For example, if your setting is the beach, you could describe the feeling of sand between your character’s toes, the taste the salt in the air, the sound of the waves, the briny smell of the water, and the shape of the sand dunes. If you want to be a professional writer, you should outline first. It helps to write novels fast. [2] X Research source It cuts down the problem areas in the plot and makes work easier. [3] X Research source
If you can’t visit the location yourself, research online for firsthand accounts of people in the area. Pull details from what they’ve experienced, but be sure not to plagiarize them.
If you’re writing about a real-life location, use Google Street View to look at the area to pull even more specific details. Look on websites like Artstation and Pinterest if you’re writing about a made-up universe to get visual inspiration for what your setting could look like. Mix real-life details with your imagination to make the setting specific to your story.
For example, if you’re writing a story that takes place soon after World War II, you may say, “The planes tore through the city, leaving piles of burnt rubble where our houses used to be,” to reference how a battle affected the town’s landscape.
For example, if you’re describing an abandoned house, you might focus on the wallpaper peeling off of the walls, broken stairs leading to the second floor, and how the windows are covered with rotting boards.
For example, if you’re writing about an abandoned house like before, you may write, “I tried to peek through the windows, but the rotting boards blocked my view. I pushed open the door, and it swung open with the loud creak of rusty hinges. As I walked inside, my fingers ran over wallpaper peeling away from the drywall. ” This way, details are conveyed throughout the paragraph without being overwhelming.
For example, you may write something like, “The wires covered the basement floor, like vines waiting to ensnare me in their trap,” to convey how dense the wires are in a basement.
For example, if your character is walking down a street and having a conversation, it’s not important to include detailed descriptions. However, if your story involves a car accident, you might add descriptions like a streetlight that’s flickering or a stop sign that was stolen. Try to have most, if not all, of the settings in your story integral settings for your character.
For example, instead of writing, “A log was in front of her. She tripped over it,” you may write something like, “As she rushed through the dark forest path, her foot caught on a log and she fell into the tall grass. ”
For example, if your character is sad you may say, “As she wiped the tears off her cheek, the sun disappeared and a slow patter of rain started to thrum on the pavement. A gust of cold wind blew right through her. ”
For example, if your story is about someone learning to love another person, you could have the setting change from winter to summer to convey the message that your characters are warming up to one another.
