572 other terms for creative writing - words and phrases with similar meaning page 2.
Alternatively
Word lists, cheat sheets, and sometimes irreverent reviews of writing rules. kathy steinemann is the author of the writer's lexicon series..
(Discover even more words in The Writer’s Body Lexicon .)
First Impressions
Your first mental image when thinking about lips or mouths might be a passionate kiss. Percy Bysshe Shelley said, “Soul meets soul on lovers’ lips.” However, lips and mouths are more than kissing (or eating) machines. This post provides hundreds of ways to describe them in creative writing and poetry.
Emotion Beats and Physical Manifestations
The way people move their lips and mouths reflects overt or hidden emotions.
Pouting might indicate agitation, aggravation, confusion, contemplation, disapproval, disbelief, dislike, exasperation, flirtatiousness, impatience, irritability, nervousness, pessimism, resentment, sadness, skepticism, suspicion, wariness, worry, etc.
In fact, pouting can imply so many emotions that it’s probably best to consider alternative body language.
A few more emotions mirrored by lips and mouths include:
Adulation, arousal, flirtatiousness parted lips running tongue over one’s lips
Anticipation of a delicious snack or entrée smacking one’s lips watering/salivating mouth
Determination pressing one’s lips into a thin line
Dislike pressing one’s lips into a thin line
Fear bad taste in one’s mouth chewing on one’s lips clenched mouth dry mouth gaping mouth gulping huge mouthfuls of air licking one’s lips trembling lips
Impatience pinched lips
Repressed hatred pressing one’s lips into a thin line
Shyness pinched lips
Skepticism biting one’s lips
Stubbornness tight lips or mouth
Uncertainty forceful exhalation through pursed lips
If you need additional beats, consult a body language dictionary . (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Adjectives (1)
Adjectives such as haughty save words by telling about a character’s motives or personality . Use sparingly — although they function well in flash fiction or third-person omniscient point of view, and when you want to speed the pace.
Several adjectives, when describing lips, may suggest something different when describing mouths.
Provocative lips might indicate a seductive tone, but a provocative mouth might be aggravating.
Demanding lips evoke a sexual image, whereas a demanding mouth implies an overbearing character.
Generous lips might be large, or they might be yielding and responsive. Provide context if necessary.
Rather than modify lips or mouth , a number of the following words could refer to faces, expressions, or motivations.
Many skin attributes also perform well as lips and mouth descriptors.
A and B active, adulterous, adventurous, affectionate, aflame, aggressive, alluring, amorous, amorphous, ample, appealing, ardent, audacious, avid, awkward, barbarous, belligerent, bewitching, bitchy, bitter, bloody, bone-dry, bony, Botoxed, boyish, brash, brutal, busy
C cadaverous, callous, capable, capacious, careworn, carnivorous, caustic, cautious, cavernous, chaste, cheerful, cheery, childlike, clumsy, coarse, coherent, cold, complacent, conspicuous, contemptuous, corrugated, critical, crooked, cruel, crumpled, cynical
D and E dainty, dead, delectable, delicate, delicious, demanding, demure, desirous, desiccated, determined, devilish, disdainful, dispirited, disrespectful, dissatisfied, doll-like, dour, downcast, droll, dry, eager, effeminate, elastic, electric, eloquent, energetic, enigmatic, enthusiastic, evil, expectant, experienced, expressionless, expressive, exquisite
F and G fascinating, fevered, feverish, fine, firm, flaccid, flat, flawless, fleshy, flexible, flirtatious, foolish, forceful, formless, foul, fragile, fragrant, frigid, frothy, full, furrowed, furtive, generous, gentle, girlie, girlish, glassy, glib, glossy, gnomish, goofy, grave, greasy, greedy, grim, grotesque
