Free Writing

In creative writing, I really want to expand my vocabulary.  When I write papers and essays for school I usually end up using the same descriptive words, and I think it would be good for me to have a better variety of adjectives to choose from.  That way I'll have an easier time getting my point across when I write essays, and I'll be able to paint a better picture for the reader.  I also want to learn how to write a short story.  I have always been pretty creative, but I wouldn't know how to create a proper short story if I really wanted to write one.  Basically, I just want to become a better writer when it comes to school essays, but also when it comes to leisure writing like poems and stories.