down right away, with as little interruptions as possible.
1
There should a clearly defined beginning, middle and end to your stories.






Remember a short story can not normally have a well developed or clearly defined character
(s) so you must get right into the story immediately or immediately develop your character.
 Major characters are also known as: main characters, protagonists, or round
characters.
Short stories tend to have fewer characters in them so you must introduce characters
sparingly.
 Minor characters are also known as: secondary characters or flat characters.
The Beginning of your story should contain some or all of the following elements:
 An introduction to a character, either through some kind of physical description or by
the use of a narrator.
 Ex: He was an ugly guy—no one argued about that point.
 Introduce some kind of context or situation that involves the character.
 Ex: He woke up shivering, suddenly aware of the incredible wind blowing
over his face, and his heart leapt into his throat as he felt hands push him out
the door of the plane. “Oh, crap…,” he thought to himself.
 Introduce an idea, concept or musing by the character to the reader through voice.
 He wondered, vaguely, lying on his back staring at the sky, and floating far
away from the incredible pain, How fast had that baseball bat been moving
before it had hit him in the forehead?
The Middle of your story is a further development of the idea, concept, character, or
situation introduced in the beginning.
 The middle of the story is where the main action, development, or conflict takes place
 The middle of the story is also known as the ‘meat’ of the story. Give your reader
something to bite into (my apologies to any vegetarians---this is only a well-known
metaphor used for the purposes of explaining literature).
The End of the story is the conclusion or resolution of the conflict, situation, concept, or
idea that was introduced in the beginning, developed in the middle, and concluded at the end
(the end of the story---also known as the denouement).
Additional Advice on the most common problems in story telling:
 First, remember to break up your ideas into paragraphs. Each idea should get a separate
paragraph. You have to decide what your story is about beyond the genre you’re using;
what is the theme, the purpose of your story that will allow you to develop ideas that
achieve that result (i.e.: the purpose behind the writing of the story)
 Second, use periods more often to break up run-on sentences. Periods have the effect of
pacing a story. Run-on sentences are like someone who is out of breath and excited who
is trying to tell you something and all their words come out in a disjointed rush.
 Third, don’t tell the reader what the story is about; show them through action, metaphor,
imagery, dialogue (monologue), and the inner thoughts of the characters. The story
should be revealed through these elements. Take your time and allow characters to come
alive through their actions and expressions (both verbal and physical—on their face for
example)
 Example: Don’t say: He was a mean person because he didn’t help the old lady
up from the ground..
Say instead: Instead of helping the old lady up from the ground, he
looked at her with a sneer of disgust, and walked past the injured
woman.
2
Peer Editing/Writing
We will be doing peer editing and writing starting in the third term. I will be pairing up students to
compliment your strengths and weaknesses.

Some of the activities will include:
 Exchange stories with your fellow students and either writing the prequel or sequel of
their story.
 Peer editing each other’s work and then rewriting your own story.
 Literature circles, which will focus around groups of four of five students interpreting
stories, poems, newspaper articles, etc., and then sharing those interpretations with the
rest of the class.
 Or literature circles that will involve the entire class discussing and sharing
interpretations and thoughts on a text or a video on relevant social issues.
Vocabulary
Lists
1-100
3
Vocabulary (1-10)
Definitions
1) Infinite
Without end; unbounded.
2) Gibe
To speak reproachfully or sneeringly; to taunt; a jeer or a taunt.
3) Effrontery
Unwarranted boldness of manner; impudence; audacity.
4) Meticulous
Extremely careful of details; scrupulous.
5) Acerbate
To embitter, vex, irritate. To make bad tasting.
6) Capacious
Of large capacity; roomy; spacious.
7) Sordid
Dirty; wretched; squalid; gross; ignoble.
8) Arduous
Difficult; with great exertion or labour.
9) Hallowed
Sacred, holy.
10) Acclimate
To accustom or become accustomed to a new environment, situation
or conditions.
Vocabulary (11-20)
Definitions
1) Guttural
Rasping and gurgling; of the throat.
2) Deploy
To send out or station more widely; to extend or spread out.
3) Peculiar
Exclusive; significant of only one person or thing; odd or different.
4) Baneful
Harmful, ruinous; threatening danger.
5) Foible
A minor character weakness; a bland offense.
6) Opus
A work, especially one of significance in music, literature, etc.
7) Lupine
Wolf-like.
8) Pellucid
Clear; easily understood.
9) Ancillary
Of subordinate or auxiliary relationship.
10) Magnate
A person of considerable rank, prestige, influence, etc.
4
Vocabulary (21-30)
Definitions
1) Apposite
Suitable, fit, appropriate.