H and I hard, haughty, heartless, heavy, helpless, heretical, hesitant, honeyed, hungry, icy, impassioned, impassive, impatient, imperious, impertinent, impetuous, implacable, impudent, incoherent, inflamed, inflexible, innocent, insatiable, inscrutable, insubstantial, intractable, inviolate, irreverent
J to M juicy, kissable, lax, leathery, lecherous, lewd, libelous, libidinous, licentious, lifeless, loathsome, loose, lopsided, lovable, luscious, lush, lustful, malicious, manly, masculine, masterful, meager, meaty, merciless, merry, mischievous, misshapen, moist, motionless, mute, mutinous
N to P narrow, nasty, naughty, nervous, numb, obstinate, oily, oversized, passionate, pathetic, pebbly, perfect, perfumed, petulant, pinched, piquant, playful, pliable, pliant, plump, practiced, prim, prodigious, profane, proficient, prominent, proud, provocative, puffy, pugnacious
Q and R querulous, randy, rapacious, ravenous, raw, relentless, reluctant, repulsive, resolute, responsive, restless, reticent, reverent, rigid, ripe, rough, rubbery, ruthless
S sacrilegious, sad, sarcastic, sardonic, sassy, satirical, saucy, savage, scabrous, scaly, scornful, scurrilous, seductive, sensitive, sensuous, serious, sexy , shapeless, shrunken, silent, silky, sinful, skillful, slack, slick, slippery, sloppy, smooth, soft, sore, sour, spicy, stained, starving, stern, sticky, stiff, stony, strong, stubborn, submissive, succulent, sulky, sullen, sultry, sunken, sweet, swollen
T and U talented, tense, tentative, thick, thin, thirsty, tight, timid, toothless, tough, traitorous, tremulous, truculent, ugly , uncertain, uncooperative, unrelenting, unresponsive, unsatisfied, unsmiling, unwilling, unyielding, upturned
V to Y vacuous, virgin, voluble, voluptuous, voracious, vulgar, wanton, warm, waspish, waxen, well-cut, wet, wide, willing, winsome, wistful, withered, witty, wormy, worshipful, wrinkled, wry, yielding, youthful
Adjectives (2): Upper Lip
Although some of these adjectives might suit lips or mouth , they excel for describing the upper lip:
B to W bifurcated, bushy, clean-shaven, furry, hairless, hairy, long, mustachioed, naked, perspiring, short, stubbly, sweaty, whiskered
Adjectives (3): Lower Lip
Likewise for the lower lip:
D to S droopy, exaggerated, floppy, generous, missing, non-existent, pendulous, sagging, soul-patched, split, square-cut
Adjectives (Misc.)
Besides describing lips and mouths, writers can:
Similes and Metaphors
When creating comparisons, familiar animals are a good place to start. Readers know what they look like and will conjure an immediate image of the lips so compared.
Some of the following act as adjectives, while others function best in as or like similes. For example:
Fred had horse lips .
Fred had lips that looked like they belonged on a horse .
A to Z angel fish, apish, baboon, baboon’s butt, bestial, bovine, camel, Cheshire cat [cliché], chimpanzee, chipmunk, dead fish, duck, frog, giraffe, goldfish, horse, largemouth bass, leeches, lizard, porcupine’s back, raw oysters, reptilian, serpentine, simian, squirrel, toad, twin slugs, zebra
Other comparisons could include:
A to V ancient prunes, angel’s cheek, blow-up doll’s maw, bread dough, cherries, embers, glue, lily petals, overstuffed sausages, pincushion, pinecone, plum, pomegranate blossoms, raspberries, raw liver, rose petals, rosebuds, rubies, sandpaper, satin, suction cups, twin cacti, velvet, vise grips
And here are a few more thought starters:
awkward as a newborn trying to find Mama’s nipple
big ger than someone’s ego
deader than a slab of cement
dry as the Sahara
foul as an overflowing cesspit
fragile as butterfly wings
large as Texas
like a cow chewing its cud
moist like morning dew
more brutal than a pounding sledgehammer
smelly as an old sock
Foods excel as color substitutes. Words such as cherry , bubble-gum , and tangerine capture color, scent, and taste.
