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[rowens]

I never start writing a poem unless I already know what I'm writing.

I know people say they use a dictionary or thesaurus, and it's a writer's best friend. But I think it's best not to use words unless I already know what they mean.

What do you think about it?

[Todd]

I use wikipedia and books for research. Outside of proofreading, I don't use a dictionary. I don't think I ever use a thesaurus. I mostly get the different words I need from reading a lot.

[Jagger Cyde]

I don't usually look up words or anything. I usually just think of a theme or message and kinda wing it for about 30 minutes.
Clearly, I'm not the ebst poet

[billy]

I never start writing a poem unless I already know what I'm writing.

I know people say they use a dictionary or thesaurus, and it's a writer's best friend. But I think it's best not to use words unless I already know what they mean.

What do you think about it?

that's more or less along the lines of what bukowski said he did with his stuff.
i always have a rhyming dictionary on hand for that sort of poem and they can also be good for internal rhymes. i use the dictionary for words i think i know and a thesaurus if i can't think up a substitute when i want to use the same word twice in a poem. using these tools also help expand the vocabulary. in the main no one uses words they don't know, they just use words they think they know and make mistakes (sometimes)

[Leanne]

I don't own a dictionary or thesaurus

Occasionally I'll look up the online thesaurus just to remind me of words but the selection has to be based on my own knowledge of how they're used in context. Like Todd, I find the best way to learn new words is to read widely.

[Card]

I use wikipedia and books for research. Outside of proofreading, I don't use a dictionary. I don't think I ever use a thesaurus. I mostly get the different words I need from reading a lot.

Same here! Also, I never hesitate to look up a word in a dictionary if I'm not sure if I've got the right meaning.

[Leanne]

Wikipedia!

A handy quick reference tool, so long as you always remember to corroborate whatever it says with a more reputable source.

[rowens]

I made a few Wikipedia pages one day. I made one for Sandor Mcnab. And they got rid of me.

[Leanne]

I used to run a competition with a few friends to see whose fake entry lasted the longest

[rowens]

They're quick over there.

And I truly spent years trying to find out who Sandor Mcnab was or is. People that have those quote books would always being saying "Sandor Mcnab says this", "Sandor Mcnab says that". And I said who the fuck is Sandor Mcnab. And back then the Internet wasn't around for us common people, so I wrote a story called "The Quest For Sandor Mcnab". And years later, I used that to make the Wiki page. It lasted all of 15 minutes.

[billy]

i think i have a good vocab, the dictionary and thesaurus i use are both on line. 99.9 times out of a 100 after a check, i see my word was the right usage for what i wanted.

[Todd]

Wikipedia!

A handy quick reference tool, so long as you always remember to corroborate whatever it says with a more reputable source.

No doubt. It can still be helpful for little facts books are still better. I use both a lot. Be sure to suggest some topic and then mess up the article for humor.

I tell you Andy Warhol build a giant robot to take over Kansas City.

My poem makes sense.

[Leanne]

don't be silly... it was Chicago

[Todd]

don't be silly... it was Chicago

Well it's Kansas City NOW by damnit

[rowens]

I think you mean Max's Kansas City.

[Leanne]

No, Max had a silver hammer.

Kansas City was built by munchkins.

[rowens]

If I go over the Deadly Desert, can I get to Australia?

[Leanne]

That's the long way, but much safer now that Mad Max has taken care of the Wheelers.

[rowens]

According to my Oz books, the Deadly Desert is in America. So I figured...

[Leanne]

It's not in America, it's of America -- and of course, that definition covers everything in the world, so it should work