2) Jubilant
Full of triumphant joy; rejoicing.
3) Supplication
An humble request.
4) Penchant
A strong preference or liking.
5) Kiosk
A small, open booth or stand.
6) Apprehensive
Troubled, anxious, uneasy.
7) Ecology
The science of relationships between living things and their
environment.
8) Insular
Severely bounded; narrow minded.
9) Misnomer
An incorrect or inappropriate designation of someone or something.
10) Culinary
Relating to cooking.
Vocabulary (31-38)
Definitions
1) Rhetorical
Pertaining to the use of words artificially; said merely for effect
rather than information.
2) Awry
Turned aside; amiss; wrong.
3) Nonpareil
Without rival or equal.
4) Impeach
To discredit someone’s honour, character, etc.; to conduct a trial of a
public official for wrongdoing in office.
5) Canard
A deliberate untruth; a misleading report, so intended.
6) Candid
Frank; open; forthright; unbiased.
7) Catharsis
A purging or relieving of physical or emotional symptoms.
8) Catholic
All-inclusive; universal; widespread.
9) ---------10) Obsessed
Preoccupied; burdened in mind to the exclusion of other thoughts;
haunted.
5
Vocabulary (41-50)
Definitions
1) Quantum
An elemental unit of energy. A measurable amount; a sufficiency.
2) Quatrain
A verse or stanza of four lines.
3) Rabid
Extremely angry; raging; fanatical. Afflicted with the disease of
rabies.
4) Rankle
To irritate; to cause or have deep-seated, smoldering anger, dislike,
bitterness, etc.
5) Milieu
A social environment or setting.
6) Militate
To contend or operate against; to oppose.
7) Caucus
A private meeting of members of a group or party to decide policy,
select candidates, etc.
8) Mortify
To injure one’s pride or dignity. To employ fasting or other selfdenial for spiritual strengthening.
9) Nadir
Direct opposite of the highest point in space relative to the observer;
figuratively, the lowest point of anything.
10) Naïve
Simple and unaffected; artless; not sophisticated.
Vocabulary (51-60)
Definitions
1) Disconcerted
Confused; upset; distracted; not unified.
2) Waive
To relinquish; to forego; to not insist upon or claim; to temporarily
defer.
3) Subsistence
The means of maintaining a livelihood or existence, commonly, the
barest means; the act or fact of existing.
4) Wary
Cautious; watchful; suspecting and guarding against deception,
danger, etc.
5) Xerography
A quick reproduction process for printed matter, etc., using light and
electrostatic charging.
6) Tremulous
Shaking; trembling; timid; hesitant.
7) Zany
Funny; crazy; silly; one with such characteristics.
6
8) Jocund
Genial; cheerful; good natured.
9) Apathetic
Without emotion; indifferent.
10) Surcease
To be at an end; to leave off; an ending of or relief from.
Vocabulary (61-70)
Definitions
1) Maestro
One who conducts an orchestra or other music group; one
considered a master of his art.
2) Ravage
To destroy with violence; to commit such destruction. The ruin
resulting from violent attack.
3) Refute
To oppose with proof of the opposite; to prove false or wrong.
4) Miniscule
Very small; tiny.
5) Prudish
Extremely or affectedly modest.
6) Puissant
Mighty; forcible.
7) Annihilate
To utterly destroy; to completely wipe out or crush, as an enemy,
opponent, fortress, etc
8) Foist
To cause acceptance of something false by slyly representing it as
valid; to “palm off.”
9) Halyard
A rope or tackle used for hoisting sails, flags, etc.
10) Harangue
Blustering talk; long disconnected or boring speech; talk in such a
manner.
Vocabulary (71-80)
Definitions
1) Hegemony
Dominion, rulership---especially of one country or one ruler over
another.
2) Larcenous
Intending to commit theft; thieving.
3) Predatory
Hunting to kill and devour; living by vandalism.
4) Ultimatum
A final demand or proposal.
5) Tandem
Positioned one behind the other. A team of horses so harnessed or a
carriage drawn by such a team.
7
6) Vegetate
To become inactive and useless.
7) Axiomatic
Having obvious truth; self-evident.
8) Misconstrue
To interpret incorrectly.
9) Compatible
Agreeable; suitable; combining well; getting along well together.
10) Aggregate
A total or whole made up of distinct things. To gather into a mass
or body.
Vocabulary (81-90)
Definitions
1) Waggish
Frolicsome; comical; mischievously, humourous, slyly joking.
2) Benevolent
Disposed to do good; kind; charitable.
3) Bibliophile
One who loves books; an appreciative collector of books.
