A good thesaurus is indispensable. My word processor had a great integrated thesaurus. That is, up until I updated my software and the thesaurus underwent a transformation to a less useful and more unwieldy version. Sigh.

I can use thesaurus.com and I do so, on occasion. I’ve also used the Visual Thesaurus (see link in sidebar). For a while, I subscribed to it, and I may do so again. But there are times that nothing will do except a BOOK, a real page-turning thesaurus.

I have two hard copy thesauri - one is a perfectly adequate alphabetical one. It could have a few more words in it, but it fits my needs well.

At times, however, I need a categorical thesaurus. It lists the words by concept or theme, instead of alphabetically. Mine is falling apart. (See photo) I need a new one. Any recommendations for a good categorical thesaurus?

While I’m on the topic, I’ll also mention the Romance Writers Phrase Book which I have found quite useful.

I woke up this AM from a very vivid dream.

Thought to myself, “Wow, this will be a great story! I better get up now and write it down.”

(I have a tendency to forget my dreams. Sometimes I try to tell them to people and then realize I’ve forgotten all but a nonsensical fragment.)

So, I leaped from my cozy bed, emerging into the chilly house. Rummaged on the desk for a notebook and scribbled 3 pages.  (From now on, I need to keep a notebook by the bed.)

But I’m not telling what it’s about - not yet. Although I think it’s a very marketable idea lately.

And this dream comes on the heels of a rejection and reading this post.  For the record, I love Ancient Egypt (in case you couldn’t tell). My Twilight-obsessed friend Jennifer often tells me about the things Stephenie Meyer did, so as to encourage me. This post was very encouraging to me, but I have never felt like I was writing something that I just couldn’t hold in.  I even said to Jennifer, “I dont HAVE a story banging on my skull trying to get out.”

Maybe now I do.