Words that will bring your story to the next level
CREATIVE WRITING TIPS
Check out words that are too basic and words that you can use to elevate your storytelling. Help your readers deep dive into your world-building with these new descriptions.
Words that probably are NOT helping to elevate your story
First off, let’s start with words that are simple and basic that you might be using too many times in your story.
Using these words and phrases isn’t a bad thing, but using them TOO MANY TIMES will be redundant and your readers will get frustrated with the repetition.
NOW LETS CHECK OUT THE WORDS AND PHRASES THAT WILL ELEVATE YOUR STORY TELLING
The one thing that these words and phrases have is that they are detailed!
For example, when you describe someone’s eyes, don’t just say “blue”. Sure, it may be accurate, but it’s not exciting. And there are a ton of different shades of blue! Help the reader imagine your character better by using a more detailed word, like crystal or arctic blue.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS
BEAUTIFUL
- PRETTY
- LOVELY
- HANDSOME
- ATTRACTIVE
- GORGEOUS
- DAZZLING
- SPLENDID
- MAGNIFICENT
- COMELY
- FAIR
- RAVISHING
- GRACEFUL
- ELEGANT
- FINE
- SHAPELY
- GLORIOUS
- RADIANT
- GLOWING
- RESPLENDENT
- DELICATE
- HEAVENLY
SCENT
- FLORAL
- AFTERSHAVE
- EARTHY
- FRUITY
- PERFUMES
- HERBAL
- LEATHER
- FIRE
- COLD
- FRESH
- METAL
- RAIN
- WINE
- WHISKEY
- SWEAT
- COCOA
- SHARP
CLOTHES
- TIGHT-FIT
- LEGGINGS
- YOGA PANTS
- PENICL SKIRT
- DESIGNER
- MAXIDRESS
- CORSET
- LACE
- LEATHER
- PASTEL
- WAISTCOAT
- FUR
- REVEALING
- MODEST
- LOOSE
- TIGHT
- BUTTON-UP
- SWEATS
- THRIFT
- COCKTAIL
- FANCY
- CAUSUAL
HAIR
- THIN
- THICK
- FINE
- NORMAL
- GREASY
- DRY
- SOFT
- SHINY
- DIRTY
- CURLY
- FRIZZY
- UNRULY
- PIXIE-CUT
- AFRO
- WAVY
- SUN-KISSED
SKIN
- OLIVE
- ROSY
- PALE
- TANNED
- SUN-KISSED
- BLOTCHY
- SMOOTH
- MOLES
- DRY
- GREASY
- FRECKLED
- SCARED
EYES
- SMALL
- LARGE
- ROUND
- DOE-EYED
- ALMOND
- CLOSE-SET
- WIDE-SET
- DEEP-SET
- SQUINTY
- MONOLID
- HEAVY EYED
- UPTURNED
- DOWNTURNED
EYE-COLOR
- CHESTNUT
- CHOCOLATE BROWN
- MOCHA
- MAHOGANY
- COPPER
- AMBER
- HONEY
- TAWNY
- TOPAZ
- HAZEL
- ONYZ
- COAL
- RAVEN
- MIDNIGHT
- SKY BLUE
- STEEL BLUE
- ICE BLUE
- CERULEAN
- SILVER
- GREY
- STORM GREY
- SMOKY
- ASH
- DOVE
- MOSS GREEN
- LEAF GREEN
- EMERALD
- OLIVE
NOSE
- SNUB
- DAINTY
- BUTTON
- TURNED-UP
- LONG
- BROAD
- THIN
- STRAIGHT
- POINTED
- CROOKED
- BULBOUS
- FLARED
- HAWK
- STRONG
BODY SHAPE
- TALL
- AVERAGE
- SHORT
- PETITE
- TINY
- COMPACT
- BURLY
- BEEFY
- BULKY
- BRAWNY
- BARREL-CHESTED
- FLABBY
- STOUT
- LUCH
- PLUSH
- PLUMP
- AMBLE
- CURVY
- HOURGLASS
- LANKY
- GANGLY
- LITHE
- WILLOWY
- SLENDER
- SKINNY
- TRIM
- BONY
- GAUNT
- LEAN
- LISSOME
OTHER WORDS FOR "BAD" AND "EVIL"
- IMMORAL
- WICKED
- CORRUPT
- SINFUL
- DEPRAVED
- ROTTEN
- CONTAMINATED
- SPOILED
- TAINTED
- HARMFUL
- INJURIOUS
- SUBSTANDARD
- FAULTY
- IMPROPER
- INAPPROPRIATE
- UNSUITABLE
- DISAGREEABLE
- UNPLEASANT
- CROSS
- NASTY
- UNFRIENDLY
- IRASCIBLE
- HORRIBLE
- ATROCIOUS
- OUTRAGEOUS
- SCANDALOUS
- INFAMOUS
- WRONG
- SINISTER
- PUTRID
- SNIDE
- DEPLORABLE
- DISMAL
- GROSS
- HEINOUS
- NEFARIOUS
ACTION WORDS
TOUCH
- BLOW
- BRUSH
- CARESS
- COLLIDE
- COME TOGETHER
- CRASH
- EMBRACE
- GRAZE
- JOIN
- MEET
- NUDGE
- PROBE
- PUSH
- EASE
- EDGE
- FUMBLE
- FLIRT
- MOLD
- NUZZLE
- NIP
- SLIP
- SQUEEZE
- SPREAD
