Having a wide range of vocabulary is the fundamental skill you must have as a writer. After all, the larger the vocabulary, the more descriptive your novels will be. Our vocabulary consists of the words we use every day, they are our very foundation of how we communicate with others. Having a large vocabulary does not mean knowing reams of long complicated words; it means having a large database of wonderfully eloquent words you can use to express yourself. 

There are many ways you can improve your vocabulary; they are all fun and probably activities you already do every day. So, let's get started.

Play word games
The best way to learn anything new is to disguise learning as a game. Great teachers do it all the time. Board games such as Boggle or Scrabble are ideal as they make you question, 'Is that a word and what does it mean?' Crossword and Wordsearch puzzles are also amazing ways to increase your vocabulary. You can also get many word game apps on your phone and tablet. My favorite is Word Mill Games. 

Learn relevant slang and jargon
This is especially vital if you are writing a novel about a certain industry or location. If you do not use the right jargon or terminology, your story will not come across as either realistic or credible. I use slang dictionaries which are available in any good book store.

Do not be repetitive
Many writers have an arsenal of descriptive words and use these constantly throughout their novels. This will inevitably result in your story becoming repetitive and even boring for your reader. Having a large selection of synonyms in your vocabulary is not only going to improve the experience for your reader but will make writing a lot easier. If I am ever searching for alternative words, I use the Shorter Thesaurus website by Ironicsans. 
 
Study the origins of words and language
Understanding where words and languages originate from can be very helpful, especially when searching for inspiration. Discovering the definitions for words can also be very thought-provoking. The study of words is known as etymology and one of the most interesting websites I like to use is Etymonline.com. Be warned though, you can lose several hours reading its fascinating content. 

Think of yourself as an artist
Just as a painter uses many different shades of color in their compositions, writers use many different words. A writer's descriptions can be likened to the shades on a color spectrum. From irritated to incensed, a writer can relay their character's mood perfectly if they choose their words correctly. For example, the word red can be used to relay anger or hostility but also love and romance. This means that a writer must not only understand the definition of a word, but also the significance of the word and the many different ways a particular word can be used. 

Finally, 

Read regularly
You probably already know that the fastest way to improve your writing skills and range of vocabulary is to read regularly. Reading a wide variety of books is key to learning about the different writing formats and styles of other authors. You can learn just as much about language from a cookery book as you can from the great literary classics. 

Improving your language and vocabulary has so many other benefits too. It will improve the way you communicate with friends and work colleagues, as well as achieving great success at networking events. Your range of vocabulary says a great deal about your knowledge, life experience, and competence that will only benefit you in real-life situations.