I have always loved certain words–for a word's evocation of memories, for the word’s texture or rhythm, or in some cases because the word tickled my funny bone.

Years ago I kept 3×5 cards on my desk and a marker alongside. When, during the course of the day, I came across one of those words--it grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go--I took the marker and printed it on a 3×5 card. Over the course of several months I had accumulated quite a nice little stack of fabulous words.

Whenever I had one of those awful moments–-keyboard at the ready, fingers poised to type and not a thought in the brain–-I’d pull out my cards and start flipping through them. My eye was sure to be captured by one of the words and I would start writing about it. No matter that the word and what I was writing had no relationship whatsoever to the real purpose to my writing; I got started, was in the flow and was past the initial inertia.

Maybe I'll do that again. Thanks to Barbara Klaser for reminding me of the Word Cards, long forgotten.