Saturday was Date Night (woohoo!) and while we were out, I realized a few things. First, I recognized that while going out to eat pre-baby was merely fun, it's now necessary to my sanity. Secondly, as nice as it was to eat someone else's cooking, having a real conversation with another adult was … [Read more...] about Talk Amongst Yourselves: Realistic Dialogue
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Setting Thesaurus Entry: Library
Sight Books, paper, pencils, pens, pen jars, DVDs, CDs, librarian, stacks, shelves, bookcases, dust, colorful paperbacks, tomes, dictionaries, encyclopedias, students, senior citizens, stamps, ink, filing cabinets, staircases, computers, microfiche, newspapers, pamphlets... Sounds Quiet, cell … [Read more...] about Setting Thesaurus Entry: Library
Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Resentment
When it comes to emotion, sometimes we need a brainstorming nudge. After all, each character will express their feelings differently depending on their personality, emotional range, and comfort zone. We hope this short, sample list of expressions will help you better imagine how your character might … [Read more...] about Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Resentment
Pacing Potholes: Common Hazards that Slow Forward Motion
Pacing is a difficult thing to master. Like driving a car, there are many things we need to be on top of to keep our story on the road. Are we glancing out the window enough to be aware of the setting around us? Do we have a destination in mind, or is our plot taking the scenic route? Did we … [Read more...] about Pacing Potholes: Common Hazards that Slow Forward Motion
Setting Thesaurus Entry: Beach
Sight blue, green, sea-green, whitecaps, waves, uneven shoreline, horizon, cruise ships and sailboats way out at sea, planes flying overhead with advertising banners, seaweed, shells, sand dunes, cattails, starfish, jellyfish, seagulls, beachcombers, half-washed-away sand … [Read more...] about Setting Thesaurus Entry: Beach
Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Excited/Elated
When it comes to emotion, sometimes we need a brainstorming nudge. After all, each character will express their feelings differently depending on their personality, emotional range, and comfort zone. We hope this short, sample list of expressions will help you better imagine how your character might … [Read more...] about Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Excited/Elated
Setting Description Entry: Desert
Sight A landscape of sand, flat, harsh sunlight, cacti, tumbleweeds, dust devils, cracked land, crumbing rock, sandstone, canyons, wind-worn rock formations, tracks, dead grasses, vibrant desert blooms (after rainfall), flash flooding, dry creek… Sounds Wind (whistling, howling, piping, … [Read more...] about Setting Description Entry: Desert
Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Reluctance
When it comes to emotion, sometimes we need a brainstorming nudge. After all, each character will express their feelings differently depending on their personality, emotional range, and comfort zone. We hope this short, sample list of expressions will help you better imagine how your character might … [Read more...] about Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Reluctance
Setting Description Entry: Forest
Sight green, brown, dead fall, fallen trees, logs, branches, twigs, fallen leaves, ferns, underbrush, moss, brambles, thickets, ivy, berry bushes, pine needles, pine cones, acorns, insects, rabbits, birds, squirrels, lizards, mice, foxes, spider webs, deer, sun-dappled, shady, … [Read more...] about Setting Description Entry: Forest
Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Hopelessness/Depression
· Actions grow mechanical, lose meaning· Very little energy is put into doing tasks· Pays no attention to appearance, appearance degrades · Requires direction from others, even for simple things· A lack of interest in the feelings of others · A desire to curl up and sleep to 'escape'· A lack of … [Read more...] about Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Hopelessness/Depression
Techniques For Atmosphere and Mood Building In Fiction
I thought today I'd take a quick look at how setting description can transcend to convey atmosphere through the deft manipulation of the five senses. First off, what is Atmosphere? Atmosphere is the mood created through the deliberate description of setting. Depending on the emotion you wish … [Read more...] about Techniques For Atmosphere and Mood Building In Fiction
Introducing Sensory Saturday…Meet the Setting Thesaurus!
Many elements go into creating a successful novel, but one of the most important is Setting. For a reader to relate to the current action, they need a physical anchor to tie the characters to. It can be difficult, finding the right words to convey a sense of place. The right description can create a … [Read more...] about Introducing Sensory Saturday…Meet the Setting Thesaurus!