4) Bereft
Deprived of; stripped away; made destitute---especially with great
emotional significance.
5) Unconscionable
Unthinkably excessive; completely unreasonable; unguided or
unrestrained by conscience.
6) Quandary
Puzzlement; uncertainty; dilemma.
7) Narcissism
Love of oneself; obvious, pronounced self-esteem.
8) Impetuous
Acting hastily without due consideration.
9) Implacable
Not to be appeased, thwarted, dissuaded; relentless.
10) Abdicate
To formally give up a right or position.
Vocabulary (91-100)
Definitions
1) Quandom
Formerly; former.
2) Blasé
Bored with pleasure; over full and tired by excess of enjoyment.
3) Boisterous
Violent, turbulent; loudly exuberant.
4) Bombastic
Pompous; high sounding.
5) Cant
The specialized vocabulary of a certain occupation; argot; pretended
piousness in speech; to speak in such a manner.
8
6) Ursine
Like a bear; of great bulk and strength.
7) Knack
Ability to do something with ease; dexterity.
8) Dissertation
An elaborate speech; a formal presentation, spoken or written.
9) Bowdlerize
To delete personally offensive words or passages; expurgate.
10) Nascent
At the inception; beginning to emerge or grow.
Term 4
Vocabulary Lists
Vocabulary (101-110)
1)
Qualm
A misgiving; a doubt; a pang of conscience
2)
Unscathed
Unharmed; not injured.
3)
Brusque
Abrupt, curt, rough --- in speech or manner.
4)
Knell
An evil omen; to sound or portend ominously.
5)
Bucolic
Of the countryside; pastoral; rustic.
6)
Factious
That which produces division, dissension.
7)
Cabal
A group of people engaged in intrigue; a faction or junta
8)
Cache
A secret place for hiding supplies, food, etc…
9)
Cairn
A heap of stones marking some special site.
10)
Surfeit
Too much of something; overindulgence.
Vocabulary (111-120)
1)
Objurgate
To reprove or rebuke.
2)
Ecumenical
Universal; general; fostering unity.
3)
Apiary
A place where bees are kept and tended.
4)
Zealous
Very devoted and purposeful; fervent.
5)
Apocalyptic
Relating to a revelation; containing forsight.
9
6)
Apostasy
Abandonment of a faith or a dedication to basic beliefs.
7)
Auspices
Patronage; sponsorship; influence.
8)
Pantheism
The doctrine that all phenomena, forces, etc. of the whole universe are
God.
9)
Codicil
A supplementary statement, especially as in a will.
10) Eclectic
Chosen or selected from various sources; selective.
Vocabulary (121-130)
1) Horology
The science of time measurement.
2) Dissimulate
To mask or confuse by false appearance; feign; pretend.
3) Hortatory
That which exhorts or consists of advice.
4) Unkempt
Slovenly; not tidy.
5) Annular
Ring-shaped; forming a ring.
6) Pre-empt
To take the place of something else; to replace unexpectedly.
7) Obscure
Unclear; vague; not well known; hidden; dark.
8) Subtlety
A keen, crafty or skilful and delicate action or statement.
9) Huckster
A peddler; one who is loud, persistent, overbearing in selling.
10) Hysteria
Emotional excess.
Vocabulary (131-140)
1)
Hustings
The process of campaigning.
2)
Edify
To enlighten; to instruct; to increase awareness.
3)
Quagmire
Treacherously soft, miry, boggy ground.
4)
Hymeneal
Pertaining to marriage or weddings.
5)
Icon
A venerated stature or picture
10
6)
Idiom
Regional or class dialect; an individual style of expression which
characterizes a person.
7)
Append
To attach; add to.
8)
Idyllic
Simple and pleasing, especially in connection with rural and domestic
life.
9)
Jeremiad
A doleful speech or story; a woeful tale.
10) Rote
A fixed or inflexible way of doing something; memorization.
Vocabulary (141-150)
1)
Saccharine
Sugary; overly sweet; affectedly sweet in manner or expression.
2)
Impromptu
Without deliberation, preparation or forethought; unrehearsed.
3)
Quaff
To drink deeply with enjoyment; such a drinking.
4)
Scrutiny
A very intense examination; a lengthy of penetrating look.
5)
Saga
A long story of heroes and heroism.
6)
Scourge
To whip or otherwise punish severely. A whip or punishing device or
action.
7)
Kine
Cattle; cows.
8)
Timbre
The quality of sound that characterizes different voices or instruments.
9)
Dissipate
To disperse, scatter, make to disappear; to squander or waste.
10) Natal
Pertaining to one’s birth.
11