In a modern novel, lipstick and stage makeup allow lips to be almost any color. Not so in a Victorian-era piece.
A to W anemone-pink, ashen, bloodless, bubble-gum, burgundy, carnelian, cherry, colorless, coral, coralline-red, cotton-candy, crimson, flamingo, florid, freckled, golden, grey/gray, licorice-twist, pale, pallid, pasty, peach, pink, purple, red, rosy, ruddy, seashell-pink, sunburnt, sunset-scarlet, swarthy, tangerine, vermillion, wan, wine-red
See also 1000+ Ways to Describe Colors .
Many of the following words function well in similes or can be converted to adjectives by adding suffixes such as –like , -ish , or –esque .
A to Y apical, asymmetrical, bleeding heart, blimp, bow, cherry pie, cinnamon roll, cinnamon-heart, doughnut, fishy, goldfish, heart, inner tube, O-ring, peaked, petal (name specific flower), shapeless, shapely, sharp, stop sign, unsymmetrical, toilet boil, urinal, watermelon, wedding ring, yield sign
Some verbs relay feelings or senses of the POV character, while others are appropriate for secondary players.
Consider antonyms. Rather than belittle , a mother’s lips might praise her child. Instead of relaxing his lips, an uptight worrywart might tense them.
You might prefer to pair many of these verbs with characters themselves rather than their body parts. Listen to your writer’s voice and choose what works best for you.
B to R belittle, blister, burn, caress, clamp, clench, close, coax, coerce, compress, contort, crack, crimp, criticize, curl, denounce, deprecate, dribble, drool, entice, force, fuse, gossip, graze, heal, insult, kiss, loosen, lure, meld, open, perspire, practice, press, pucker, purse, quirk, relax, respond
S to Y salivate, scrunch, seal, slaver, slide, slither, slobber, smart, smooch, sparkle, spasm, spit, squirm, squish together, sting, stretch, suck, sweat, swell, tempt, throb, tighten, tingle, turn down, turn up, twist, ulcerate, unlock, yield
Inventing nouns to replace lips or mouth can lead to silent snickers while you hunch over your keyboard or pore through your favorite thesaurus. Try some of these.
B to Y bazoo, blower, bragger, cakehole, chops, doughnut disposal, doughnut hole, flycatcher, flytrap, food vacuum, gob, hatch, hot-air vent, jabberjaw, kisser, laughing gear, maw, motormouth, mug slit, mush, muzzle, nagger, oral cavity, oral orifice, phiz slit, pie hole, puss, skull cave, soup sucker, trap, woofer, word hole, yap, yapper, yodeler
Add humor, suspense, or atmosphere with well-chosen props.
Does your protagonist notice a roll of duct tape on the counter in his apartment, then whip around to see a face -masked intruder with a gag in hand? Duct tape + gag = kidnapping. Or maybe an amorous encounter. Or__________?
A to W acne, asthma inhaler, baby bottle, blueberries, chewing tobacco, cigar, cigarette, coughing fit, dirt, duct tape, electric razor, facemask, flute, gag, glitter, handkerchief, intubation tube, kazoo, lipstick, mouth guard, mouth organ, mud pie, mustache, muzzle, nebulizer, oboe, piercings, pimples, pipe, razor, scar, scuba regulator, sneezing, snorkel, soot, soother, spit, spit up, stain, straw, teeth, thumb, tic, tissue, tongue, toothpaste, toothpick, trumpet, veil, wart, whistle
Clichés and Idioms That Include Lips or Mouth
Some narrators might warrant trite phrases, but it’s usually best to avoid them — except in dialogue.
