Natural:
Vines, creepers
Falling leaves
DNA strands
Sea shells
Tornadoes
Fiddle heads…
Man-made:
Old phone cords
Bed springs
Perms
Rotini pasta
Energy saving light bulbs
Cinnamon buns…
Synonyms: helix, coil, corkscerw, whorled, centrifugal, curly, looping…
Describing a shape is best done in as few words as possible. Think of the shape as a camera snap shot–you want to capture the gist of what you mean as soon as possible so you can get on with other related (and more important) detail, and the action happening in the scene
Accurate shape comparisons will streamline your prose, allowing you to describe an object quickly so the reader’s focus stays on the action and events of each scene.
Want access to a plethora of real-world comparisons for specific shapes so you can spend your description currency on what matters most? We have you covered. This thesaurus has been expanded by 50% and integrated into our online library at One Stop For Writers. There, you’ll find an intuitive list of ideas to choose from, cross-referenced for easy searchability. To view a free sample of this descriptive thesaurus and others, head on over and register at One Stop.
Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.
Good question, Bish–I guess it would depend on the type.
I know Mary–Cinnamon buns are soooo scrumptious!
Cinnamon buns. Sigh… I really wish you hadn’t included that example!
Would mazes be considered a spiral?