• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • About WHW
    • Press Kit
    • Resident Writing Coaches
    • Contact Us
    • Podcasts & Interviews
    • Master Storytelling Newsletter
    • Guest Post Guidelines
    • Privacy Policy
    • Charities & Support
  • Bookstore
    • Bookstore
    • Foreign Editions
    • Book Reviews
    • Free Thesaurus Sampler
  • Blog
  • Software
  • Workshops
  • Resources
    • List of Resources
    • Recommended Writing Books
    • WHW Descriptive Thesaurus Collection
    • Free Tools & Worksheets
    • Grab A Free Show-Dont-Tell Pro Pack
  • WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®

WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®

Helping writers become bestselling authors

Colors, Textures and Shape Entry: Smooth

December 10, 2009 by ANGELA ACKERMAN

Natural:

Skin of an apple/eggplant/watermelon
Leaves
River-tumbled pebbles
Pearls
Rose petals
Shark fin…

Man-made:

Paper
Freshly shaved skin
Metal
Plastic
Sterling silver
Gold wedding band…

Synonyms: polished, flowing, sleek, flat, flush, lustrous, refined

Describing texture in a story creates intimacy between reader and character, and can even cause an emotional trigger for both. To anchor the reader in the scene, make sure comparisons and contrasts are clear and relatable, and within the scope of the narrator’s life knowledge and experience.

Textures are a powerful tool for pulling readers into the narrating character’s world, so don’t skimp.

Looking for ways to encourage that shared empathy bond between your readers and the hero? You’ll be happy to know that this thesaurus has been expanded by 60% (many new entries to explore!) and integrated into our online library at One Stop For Writers. With One Stop’s cross-referenced searchability, adding texture to your writing has never been easier, so if you’re interested in seeing a free sampling of the updated Texture Thesaurus and our other collections, head on over and register.

Bookmark and Share

ANGELA ACKERMAN
ANGELA ACKERMAN

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.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. colbymarshall says

    December 12, 2009 at 2:25 am

    *snicker* “Unlce Cletis”…*SNORT*

  2. Angela says

    December 11, 2009 at 10:18 pm

    Thanks Shannon! I just stopped by and you made my day!

    Coel, you know, I didn’t think of a baby’s bottom. I think it might be overused tho–it makes me think of TV commercials for some reason.

    Stephanie, thank you so much. And yes the apple looks so shiny and crunchy. I had to pick it for the picture!

    PJ, looks like you and Coel are thinking on the same wavelength, lol!

  3. PJ Hoover says

    December 11, 2009 at 7:19 pm

    What about a baby’s butt? Smooth as a baby’s butt, right?

    Nice post!

  4. Stephanie Thornton says

    December 10, 2009 at 2:58 pm

    Man, that apple looks tasty!

    This is the best thesaurus site ever- I love it!

  5. coelbren says

    December 10, 2009 at 12:58 pm

    no baby’s bottom? or is that too overused already 🙂

  6. Shannon O'Donnell says

    December 10, 2009 at 11:30 am

    Good morning! I have an award waiting for you at my blog today – come and see! 🙂

  7. Angela says

    December 10, 2009 at 10:09 am

    Thanks Karen!

    Bish, I was thinking more of the leaves tha are actually on the pineapple. Technically the ‘stem’ but thery look more like leaves? Maybe I’ll switch it to stem and it’ll be less comfusing. And yes, silk–that’s a good one. Thanks!

  8. Bish Denham says

    December 10, 2009 at 9:39 am

    Hummmmm. Pineapple leaves are serrated along the edges, not exactly smooth. But maybe I’m being picky. Most fabric might be considered smooth, like silk or velvet, the ultimate smooth.

  9. Karen Lange says

    December 10, 2009 at 9:35 am

    I like these posts! Thanks for sharing it and giving me something to think about:) Blessings!

Trackbacks

  1. Color, Texture and Shape Thesaurus Collection | Writers Helping Writers says:
    October 11, 2013 at 1:38 pm

    […] Smooth […]

Primary Sidebar


Welcome!

Writing is hard. Angela & Becca make it easier. Get ready to level up your fiction with game-changing tools, resources, and advice.

Follow Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Subscribe to the Blog

Check your inbox to confirm! If gremlins tried to eat it, you might have to check your spam folder.

Read by Category

Grab Our Button

Writers Helping Writers

Software that Will Change the Writing Game

One Stop for Writers

WRITERS HELPING WRITERS® · Copyright © 2023 · WEBSITE DESIGN BY LAUGH EAT LEARN

Cookies are delicious and ours help make your experience here better. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with our cookie use. Cookie settingsGOT IT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. More on our Privacy Policy here.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT