Below are samples of our popular setting thesaurus.
For the completely developed and enhanced collection (over 220 settings included), please visit One Stop For Writers, where it has a permanent home within our vast Descriptive Database. You can access it and all our other thesauruses with a click of a button as you write! If you like, stop by and check out our FREE TRIAL.
If you are a book person, good news: The Rural Setting Thesaurus and The Urban Setting Thesaurus also contain all of this setting description. For more information on these publications, see our Bookstore page.
What is a Setting Description Thesaurus?
- Abandoned Mine
- Airplane
- Airport Check-in
- Alley
- Amusement Park
- Attic
- Bakery
- Bank
- Basement
- Bathroom (home)
- Barn
- *GE* Barn 2 (Dairy Focus)
- Beach
- Bedrooms
- Birthday Party
- Bonfire
- Bowling Alley
- Bridge
- Bookstore
- Cafeteria
- Casino
- *GE* Catacombs
- Cave
- Church
- City Park
- Classroom
- Closet
- Coffee House
- Courtroom
- Cruise Ship
- *GE* Cryogenic Sleep Chamber
- Daycare
- Desert
- Diner
- Dragon’s Lair
- Dungeon (Caution Graphic Description)
- *GE* Egyptian Pyramids
- Elevator
- Farms
- Forest
- Frozen Tundra
- Gallows
- Garage
- Garage Sale
- Garden
- Graveyard
- *GE* GLOBAL WARMING (dystopian)
- Grocery Store
- Halloween Party
- Haunted House
- Herbalist Shop (fantasy)
- High School Hallway
- Hospital
- Hotel Room
- House Fire
- House Party
- Kitchen
- *GE* Laboratory
- *GE* Laboratory (secret genetic)
- Lake
- Library
- Locker Room
- Meadow
- Medieval Castle Armory
- Medieval Marketplace
- Middle School Dance (informal)
- *GE* Mindscape (Mind Magic)
- Mountains
- Movie Theatre
- Night Club
- Nursery
- Ocean/Sea Bed
- Old Pick-Up Truck
- Pirate Ship
- Playground
- Pond
- Pool Hall
- Prison Cell
- Pub
- Public Pool (Outdoor)
- Rainforest/Jungle
- Ranch
- Restaurant
- River
- School Bus
- School Office
- Shopping Mall
- Sleep-Away Camp
- *GE* Spaceport
- *GE* Spaceship
- Stands at a Sporting Event
- Storm Sewer
- Subway Station
- Swamp
- Taxi cab
- Teacher’s Lounge
- Toolshed
- *GE* Trailer
- Treehouse
- *GE* Tropical Island City
- Urban Street
- Video Arcade
- Waiting Room
- Waterfall
- Water Slide Park
- Wedding Ceremony (Church)
- Woods at Night
- Zoo
Visit our other Descriptive Thesaurus Collections HERE.
*GE*: Guest Entry (an entry written by a guest poster)
60 Comments.
[…] https://writershelpingwriters.net/2010/10/setting-thesaurus-entry-collection/ […]
More of these, please!
[…] being put on the spot to name things can seem to cause your mind to go blank! Have a look at this list to help. We used this setting thesaurus in class. Did anyone manage to get over 50? I gave myself 5 […]
I would be the first to grab a copy if there was a Fantasy and SciFi/Dystopian Setting Thesaurus
We would love to do all these settings, and we had toyed with doing a Speculative volume someday, but for now, we are exploring some of these settings at One Stop for Writers: https://onestopforwriters.com/scene_settings
Hi girls! Love your sites, own all your books, and have a subscription to One Stop 😉 One thing I didn’t see but was looking for was a dance studio. For my purposes it was a ballroom dance studio, but ballet could’ve worked, too. Thought I’d mention it in case you were looking for any new ideas
Thanks for all you do!!
xoxo
Rachel, you are so sweet–thank you for the kind words, and for joining One Stop! I hope you are finding all our resources there helpful. 🙂
You’re right, we don’t have Dance Studio, and that might be a good one to do. Do me a favor and add it to the Wish List? (That’s how we keep track of new Thesaurus requests.) Here’s the link: https://onestopforwriters.com/os_updates
Can you include a wedding reception where the newlyweds dance?