all mouth and trousers: arrogant, brash, brazen
born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth: privileged, wealthy
by word of mouth: orally, verbally, via gossip
down in the mouth: dejected, depressed, glum, sad
on everyone’s lips: popular [topic of conversation], trending, widely discussed
slip of the lip: inadvertent mistake [while speaking]
stiff upper lip: fortitude, resignation, stoicism
straight from the horse’s mouth: from a reliable source
through word of mouth: orally, person to person, verbally
to button one’s lip: hush, keep quiet, shut up, stop talking
to foam at the mouth: fume, rage, rant, seethe
to give some lip: disrespect, sass, speak rudely
to have a stiff upper lip: display fortitude, exercise restraint, remain resolute [in the face of adversity]
to have one’s heart in one’s mouth: be afraid , alarmed, apprehensive, or terrified
to leave a bad taste in one’s mouth: nauseate, repulse, disgust
to live hand to mouth: barely get by, eke out an existence, subsist
to lock lips: French kiss, kiss, smooch
to look a gift horse in the mouth: be ungrateful, find fault with a gift
to mouth off: rant, sass, sound off, spout
to pay lip service: agree in public while personally dissenting, pretend to agree
to put one’s foot in one’s mouth: blurt, say something tactless; blunder
to seal one’s lips: keep a secret, keep classified
to shoot one’s mouth off: boast, brag, talk indiscreetly
to talk out of both sides of one’s mouth: contradict oneself, lie [usually to please the most people]
to zip one’s lip: hush, say nothing, shut up, stop talking
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Hi Kathy, Much more interesting and informative than just ‘asking Google!’ Even with a fertile imagination, there are times when it fails to ‘serve up the goods,’ and time can be wasted searching the, hopefully, temporarily diminished brain-box. That’s the fun part of writing, giving your characters suitable characteristic expressions (and to suit the moment…), and various tics etc., Many thanks. Cheers.
Thanks, Joy.
I find interesting ideas at images.google.com. The trick is to create a search that will give appropriate results. Some are hilarious.
Continued success with your writing and poetry!
General Education
One of the words that comes up most commonly in various types of writing, from fiction to academic writing, is the word “said.” Any time a writer is referencing the words or thoughts expressed by another person, whether that be thoughts expressed verbally or in writing, an appropriate way to introduce--or attribute--that person’s thoughts is with the phrase “said.”
But if you’re incorporating a lot of quotations in your writing, you might find yourself repeating the word “said” a lot. Repeating the same phrase in a piece of writing can start to feel monotonous, which is why incorporating synonyms or an oft-used word or phrase can make your writing more interesting and accurate. But here’s some good news: there are tons of other words for “said” out there for you to use!
To help you build a repertoire of words to replace “said,” we’re going to do the following in this article:
Ready to check out some synonyms for “said”? Then let’s get going!
To give you the most comprehensive and easy-to-navigate list, we’ve organized our list into two main categories: first, we’re including several lists of other words for “said” by emotion , and second, we’re including several lists of different words for “said” by intention or action . You can decide what meaning you’re trying to express in your writing, and use our lists accordingly!
We’re going to kick off our list by giving you a lot of other words for “said” by emotion, starting with synonyms for “said” that convey a happy, joyful, or positive tone.
Sadness is a common emotion expressed in writing--let’s look at a few synonyms for “said” that convey sadness.
There are a ton of synonyms for “said” that express anger, and we’ve included several of them for you here.
When you want to communicate a tone of shock or surprise in your writing, try using these synonyms for “said”!
The last emotion it might be helpful to be able to express accurately and vividly in your writing is fear. Here’s a list of synonyms for “said” that you can use to demonstrate a feeling of fear.
If you’re working with a quote in which the speaker is clarifying information or explaining something, you can try out these words instead of “said”!
When you incorporate quotes or dialogue that make an argument, use these synonyms for “said” in your attributions.
If a speaker in a quote or piece of dialogue is forming a critique, incorporate one of these different words for “said” in your attribution.
Try using these alternative words for “said” that imply meaning.
Sometimes you need to include an attribution that shows a speaker is searching for information. These synonyms for “said” can help you establish a tone of inquisitiveness!
Finally, if you need a word other than “said” that reveals information, try out the options in the list below.
