A Closer Look at Our Show-Don’t-Tell Database
As some of you know, the heart of One Stop For Writers is our signature Descriptive Thesaurus Database. Visitors to this blog (and The Bookshelf Muse before it) have watched Becca and I create highly-sensory, real-life description lists for many different areas (Character Emotions, Traits, Settings, Symbolism, and Weather, to name a few.) Delving deep to understand these aspects of description allows us to write rich, compelling stories. So, when writers asked us to, we started turning a few into books.
Now we’re writers, and we love books! But the list format we use isn’t always an easy read in digital format and often requires a lot of scrolling to see an entire entry. We knew there had to be a better way.
Lucky for us Lee Powell, the creator of Scrivener for Windows and our former OS partner, is a genius. He could see how the right medium would turn our thesaurus collections into a top-notch resource that would be super easy to use.
At One Stop, each thesaurus is neatly organized and entries are easy to view.
A Helpful Tip guides writers into thinking about how an area of description can be woven into the story to do more, and show more. There’s a tutorial for each thesaurus as well, helping writers understand the power of specific detail and how it can be used in the story for maximum effect.
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Setting is a big area of description. So much more than a backdrop for a scene, it is loaded with opportunities to convey mood, foreshadow, and act as a tuning fork for symbolism and theme. And that’s just to start! Using sensory details when describing your character in a specific location is important for pulling readers into the story.
You might be wondering how authentic the description is for each of our Setting entries.
Well, whenever possible, Becca and I would visit the location ourselves so we could observe the sights, smells, sounds, textures and tastes first hand. The entire Setting Collection has around 250 entries. That’s a lot of research.
It wasn’t easy to visit some locations, but we were determined. As you can see in this photo…well, sometimes we had to go to great lengths to get exact detail.
(In case you were wondering, it is rather terrifying being arrested, even when it involves being set up by relatives with connections so you can get the “full experience” of being handcuffed and put into the back of police car!)
So, let’s just say the details in this particular entry are very accurate.
One Stop for Writers’ Thesaurus is the largest fiction-focused description database anywhere.
Our THESAURUS dives into each database and pulls forth the most story-worthy details to make brainstorming easier for you as you write. You’ll be able to strengthen your description, focus on the details that matter most, and have non-stop ideas on tap when you need them. Stop by and check it out.
This powerful show-don’t-tell database is only one tool at One Stop for Writers. Join Becca for a tour below and see how we’re helping writers write stronger fiction faster.
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.
Hello –
I thought I subscribed to your newsletter this morning and when I went into your website to get help with a writing issue I was unable to get what I needed….do I have to pay for a subscription and not just have signed up for your newsletter? Thank you ….great tools!! Shelly
HI Shelly,
In regards to One Stop For Writers, there is a Free Registration that allows users to poke around and see what we have to offer as far as tools, resources (tutorials, lessons, etc.) and the extent of our massive description database (the Thesaurus Collections). But to access the tools and site in full, yes, a person will need to subscribe. (If you do choose to do this, make sure to use our 25% off coupon which is valid right now through to Jan 15, 2017. You can find it here at the end of this post: https://writershelpingwriters.net/2016/12/happy-new-year-start-2017-right-by-jumping-on-3-important-tasks/ )
I’ve posted a link to The Emotion Thesaurus on Amazon in my blog, NovelWords.Cafe http://novelwords.cafe/
The Thesaurus books are terrific resources.
Thank you so much Leanna–so kind of you. We’re so glad you have found our thesauruses helpful. 🙂
Crazy for One Stop. I spent a good day simply browsing and found myself coming up with ideas for whole scenes – scary! The thesaurus tutorials are a great addition.
Judi
This is so good to hear, JC! One of the things we most wanted to accomplish with One Stop was new ideas and increased brainstorming. Sounds like this is happening for you 🙂
Love the OneStop lots of great info. And thanks for offering a special coupon too. I am a subscriber!
One question… Why isn’t’ the Emotional Wounds Thesaurus part of OnStop?
oops, I didn’t edit my note. Sorry for the errors.
Hi, Diana. I’m so glad you decided to jump into One Stop For Writers. I hope you find it super helpful! The reason the Wounds Thesaurus isn’t part of One Stop is because we’re still working on it at Writers Helping Writers. We just started it back in May and there are so many wounds we have yet to cover. Eventually, we will wind that one down here and may end up adding it to the One Stop library in a future update. So stay tuned!
YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!! So awesome!! <3 XOXO
Thanks Mart! You rock too–all over the place and full of coordination to boot! 🙂
Wauu – you guys are so cool –and this new tool-box will be a big help for me, I am sure!
Thanks!
/Helle
happy you found us Helle! Have fun at One Stop For Writers!
Hi Angela! Hi Becca! I read about your great collaboration over at Carrie Butler’s today and viola…I’m here. Congrats on your great work together. I’ll be back.
She’s the best, isn’t she? Thanks so much for hopping over–this is an exciting week for us, and we can’t want to see what will come next for One Stop. 🙂
I am so impressed with how much work you guys have done. Just signed up yesterday and received notes from my “book doctor/editor” on needing to slow down and get into settings more. Your thesaurus work will help me. many thanks
That is so great to hear–I am glad the Setting Thesaurus will be a good tool for you. Settings are just so important and full of potential as far as emotional showing goes.
Good luck with edits!