Setting Thesaurus Entry: Playground

Sights

swing sets, slides, jungle gym, sandbox, tube maze, see-saw, merry-go-round, sand, mulch, wood chips, small trees, bushes, benches, black rubber mat flooring, grass, shining metal, rusty metal, torn swing seats, hollowed-out sand or dead grass where see-saw seats hit the…

Sounds

kids shrieking/laughing/crying, parents talking, swings creaking, rhythmic whoosh of swings going back and forth, seesaws thumping into the dirt, merry-go-round squeaking, rubber shoes on the slide, swish of sand pouring back and forth in the box, wind blowing…

Smells

Fresh mown grass, sticky-sweet spilled juice baking on asphalt, a garbage that needs changing, diaper smell, pine trees, tree blossoms, wild flowers, dandelion or other weeds (stink weed, skunk cabbage, etc), mud, wet dirt, dusty/chalky gravel, cigarette smoke…

Tastes

Grass, dirt, juice boxes, water, coffee brought from a local coffee house, Popsicles, snacks (crackers, grapes, cheese, fruit gummies), chalky taste of stirred-up gravel or dust, mints, gum, sneaking a cigarette, pop, ice tea, sand in the mouth

Touch

The poke of gravel in the shoe or against the hands, paint-chipped cold metal, sun-warmed rubber tires, smooth seats, stiff uneven picnic tables/park benches, cool grass underfoot, the jab of a pine cone or pine needle, smooth chain links of a swing, sticky or gritty hands…

Helpful hints:

–The words you choose can convey atmosphere and mood.

Example 1: Ronald stared down from his perch at the top of the yellow ladder, smirking as he smashed a fist into his palm, daring any of us to climb his slide…

–Similes and metaphors create strong imagery when used sparingly.

Example 1: (Simile) Benson waddled toward me, almost unrecognizable beneath the dirt, mud and grass. Drool seeped from his gapped-toothed grin, his mouth rimmed with dirt that had journeyed to his inquisitive mouth. Sand clung to his curls like dew and his pocket bulged with treasure from the communal sandbox. As he rubbed a fist crusted with melted ice cream against his eye, I knew I had about fifteen minutes to get him home, cleaned up and ready for nap time…

Think beyond what a character sees, and provide a sensory feast for readers

Setting is much more than just a backdrop, which is why choosing the right one and describing it well is so important. To help with this, we have expanded and integrated this thesaurus into our online library at One Stop For Writers. Each entry has been enhanced to include possible sources of conflict, people commonly found in these locales, and setting-specific notes and tips, and the collection itself has been augmented to include a whopping 230 entries—all of which have been cross-referenced with our other thesauruses for easy searchability. So if you’re interested in seeing a free sample of this powerful Setting Thesaurus, head on over and register at One Stop.

On the other hand, if you prefer your references in book form, we’ve got you covered, too, because both books are now available for purchase in digital and print copies. In addition to the entries, each book contains instructional front matter to help you maximize your settings. With advice on topics like making your setting do double duty and using figurative language to bring them to life, these books offer ample information to help you maximize your settings and write them effectively.