Setting Thesaurus Entry: Lake

Sight

Rocky shoreline, gravel, water lapping the shore, skimmers, minnows scuttling between the rocks, ducks, geese (plucking grass from the lush slope, swimming in the reeds, preening, herding babies) seagulls searching for garbage left behind on the beach or…

Sounds

The roar of on board motors, a patterned ‘whump, whump, whump’ as a speedboat goes over it’s own wake and hits the waves, music from portable players, talking/laughing or visitors eating or spending the day at the lake, the gentle lap of water hitting the shoreline…

Smells

The peaty smell of algae, fresh air, food cooking on portable grills, grass, wet earth, water, gasoline fumes from boats, sunscreen, snacks like Doritos or popcorn with strong odors, flowers, seaweed or rotten vegetation at the edge

Tastes

Food cooked off a portable grill (burgers, hot dogs, chicken, ribs) potato salad, chips, pop, coleslaw, take out (like a bucket of KFC or McDonald’s), beer, sandwiches bought or made at home, water, gum, mints

Touch

The sharp cold gravel on bare feet, the cold fluidity of water on shin, shivers, grass sliding past bare ankles, pulling or tugging a bathing suit into place, water seeping through shoes or sandals, sand caught in shoes and other places, sand gritty on skin, the grease of…

Helpful hints:

–The words you choose can convey atmosphere and mood.

Example 1: Donna leaned forward on the blanket and curled her arms around her knees. Sunlight massaged warmth into her back and she closed her eyes, letting go of all the stress from the work week–a yelling boss, reports piling up on her desk, missed deadlines. Instead she filled herself with the smell of the fresh air, the sound of the water gently slapping against the shore and feathery slide of the wind blowing her hair across her bare shoulders. Bliss…

–Similes and metaphors create strong imagery when used sparingly.

Example 1: (Metaphor) A net of slimy weeds snagged my legs, keeping me from the water’s surface…

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.