Hi there! We actually have a Wedding Reception entry at One Stop For Writers. So if you have a subscription, you can view it there. 🙂
Love you guys for all these! They have been super helpful! I’m trying to paint the picture of how things are in a medieval military camp. Would this be on the list in the future? If not, what lists do you guys recommend using to get the right atmosphere? 🙂
Hi, Charity. We do have a few medieval settings in the thesaurus at One Stop For Writers: castle, armory, tavern, dungeon, gallows, and herbalist’s shop. We don’t have a military camp on our list currently, but I can add it to the hopper and we’ll see what happens. Off the top of my head, I think it might be too broad for us to cover. We have so many possible entries that we could write; many times, the decision comes down to how much research an entry would require and how many other similar entries we already have. But Angela and I can discuss it. I’ll let you know :).
As far as research goes, your best bet is to do some Google searches. I found a ton of information online when I was writing the Medieval Castle entry, so between the internet and the library, I’m sure you could find the info you need on a military camp. Best of luck!
[…] last week’s guest, Angela Ackerman, we give a practical example of how useful Angela’s ‘Setting Thesaurus’ collection can be, by applying it to one of the locations from my own upcoming crime novel, ‘Safe […]
I’ve been trying to write about an underwater expedition, but i’m unable to.
Since, I never experienced it. So can you Guys help me Out. 🙂
Hi, Sid. Check out the Ocean/Sea Bed entry. It’s only a partial entry; you can see the whole thing in the Rural Setting Thesaurus book or as part of the Setting Thesaurus at One Stop For Writers. Good luck!
[…] go on location or you want even more ideas, use the research of other writers, for example try the Setting Thesaurus on the Writers Helping Writers […]
[…] a place and list two sensory details for each of the five […]
Hi,
I’ve been using this website for years now. It is a treasure!
A tip for a new entry many would find useful:
Christmas marketplace (based perhaps on German cities)
Thanks for the suggestion, Lee!
Hello! I was wondering if you had anything for a cobbled street or old stone buildings? Thank you!
Would one For different types of Temples
Hi, Simone. Thanks for letting us know what you’d like to see. We’ll add this to our list of possibilities :).
Do you have anything on the website for a police station? I’m sure some of the stuff for other offices might translate, but the police station would have interrogation rooms, evidence counters, ect.
Or will that be in the book that is coming out sometime in the future?
Hi Mark, we do not have it here at Writers Helping Writers, but we do have it at One Stop For Writers (https://onestopforwriters.com/), along with all our other finish descriptive thesaurus collections. As well, Becca and I will be releasing two books on settings in June, and Police Station is one of the entries.
Thank you for the link! I am sure that will be very helpful.
This is fantastic. Angela. For a long time I’ve been saying that a writer’s setting database would be such a good thing, but have no idea how to go about it. Thanks heaps for this. I have it in my bookmarks and pop it up each time I sit down to write. I live in a tiny town(population 350) and write urban fantasy set in large cities, so I don’t write what I know.
I’d love to see a database on places around the world eg: What does New York smell like, what would I be likely to see walking down the street in Arusha, Tanzania, what does the heat feel like when I step off the plane in Kuala Lumpur? If anybody knew of anything like this or knew how to create it, I would be eternally grateful.
I would love Museum on this list.
I find your site very useful and have three of your books on my writing shelf.
Hi, Shell! You’ll be happy to know that “Museum” is on our list for the book version of The Setting Thesaurus, which we’re hoping will be available for purchase in late spring. I wish it was sooner; if you can’t wait that long, I can tell you that this entry will be part of the Setting Thesaurus at One Stop For Writers, which is launching on October 7th. So you might want to check that out :).
Late spring is so far 🙁 can’t wait! Love what yall do! And
I know! Becca and I each need a clone…maybe two! have a terrific weekend 🙂
Why isn’t CASTLE on this list?????
you guys rock
We stuck to mainly contemporary settings, but may do a fantasy setting list in the future. For now there is a medieval castle armory, a dungeon and a medieval marketplace all listed, so that should give you some starting point detail. 🙂
Love the work you do!! Can’t wait for more books to come out, I will be purchasing all that I can get my hands on.
I do have some suggestions to add to the Setting Thesaurus Entry Collection –
You could use the following:
Laboratory or Workshop
Tunnel
Inn
Tavern
Stable
Thanks
Russ
Hi Russ,
Thanks so much! You will be happy to know that we are working on two Setting Thesaurus books with a hopeful release date of June, and I believe most of these are included in the books. 🙂 Have a terrific day!
