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Describing your Setting
When describing a setting it is important to use more than just one sensory tool. Sometimes we can focus on listing what can be seen in a setting, but that is only one piece of the puzzle. Take a moment to imagine what your character could hear, smell, feel and even taste when standing in your setting.
👀 See |
🎧 Hear |
👃 Smell |
✋ Feel |
🍕 Taste |
Describe what something looks like, including colors, shapes, and movement. |
Describe the sounds in the setting, from loud noises to quiet whispers. |
Describe scents that bring the setting to life, from fresh air to food. |
Describe how something physically feels or the emotions it creates. |
Describe flavors that help immerse the reader in the scene. |
The golden sun dipped behind the jagged mountains, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange. |
The soft crunch of snow underfoot mixed with the joyful laughter of children skating nearby. |
The rich scent of roasting marsh-mellows and melted chocolate drifted through the frosty air. |
A sharp, icy wind bit at my fingertips, making me shove my hands deep into my pockets. |
Being here reminded me of sipping of creamy hot chocolate next to a roaring fire. |
Tip: When describing your setting, you could also consider how you can communicate additional information about location, time and season. For example, instead of saying "It was night", you could say "The midnight moonlight glimmered across the lake".
✏️ Your Turn! Have a go writing a description that uses more than one sensory clue for these settings.
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Basic Description
The lake was blue and looked nice. There were also mountains. Improved Description
The wolf shaped lake shines like a bright blue gem, its surface smooth and glowing under the relentless summer sun. The warm mountain air smells fresh, carrying the scent of nearby pine trees. Tall, rock mountains surround the lake like giant guards, their jagged edges reflecting in the brilliant water below. Everything feels peaceful, with only the distant call of an eagle and the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze. A refreshing breeze brushes against my skin, inviting me to investigate the picturesque lake below. |
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Basic Description
It was a pretty nice day for a winter day. I was hoping that there wouldn’t be so many people at the rink but whatever. Improved Description
The rink hums with energy as people glide, stumble, and spin across the glistening ice. Laughter and the soft scrape of skates fill the crisp winter air, mixing with the distant honking of city traffic. Lights from nearby skyscrapers reflect off the smooth ice, casting a warm glow against the chilly city sky. The scent of sweet hot chocolate drifts from a nearby coffee cart. A sharp, cool breeze nips at noses and cheeks. Children giggle as they wobble forward, while confident skaters weave effortlessly through the crowd. This is truely a winter wonderland, tucked inside the bustling heart of the city. |
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Using Literary devices
You can use literary devices to help enhance the description of your setting.