Colors, Textures and Shapes Entry: Crumbly

Natural:

Sand
Sandstone
Dried poop
Rotten wood
Soil
Clay…

Man-made:

Whole grain flour
Corn meal
Cookies
Muffins
Biscuits
Cakes…

Synonyms: brittle, deteriorated, friable, powdery, pilled…

Describing texture in a story creates intimacy between reader and character, and can even cause an emotional trigger for both. To anchor the reader in the scene, make sure comparisons and contrasts are clear and relatable, and within the scope of the narrator’s life knowledge and experience.

Textures are a powerful tool for pulling readers into the narrating character’s world, so don’t skimp.

Looking for ways to encourage that shared empathy bond between your readers and the hero? You’ll be happy to know that this thesaurus has been expanded by 60% (many new entries to explore!) and integrated into our online library at One Stop For Writers. With One Stop’s cross-referenced searchability, adding texture to your writing has never been easier, so if you’re interested in seeing a free sampling of the updated Texture Thesaurus and our other collections, head on over and register.