I’m guessing you meant January 2016? I’m soooo very excited! I wish I could pre-order them now! I love your books, site, and resources. This site is wonderful! Thank you for all you do!
hi angela,
i would like to buy your book about setting thesaurus entry, could u give me any information about this.
Hi Naila,
Nice to hear from you. Our books are still in development with a tentative release date of December. If you like, I can add your email to our notification list? Just let me know!
yes please 🙂
hi
as english is not my first language, this website is a blessing of god for me. thank you so much for such a beneficial website 🙂
Very glad the site is helpful, Naila!
Will do! 🙂
You have everything but a tropical island. 🙁
Hi, Arden! Angela and I are drafting the book version of this thesaurus, and we’ve already added the Tropical Island entry :). So eventually, you’ll have access to that one, too. Thanks for letting us know!
I’m wondering about the addition of “Yarn Store”… I can get lost in them for several hours… from the patterns to the fabulous yarns, commercial to local hand-dyed/woven, so many textures, sounds, sights.
Love what I’m reading on your site – total distraction… er, education! 🙂
This website is so useful. I use it all the time and I’m so grateful for all the work you put into it. I have all three of your books. I was wondering whether you might consider – if it’s not too late for me to ask – doing a setting of a train/train station? Once again, thank you for all your good work.
Hi, Poppy! Unfortunately, we’re all done with the setting thesaurus and won’t be adding more to it on our blog. BUT…we ARE in the process of writing the book version of the setting thesaurus, and it will include a train station. I don’t know if you can wait that long, but the books will be out next spring :).
Book version of Setting Thesaurus? This makes me so happy!!!
[…] this unusual Setting thesaurus may be […]
This is a amazing website and I just received all three of your books very helpful. So I just wanted to say thanks for that. 🙂 is there any chance you could add a ‘Circus’ one? I’ve been trying to look around for it and watching some clips but honestly it’s a little difficult. If you could that would help me loads! Keep up the great work on this site it’s truly amazing.
[…] volumes that will encompass The Setting Thesaurus Collection. While we’ve posted quite a few setting choices here, we know there are a lot of “holes” in the range of locations available. And while we […]
Hi, these thesaurus are really amazing, the are a great help when i am writing even if i write in a different language. i was wondering if youre going to make one about a castle or a ancient abandond city?
HI Ian,
We plan to tackle these in an upcoming book, actually. 🙂 Let us know if you’d like an email when our new setting books are available (early 2015). But we also have “Castle Armory” here on the blog if that helps: https://writershelpingwriters.net/2010/11/setting-thesaurus-entry-medieval-castle-armory/
Happy writing!
I absolutely love this website, one of the best tools I have ever come across and so well organized. I would like to add to the list the following:
– overgrown field (forgotten farm land) has trees lining the property lines, grass long in some places, short in others, usually a tree in the center, old wooden windmills, wooden fences. What would it smell like? How do you describe the open and closed spaces (trees and grass) with accuracy for the reader?
Thanks!
These setting thesaurus entries, as the others, are goldmines. I would love to see these all make it into physical books, because I like to just flip open a book for these kind of references. I’ve already bought the three books you have out. Absolute genius! I’ve told all my writer friends, who have also bought your books. One look through mine convinced them. Thank you for the work that went into this endeavor.
Thanks so much for letting us know that our books are working for you, Christina. And for telling your friends ;). We don’t know for sure of all of our thesauri will make it into book form. Turning them into books takes quite a bit of time, so we’re focusing first on the ones that are the most popular. But we’ll keep you posted! Thanks again for the kinds words, and have a great week!
[…] that forces the reader to pay attention to the emotions at work and understand their depth. (Our Setting Thesaurus houses sensory description for over 100 different fictional settings for […]
Could you do a post about a mansion? My novel is set partly in a rich orphan’s estate, and as MC is observant, constantly bored and analytical, I need more details.
This is MASSIVELY helpful. Can you guys add a veterinary clinic to the list?
Thanks guys!
And a gym (workout)
Hey guys, I want to thank you for helping writers better themselves, and ask you if in the Setting Thesaurus Collection you could add “art gallery”. I’ve never been to one, but have seen them in the movies and tv, I’d like to know what else is going on besides what they show on tv. Thank you!
Hi, Ana! I’m so glad you’re finding the setting thesaurus useful. It’s one that I consult often. We’re keeping a list of additional settings in case we do ever add to this list. We’ll definitely keep “art gallery” in mind :).