Setting Thesaurus Entry: Attic

Sight

insulation, exposed wooden beams, pipes, wiring, exhaust fan, porthole window, cracks showing light, airflow tubing, mice/rat/small animal feces, bugs, spiderwebs, dirty floors, dust, boxes, barrels, trunks, old furniture, broken vacuums, children’s toys, old clothing, Christmas decoration, sheets covering antiques, dust floating in the air…

Sounds

creaks, squeaking mice, scampering feet, claws against floorboards, fabric crinkling, the wind out on the roof, voices hear through the floor, footsteps, music or movement floating up…
Smells

insulation, mouse/rat/possum droppings, mold, mildew, sawdust, dirt, damp wood…

Tastes

damp air, stale air, dust, gritty teeth from dust trapped in the air

Touch

Feet against wobbly stairs, reaching out to grab a beam, carefully moving drop cloths to minimize the dust in the air, running hands over a cherished toy or item, pulling back cardboard flaps, the cold metal hinge on a trunk, pushing/shoving a heavy lid, coughing on dust, waving hand in front of face to ward off dust, picking way across beams or past soft spots in the floor,  jumping or flinching at the sight of a mouse…

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

Example 1: The one-eyed doll, leaning drunkenly against an old vacuum, faced the back of the attic where the strange thumping noise seemed to be coming from. Her sadistic smile of rotten stitches made me feel like she knew something I didn’t.

–Similes and metaphors create strong imagery when used sparingly.

Example 1: (Simile) Mouse turds were everywhere, scattered over the floorboards like rice at a wedding.

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.