In most cases, deciding when to use words other than “said” in your writing is up to your discretion. But there are actually some situations when it’s correct to use “said” exclusively to attribute a piece of dialogue or a quote in your writing . This depends on the type of writing, so we’re going to break down the situations when you should definitely use “said” here!
The first situation where you can expect to see writers exclusively using “said” is in any type of writing that relies on AP Style . “AP” stands for “Associated Press,” and this set of style guidelines is the standard for journalistic writing. This includes writing for newspapers, magazines, and public relations in the United States. AP Style provides a lot of rules about grammar, spelling, punctuation, and language use, and using “said” for quote attribution is one of those rules.
Impartiality and objectivity are two values that are extremely important in journalistic writing. Unlike many synonyms for “said,” which reveal a speaker’s feelings, attitude, or intentions, “said” doesn’t try to interpret the feelings, attitude, or intentions of the speaker. “Said” just states factual information: the words in the quote were spoken by a person or group of people . Using “said” allows the journalist to remain impartial and objective about the information, and it also lets readers interpret the meaning of quoted material on their own.
While not exactly a rule, using “said” is an unspoken expectation for quote attribution in technical writing. Technical writing is a style of writing used in business environments and some scientific fields, like engineering . It’s important for this style of writing to be clear, specific, and, in most cases, concise. In fact, readers of technical writing appreciate a writer’s ability to communicate directly and plainly by using short, direct words. That’s why “said” is the best choice for introducing quotes or paraphrases in technical writing: it’s clear, specific, and concise.
Creative writing is a third situation that might require you to think strategically about when to use “said.” In creative writing--like fiction, for instance--when and how often to use “said” is pretty much up for debate. There are a lot of synonyms for “said” that you can use to convey the emotions or intentions of a character in dialogue, but you don’t necessarily have to use some flowery synonym for “said” every time you include a piece of dialogue in creative writing. In fact, sometimes it’s okay to strategically omit attributions altogether.
Here’s one example of a way to present dialogue in creative writing that doesn’t overuse attributions:
“I suppose I didn’t see the point.” Paige shook her head. “It’s not like you would’ve let me go if I’d told you ahead of time.”
“That’s really selfish, Paige.”
Even without attributions for every piece of dialogue in the example above, you can still get an idea of how the characters feel and what their intentions are through the dialogue beats (“She crossed her arms angrily,” and, “Paige shook her head”) . Alternatively, dialogue attributions in creative writing are another place where word variety is important. Your attributions are a great way for you to add emotion and imagery to your work. That means sometimes you might simply use “said,” sometimes you might use a more expressive synonym for “said,” and other times you might forego attributions altogether.
One final writing situation where you’ll find yourself needing to make decisions about when to use “said” is academic, research-based writing. In academic writing, it’s important to be clear about who you are quoting and to provide adequate context for the quote you include. For example, if the scholar you’re quoting is making an argument in the quote you include, it would be more accurate to say, “Dr. Garcia argued” or “Dr. Garcia claimed,” instead of “Dr. Garcia said .” Using a quote attribution that gives your reader a clearer sense of the speaker or writer’s purpose and tone.
Word variety is important to any type of writing for three main reasons: using a variety of words can make your writing more engaging, more accurate, and more expressive .
First, using a variety of words can make your writing more engaging and interesting for the people who are reading it. In some types of writing, like poetry , repetition is used as a strategic stylistic device. In lots of cases, though, writers repeat the same word because they don’t know its synonyms. After a while, readers might feel a bit exhausted by repetitiveness in a piece of writing. That’s one reason why knowing and using synonyms for commonly repeated words is so important!
Second, word variety can make your writing more accurate. For example, while “said” is always going to accurately describe a piece of dialogue or a quote from an outside source, there are words to use instead of “said” that can reveal the intention behind dialogue or the information conveyed in a quote .
Let’s say you incorporate a quote where the author is disagreeing with a point made by a scholar. Sure, you could introduce that quote with, “Dr. Smith said.” But you could be more accurate by introducing the quote with a word that indicates that the quote is going to express disagreement, like, “Dr. Smith countered ” or “Dr. Smith responded .”
