Setting Thesaurus Entry: The Stands at a Sporting Event

Sight

Fans, team jerseys, face paint, ball caps, sweaters, rain gear, beer in plastic cups, hard plastic benches or seats, air horns, foam fingers, plastic bull horns, pennants, flags, hand-made signs, pom poms, cameras flashing, popcorn littered tiered seating, concrete or…

Sounds

Announcer on loud speaker, screams, shouts, cheers, whistles, cat calls, grumbles, groans, beer cans crumpling, seats creaking, talking, laughing, joking, booing, muttering, people trying to talk over the crowd, music, referee’s whistle, swearing, the crinkle of food…

Smells

Pop corn, hot dogs, sweaty bodies, perfume, spilled beer, orange pop, grease, cinnamon, sugar, tart/astringent condiments (mustard, vinegar for fries, ketchup), cotton candy machines, ozone-like smell of cement/metal (especially when raining or cold)

Tastes

Water, beer, pop, hot dogs, mini donuts, churros, garlic fries, hamburgers, candy chocolate bars, ice cream, licorice, warm peanuts, pretzels, juice, ketchup, gravy, grease, corn dogs, onion rings, slush drinks, snow cones (root beer, cherry, lime, pina colada, strawberry…

Touch

Hard seats on the backside, back pain, strain from sitting &/or standing, bumping against other people, feet sticking to the stands, giving someone a high five, grabbing at someone in an exciting moment, beer being dumped on you by accident, tripping in the narrow…

Helpful hints: –The words you choose can convey atmosphere and mood.

Example 1: The first game of the season, every seat was filled, the stadium a showcase of the Stampeders’ red and white colors. As the football players hit the field, their strides both energetic and nervous, a familiar chant began up in the stands. Soon every throat gave pride a voice, their song swelling until the stadium itself began to vibrate. At the last note, a cascade of fireworks lit up the dusky sky and everyone erupted into ecstatic cheers…

–Similes and metaphors create strong imagery when used sparingly.

Example 1: (Simile)

Every time the row of shirtless super fans jumped up from their seats, the painted slogan, “Go Flames Go!” jiggled across their bulging stomachs like the words were made of Jell-o…

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.