- WRAP
- HOLD
- SCOOP
- SOOTHE
- SWIPE
- TOY
- CIRCLE
- SWEEP
- KNEAD
RUN
- FLEE
- DASH
- RACE
- RUSH
- BOLT
- SKIP
- TROT
- BARREL
- SCOOT
- SKITTER
- BUSTLE
- SMOKE
- ESCAPE
- HURRY
- SPRINT
- TEAR
- FLIT
- HASTEN
- CHARGE
- DEPART
- TAKE FLIGHT
- SPLIT
GIVE
- ALLOW
- COMMIT
- GRANT
- HAND OUT
- PERMIT
- TURN OVER
- ADMINISTER
- BESTOW
- CONSIGN
- DEED
- DISPENSE
- ENTRUST
- REMIT
- TIP
- WILL
- FURNISH
- ENDOW
- DISH OUT
- THROW IN
- PASS OUT
- LEASE
OTHER WAYS TO SAY "LOOKED AT"
- BEHELD
- CAUGHT SIGHT OF
- CHECKED OUT
- EXAMINED
- EYEBALLED
- FOCUSED ON
- GAWKED AT
- GLANCED AT
- GLIMPSED
- INSPECTED
- NOTICED
- OBSERVED
- PEERED AT
- SAW
- SCANNED
- STARED AT
- SURVEYED
- TOOK NOTICE OF
- VIEWED
- WATCHED
OTHER WAYS TO SAY "A LOT"
- ABUNDANCE
- BUNCH
- CLUSTER
- GOBS
- COLLECTION
- GREAT DEAL
- HARVEST
- LOADS
- MANY
- MUCH
- MULTITUDE
- OODLES
- PLENTY
- SLEW
- TONS
DESCRIBE VOICES
- ANGELIC
- BREATHY
- BRITTLE
- CROAKY
- DEAD
- FLAT
- GRATING
- HONEYED
- HUSKY
- LOW
- MONOTONOUS
- NASAL
- RINGING
- ROUGH
- SHRIL
- SINGSONG
- SMOKY
- THIN
- THROATY
- WHEEZY
- WOBBLY
OTHER WAYS TO SAY "SAID"
- ACCEPTED
- ACKNOWLEDGED
- ADDED
- ADMITTED
- ADVISED
- AGONIZED
- AGREED
- ANNOUNCED
- ANSWERED
- APPROVED
- ARGUED
- ASSUMED
- ASKED
- BABBLED
- BARGAINED
- BARKED
- BAWLED
- BEGAN
- BEGGED
- BELLOWED
- BESEECHED
- BLUBBERED
- BOASTED
- BOSSED
- BRAGGED
- CALLED
- CLAIMED
- COMFORTED
- COMMANDED
- COMMENTED
- COMPLAINED
- CONSOLED
- CRIED
- CROONED
- DECIDED
- DEMANDED
- DENIED
- DESCRIBED
- DICTATED
- EMPATHIZED
- EMPHASIZED
- ENTREATED
- ESTIMATED
- EXCLAIMED
- EXPLAINED
- EXPRESSED
- FEARED
- FUMED
- GIGGLED
- GRIEVED
- GRINNED
- GROANED
- GRUNTED
- HOOTED
- HOWLED
- IMPLORED INDICATED
- INSISTED
- INSTRUCTED
- JABBERED
- JOKED
- LAMENTED
- LAUGHED
- LECTURED
- LIED
- LITED
- MENTIONED
- MOANED
- MOURNED
- MUMBLED
- MURMURED
- NOGGED
- NOTED
- NOTIFIED
- OBJECTED
- OBSERVED
- ORDERED
- PLEADED
- POINTED OUT
- PRAYED
- PREACHED
- PREDICTED
- PROFESSED
- QUAKED
- QUESTIONED
- QUIVERED
- RAGED
- REASSURED
- REJOICED
- RELATED
- REPEATED
- REPLIED
- RESPONDED
- REQUESTED
- RESTATED
- RETORTED
- REVEALED
- ROARED
- RULED
- SANG
- SCOLDED
- SCREAMED
- SHOUTED
- SHRIEKED
- SHUDDERED
- SNAPPED
- SNEERED
- SNIFFLED
- SOBBED
- SPOKE
- SPUTTERED
- STAMMERED
- STATE
- STORMED
- STRUGGLED
- SUGGESTED
- SYMPATHIZED
- TAINTED
- TATTLED
- TAUNTED
- TEASED
- TESTIFIED
- THEORIZED
- THOUGHT
- THUNDERED
- TOLD
- TREMBLED
- TWITTERED
- URGED
- UTTERED
- VENTED
- VENTURED
- VOCALISED
- VOICED
- VOLUNTEERED
- VOUCHED
- VOWED
- WAILED
- WAFFLED
- WARBLED
- WARNED
- WEPT
- WHIMPERED
- WHISPERED
- WHISTLED
- WONDERED
THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSIFYING YOUR DESCRIPTIONS
Part of the appeal of reading is that we can imagine a whole world inside our minds. But in order for readers to get into your mind, as the author, you need to be descriptive and detailed.
You might imagine a brilliant, electric blue sky for your sci-fi world, but if you simply say “blue”, then the reader might imagine a softer, earth-toned shade of blue. Colors are just one example of how you can help readers get deeper into your world-building.
Also, if your book ever becomes a movie, having more details will help producers and directors create a true adaptation, instead of one that will likely not match up to the story that you had in your head.