Setting Thesaurus Entry: Hotel Room

Sight

Key card entry, fire escape plan on the back of the door, closet with non-removable hangers, extra blanket/pillow & iron on top shelf, carpet, Bathroom: small with tub/shower, tiled floor and dings in the walls, fluffy white towels, extra toilet paper on the…

Sounds

The hum from air conditioning/furnace ventilation, water in the pipes inside the walls, doors opening and closing, voices from people passing out in the hall, the shower, coffee pot perking, the bing of the elevator in the hall, drinks talking to loud as they stumble…

Smells

Bleach, cleaners and deodorizers, old carpet, fabric, bleached towels, aromatic shampoos/conditioners/soap, coffee brewing, alcohol, cigarette smells clinging to clothing, perfume, aftershave, hair spray, sweat

Tastes

Coffee, tea, water, mouthwash, toothpaste, food brought up to the room or through room service (burgers, fries, sandwiches, spaghetti, salads, soup, etc), pop and snacks from a vending machine

Touch

Sliding the plastic card into the slot, then yanking it out fast, pulling on the handle while the light blinks green, taking a try or two to get the timing right, the instant freeze of ice on the fingers as you dig a hand into the ice bucket for a few cubes, blowing on a hot cup of…

Helpful hints:

–The words you choose can convey atmosphere and mood.

Example 1: I glared at the gloomy white ceiling, then shoved a pillow over my head. Never again would I stay in a hotel hosting a God damn family reunion. First the elevator doors were going off every ten minutes or so, dropping the drunks off. Then, to add insult to injury, these two old biddies show up, practically shouting at each other how wonderful it was to see everyone, and that Lindy’s fiancee seemed like quite a catch and wasn’t it just pathetic how Marvin couldn’t hold a job? Yak, yak, freaking yak! I was five seconds away from storming out there in the buff to tell them it was two a.m. and they should shut the hell up…

–Similes and metaphors create strong imagery when used sparingly.

Example 1: (Simile) Why didn’t I ask if the room was close to the elevator? Every time the thing went past my floor my bed would shake like a plane readying for take off…

Think beyond what a character sees, and provide a sensory feast for readers

Setting is much more than just a backdrop, which is why choosing the right one and describing it well is so important. To help with this, we have expanded and integrated this thesaurus into our online library at One Stop For Writers. Each entry has been enhanced to include possible sources of conflict, people commonly found in these locales, and setting-specific notes and tips, and the collection itself has been augmented to include a whopping 230 entries—all of which have been cross-referenced with our other thesauruses for easy searchability. So if you’re interested in seeing a free sample of this powerful Setting Thesaurus, head on over and register at One Stop.

On the other hand, if you prefer your references in book form, we’ve got you covered, too, because both books are now available for purchase in digital and print copies. In addition to the entries, each book contains instructional front matter to help you maximize your settings. With advice on topics like making your setting do double duty and using figurative language to bring them to life, these books offer ample information to help you maximize your settings and write them effectively.