Finally, your writing is expressive and vivid when you avoid repetition . When your word choice reflects the emotions or tone expressed by a quote or piece of dialogue that you include in your writing, your readers can get a better sense of your intended meaning. Using synonyms for “said” to create tone and imagery in your writing can help readers better understand your position and make them more willing to buy into your ideas.
If you’re studying for the verbal portion of your SAT or ACT, we’ve got you covered. Here are our expert guides to the verbal portions of the SAT and ACT , and we even have tips and tricks to help you tackle the essay sections ! These are just a few of the tons (and tons!) of resources we have, so be sure to check out our blog for more information.
This cheat sheet for ways to say “said” can be really helpful if you’re starting to write your college admissions essays . Learn how to start your essay off perfectly , and make sure you know the biggest mistakes you should avoid , too.
If you’re using this guide to help you write creatively, you might be a great fit for a creative writing degree ! Here’s a guide to the best creative writing colleges and programs in the United States.
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Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.
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By will graves, published july 12, 2024.
All the rites of passage for a teenager were available to Frederick Richard while growing up in the Boston suburbs.
Football games. Dances. Parties. Hanging out.
Texts would pop into his phone regularly to see if he was up for doing something. And Richard’s response was almost always some version of “thanks, but not today. I’ve got practice.”
The invitations to do the “cool things” and the inherent peer pressure that comes along with it were constantly outweighed by the gymnast’s unwavering belief in himself and the incessant pull of his chosen sport, as anonymous and uncool as it is perceived to be — at least when you’re a guy anyway — in the United States.
“But I’m addicted to this. I’m addicted to the dream.”
A dream that extends far beyond just the Olympics.
Don’t get Richard wrong. The charismatic 20-year-old knows when he steps onto the floor at Bercy Arena in Paris on July 27, it will be the culmination of his still very young life’s work. But it is just one step in a plan that extends far beyond any single skill, any single meet, any single medal.
The president and founder of “ Frederick Flips ” doesn’t just see himself as just an athlete. He’s a CEO. An influencer . A YouTuber . A budding visionary who counts Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan among his heroes.
And yes, he knows what invoking those names entails.
“I’m not trying to copy things and follow paths that have been made,” Richard said. “I’m always like ‘What am I going to do the next 10 years? How do I create this path that’s never been done, this career? It doesn’t exist.’”
No, it doesn’t.
Men’s gymnastics has been largely an afterthought in the U.S. for decades, often operating in the shadows of a women’s program that regularly churns out gold medalists who reach “first name only” status within the sport.
Richard is only too aware that this kind of status doesn’t exist for American men. He’s trying to change that one performance , one viral social media post , one television appearance at a time.
“One of my goals is to have someone walk down the street one day and you ask them to name a male gymnast and they actually name a male gymnast,” he said.
Which brings the University of Michigan junior to his name.
Fred? Frederick? He’s bounced between preferences for a while before settling on both depending on the setting. Sure “Fred” works in the U.S. but “Frederick Richard” — a nod to his French heritage — carries a little more sophistication internationally.
If you want to build a brand, after all, you’ve got to know your audience.
Richard took a significant step in getting his name — whichever one you settle on — out when he earned bronze in the all-around at the 2023 world championships, the first by an American man at a major international meet in 13 years. It was a massive step for a men’s program that’s been running in place for the better part of a decade.
It should have been a joyous moment. It wasn’t. Not exactly anyway. Richard’s high bar routine during the final rotation wasn’t his best. He thought his chances at a medal were gone. Then others in the field struggled too, leading to a result Richard wasn’t sure he deserved.
It wasn’t until Great Britain’s James Hall came over to congratulate him that Richard softened. The exchange offered a reminder that for all of the ways Richard is trying to become a crossover star while making his sport more accessible to the masses, the reality is he remains “obsessed with being an athlete, pushing the limits.”
Yes, it can be easy to get caught up in everything that goes into trying to build a brand. Yet underneath Richard’s breeziness is a resolve based not on swagger or ambition but something deeper.
