Setting Thesaurus Entry: Waiting Room

Sight

Tattered magazines, coffee table filled with magazines and travel books, cardboard holders with pamphlets, advertisement posters on the walls, a receptionist’s desk, hallway leading to exam rooms, rows of chairs, a toy corner for children (blocks, books, coloring table, trucks), metal chairs with thin-padded seats, a ticket counter & counter clock…

Sounds

Pages in a magazine flipping, people clicking keys on their cell phones, playing games or texting, low whispers, coughing, throat clearing, heavy breathing, the rustle of clothing, the phone ringing, doors opening and closing, the receptionist calling out a name, staplers, mouse clicking, a cell phone ring going off, the scritch of a pen as you sign your name or fill…

Smells

Cologne, perfume, hair products, body spray, warm printer/computer/electronics, dust, room deodorizers, cleaning products, cough drops, minty gum, bad breath, hand cream or purel, a bouquet of flowers sitting at reception, wet shoes (if rainy/snowy)

Tastes

Water, candy from reception, dry throat, cough drops, medicine, gum, mints, complimentary coffee/tea/hot chocolate

Touch

Clamping arms on chair grips, crossing, uncrossing legs, a thin padded seat digging at backbone, shifting to get comfortable, getting up to check out magazines on the rack, leaning against the reception counter, digging in wallet or purse for health care cards/insurance info/payments, a pen gripped in the hand, signing forms, shaking the pen to get it…

Helpful hints:

–The words you choose can convey atmosphere and mood.

Example 2: While Mother was in with the doctor, I snatched glances at the other patients in the waiting room. For some, like the woman with the head scarf concealing her baldness and the man with the tight ball cap pulled low, it was easy to see why they were waiting to see this particular doctor. Other patients broke my heart though, like the little girl whose hands were clenched in a worrying knot and the tiny, elderly man who looked lost and frightened in his flimsy hospital gown. I blinked back tears. Cancer had a lot to answer for…

–Similes and metaphors create strong imagery when used sparingly.

Example 1: (Metaphor) I eyed the dark brown door of the examination room where the doctor was waiting with my test results and imagined a black hole ready to suck away my future…

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.