fingernails broken after scouring dried blood from the floor.legs brushing by a pet, bush, or hanging corpse.thighs covered with red welts from stinging nettle.wrists raw from rubbing against handcuffs or rope restraints.back aching because of a lumpy mattress or a long ride in a trunk.cheeks bumpy after an overnight stint sleeping on the couch.ears irritated by a scratchy hatband, collar, or blindfold.chin chafing against a muzzle or rough wool scarf.nose or buttocks reacting to cheap tissues or toilet paper.bare elbows contacting with people in a crowd or zombies on the prowl.heels rubbing against ankle cuffs or rough ridges in shoes.knees grating over gravel, splintered boards, or desiccated bones.Warning: You might find a few story prompts and plot twists in the following list. Speaking of lovers, have you ever worn silk underwear or slept in satin sheets? How would you describe the experience?Ĭonsider These Avenues for Adding Texture Tongues are adept at analyzing food textures and detecting goosebumps on a lover’s neck.Burrs will stick to clothing and hair, irritating wherever they touch skin.Pine needles on the forest floor might lodge in socks and pants, causing prickly tingles.The entire body will sense vibrations when a vehicle shimmies across the steel deck of a bridge.Feet will feel the wooden slats of a swaying footbridge, the give of snowshoes in fluffy snow, or the chafing of a rock in one’s shoe.You could describe all three as smooth, but your fingers will discern the difference.Įach adjective carries a different connotation. Consider the variations between a tin can, a plastic jar, and a water glass. Smooth describes texture, but smooth objects have distinct surfaces. Each has a unique surface, distinguishable with closed eyes. Pick up a tin-can lid, a paper towel, or a cutting board. A well-chosen texture adjective will invigorate your words.Įverything touchable has texture.
Whenever you write descriptions, imagine how a blind person perceives the world. Vary Your Style Occasionally to Lead With Textureĭo you always describe how something looks and then follow with everything else? Why is Jens wearing a threadbare jacket? To whom will he administer justice, and why? Keen could apply to his fervor as well as the sharpness of the knife. Although his hand hitched over the knife strapped beneath, he hoped no one would notice his keen messenger of justice. Jens rubbed the threadbare tweed sleeve of his jacket. We intuit that Clanton is confused, and we can assume she’s in a forest. They met the velvety texture of … moss? It certainly wasn’t the carpeting in her office. Using your sense of touch, your fingers would feel grain or grooves you’d notice hardness and temperature.Ī Few Well-Chosen Texture Words Can Add Depth and IntrigueĬlanton’s palms patted the surface on both sides of her body.If you decide to check its taste, your tongue might pick up dust, or maybe it would catch on a knobby protuberance.After three years, the wood releases no scent.How would you describe it? Take your time. You might assign taste attributes to food, teardrops, and lipstick.Īfter reading this paragraph, close your eyes and imagine a piece of driftwood that has been sitting on a shelf for three years. Sound could come next, followed by scent. You might describe dimensions, shape, and color. Visuals are often a writer’s first consideration. Engage the Senses, and You Engage Readers
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