“And I’m going, ‘I should be doing that.’”
Richard has no intention of becoming one of those influencers who become only loosely affiliated with what made them influential in the first place.
He only truly feels at home when he’s in the gym with chalk on his hands, tinkering with a routine or a skill or diving into videos of the men he will be competing against in Paris.
He knows a medal of any color would be huge for the U.S. program. But why settle for simply getting on the podium? Why not focus on getting to the top even knowing that defending Olympic champion Daiki Hashimoto of Japan will arrive in Paris as a heavy favorite to repeat?
That is simply not Richard’s way. When Juda, Richard and the rest of the U.S. team arrived at the world championships last year, there was a sense of relief among the group on having made it. That simply wasn’t good enough for Richard.
“(He’s) like, ‘Yeah, but what about the cooler thing? Let’s do the cooler thing and let’s get people to talk about the cooler thing,’” Juda said.
Richard is not programmed to aim lower. If he was, maybe he would have bailed on all those weekend practices and gone to a party instead. Maybe he would have let frequently being the only Black athlete at a meet filled with predominantly white competitors get to him.
It never did. Partly because he says he always felt accepted. Partly because he understood the opportunity in front of him if he could just stick with it.
“Kids look up to these big names,” he said. “But I wasn’t seeing anybody who was Black like me, dominating on the world stage (in men’s gymnastics). ... I wanted to be that person. I wanted the gyms to fill up with Black kids. That’s still one of my big goals. That’s why I do this too.”
It’s one of the main priorities in Richard’s ever-evolving “to-do” list.
Some of his favorite days are mornings that begin with a brainstorming session with his creative team, one that has expanded over the last year to include two camera operators and a business partner, among others.
He switched majors from business to film, TV and media. His long-term goals include expanding his clothing line, doing a little acting and serving as a producer.
“Every day I grow, I learn something new,” he said. “Every day I get slightly more clarity on what I want to do, what I want to become. And I just now I just feel like anything’s possible.”
That sense of clarity also provides Richard with a sense of freedom. Maybe he sticks everything at the Olympics and comes home with a medal or three in his carry-on. Or maybe he doesn’t. He is putting everything he has into this moment, yes. But he will not let the outcome define him.
“(Either way) I’ll go home and live my amazing life that I’m already living,” he said. “So let me have fun showing off, and then I think I’ll show off.”
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This blog explores best practices for AI prompt writing, including being precise, asking insightful follow-up questions to dig deeper into specific topics and experimenting with tone and style. Used well, AI can free health coaches and exercise professionals from some of the potentially mundane tasks that these jobs require, such as creating welcome packets, writing blogs for your website or developing a business plan. In addition, AI can be used to brainstorm ways to build your business or repurpose existing content to be used in other creative ways. Ultimately, the goal of using AI is to free up time to reach more clients or participants, build your business or take some time for yourself. |
The power of artificial intelligence (AI) and its ability to improve your effectiveness as a health coach or exercise professional should not be underestimated. Used well, these AI prompt writing tips can free you from some of the potentially mundane tasks that your job requires. Less time writing blogs or trying to figure out what to include in a business plan or on social media , for example, means more time for building your business or for doing things you love outside of work .
The Power of AI Prompts
Making the most of artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT , Gemini or Copilot , requires that you master the art of writing prompts. The best way to learn is to dive in and see where the “conversation” takes you .
Consider these strategies for writing effective prompts:
Be specific. For example, saying you are a group fitness instructor will give you more personalized results than if you identify yourself as an exercise professional. Also, give your location to receive community-specific responses. Finally, a longer prompt with a lot of details will help the AI narrow its response.
Provide a word count. This can be helpful even if you’re not trying to draft a blog or article. For example, you can ask for “ 300 words to describe the top 6 strategies for …” rather than simply asking your question. That way, you don’t get more information than you need and the AI has limits on what it will create.
