Writers Helping Writers^®

Writing Craft

Sight leaves floating on water, lilly pads, water lillies, frogs, tadpoles, thrush, reeds, long grass, reeds, mud, algae, rocks, pebbles, willows, clover, moss, swirling water, air bubbles drifting up, water…

Colors, Textures and Shapes Entry: Rectangle

June 4, 2009

Colors, Textures and Shapes Entry: Rectangle

June 4, 2009

Natural: No true rectangles in nature Man-made: Brick Magazines Rooms of a house Windows Curtains Books Computer/TV monitors Filing cabinets TV trays Paper Postcards Mattresses Bathroom mirrors Rugs… Synonyms: quadrangle,…

Setting Description Entry: Barn

May 30, 2009

Setting Description Entry: Barn

May 30, 2009

Sight Hay, stalls, water trough or bucket, food trough, pens, seed, grain, blue salt lick, curry comb, tools (shovel, pitchfork, broom) feed buckets, flies, spiders, spider webs, dust, rusty nails,…

Colors, Textures and Shapes Entry: Fuzzy

May 28, 2009

Colors, Textures and Shapes Entry: Fuzzy

May 28, 2009

Rabbits Kittens Puppies Llamas Hamsters Ducklings… Man-made: Stuffed animals Blankets Sweaters Mittens Hats Scarves… Synonyms: downy, frizzy, furry, hairy, pilate, wooly… Describing texture in a story creates intimacy between reader…

Setting Description Entry: Haunted House (inside)

May 23, 2009

Setting Description Entry: Haunted House (inside)

May 23, 2009

SightDust, cobwebs, sheets on furniture, broken tables, chairs, windows, lamps, peeling wallpaper, gaps in the floorboards, holes in the walls, flickering lights (if there’s electricity) chandelier with broken strings of…

Colors, Textures and Shapes Entry: Silver

May 21, 2009

Colors, Textures and Shapes Entry: Silver

May 21, 2009

Real World Comparisons: Nickels, dimes, quarters Safety pins Appliances: stainless steel blenders, toasters, microwaves, dishwashers, stoves, refrigerators, etc Cheese grater Cutlery Knife blades Mercury Sterling silver jewelry White gold Paper…

Setting Entry: Swamp

May 16, 2009

Setting Entry: Swamp

May 16, 2009

Sight Dripping trees with black trunks, rotting vegetation, scummy water, reeds, frogs, slugs, leeches, catfish, craw fish, beetles, spiders, snakes, flies, mosquitoes, gnats clouds, lizards, bats, algae, dead trees, quicksand,…

Colors, Textures and Shapes Entry: Arch

May 14, 2009

Colors, Textures and Shapes Entry: Arch

May 14, 2009

Natural: Plant stems Caves A snow-laden sapling Bent grasses An arched back Fingers tented or laced together… Man-made: Bridge McDonald’s sign The Arc de Triomphe Tunnels Gateway trellis Wedding arch……

Setting Thesaurus Entry: Locker Room

May 9, 2009

Setting Thesaurus Entry: Locker Room

May 9, 2009

Sight Lockers, locks, tile floors, entrance to showers and gym, benches, bin for dirty towels, clothes poking out of closed lockers, mirrors, faucets, bathrooms, soap dispensers, dirt/hair/wrappers/etc on the floor,…

Colors, Textures and Shapes Entry: Prickly

May 7, 2009

Colors, Textures and Shapes Entry: Prickly

May 7, 2009

Natural: Cactus Porcupine Hedgehog Pine cone Pine needle branches Rose stems… Man-made: Hairbrush Pincushion Woolen blankets/clothing BBQ brush Cat or dog brush Barbed wire… Synonyms: spiny, thistly, nettlesome, barbed, bristly, briery, echinate,…