Dig deeper with follow-up questions. This is where AI becomes most powerful, as the conversational aspect gives you the opportunity to gain more insight into a particular area or branch off into an entirely new direction that you may not have anticipated . Evaluate each response the AI provides and then use follow-up questions to focus on what you need. AI will often provide long lists or outlines, so dig deeper by saying, “Tell me more about…”
Experiment with tone and style. This might include something like “use a wittier voice” or “write tips for first-time personal training clients.” Telling the AI who your audience is and the style or tone you’re seeking will give you more usable results. For example, you might say , “I am a personal trainer writing a blog for older adult clients abou t balance training. I want to provide practical strategies they can use to add balance exercises to their daily routine , written in a friendly, upbeat style . ”
Read Say Hello to Your New Personal Assistant: How AI Can Save You T ime and Help Build Your Business for examples of AI in action.
Other Uses of AI
AI can be of great use even if you’re not a “writer.” Use it as a brainstorming partner to identify and then improve upon your areas for growth as a professional or to find ways to expand your business. For example, you might ask, “What do investors want to see in a business plan?” or “ What are some creative touches I can add to my social media presence to help me stand out from the competition?”
AI can also take over smaller tasks that drain valuable time from your day. For example, you can use it to draft a welcome email or creative welcome packets for new clients or a list of tips to stay active while on vacation that you can send to clients who are going to miss a week of sessions or classes.
Another fun use of AI involves rewrit ing existing text in a new style or for a new purpose . Maybe you’ve written a short blog and want to turn it into a series of social media posts. You can simply ask the AI to “create 3 social media posts based on the following content.” Or, perhaps you have written something that seems too formal or academic . You can paste it into your prompt and ask AI to rewrite it in a friendlier tone.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember when using AI is that you are the expert and that content provided by AI should not be explicitly trusted. It’s up to you to ensure that what you’re using is credible and accurate . Never lose sight of the fact that it’s your name and credibility on the line. So, be sure that any AI-derived content that you create is evidence-based and actually expresses what you’re trying to express.
Final Thought s
Approach AI with curiosity , not fear. Embracing this evolving technology will allow you to become a more efficient and effective professional . I t may also help you expand your business and reach new clients as you improve your marketing, build your website or enhance your social media efforts. There’s really no limit to what it can do, so explore and have fun—you may be surprised where AI takes you!
If you want to learn more about cutting-edge marketing strategies that will help you streamline your operations and captivate clients, consider Marketing Automations and Technology (worth 0.2 ACE CECs). This course will elevate your business’s digital presence and help you achieve brand consistency that stands out in the market.
Or, i f you’re interested in learning more about using AI to gain a competitive edge over your competition, check out the AI Bootcamp for Health and Fitness Coaches (worth 2.0 ACE CECs). This Precision Nutrition course will empower you to position yourself at the forefront of the constantly evolving fitness industry by seamlessly integrat ing AI into your interactions with clients and other business practices.
Dive deep into the mechanics and techniques that will turn routine workouts into transformative experiences.
Daniel J. Green is ACE’s Senior Project Manager and Editor for Publications and Content Development. In addition to his work with organizations including the International Association of Fire Fighters and Agriculture Future of America, Daniel writes an ongoing blog series covering lifestyle change for NBCbetter.com. He has also written feature articles for local publications in Western North Carolina (WNC), including WNC Parent and WNC Magazine.
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Another way to say Creative Writing? Synonyms for Creative Writing (related to writing).
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Here are some ways to help you in becoming an expert scribe and finally master the use of synonyms in your writing once and for all. 1. Observe and Replace. Self-awareness of what words you choose to use is the key to becoming a better writer. Observe the words or key phrases you always use. Research for alternatives.
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Key Takeaways. This blog explores best practices for AI prompt writing, including being precise, asking insightful follow-up questions to dig deeper into specific topics and experimenting with tone and style. Use d well, AI can free health coaches and exercise professionals from some of the potentially mundane tasks that these jobs require, such as creating welcome packets, writing blogs for ...