creative writing on adjectives

135+ List of Adjective Words To Add To Your Writing

Here is a list of adjective words that you can add to your writing projects.

Adjectives play a vital role in forming clear and vivid sentences. They are critical to describing things, events, people, and feelings. Not only are adjectives essential in writing, but they are also a key part of language, and we use them daily to describe our feelings, events, and surroundings. It pairs nicely with our list of mood words for literature .

What Are Adjective Words?

Opinion adjectives, size adjectives, physical quality adjectives, shape adjectives, age adjectives, color adjectives, origin adjectives, material adjectives, purpose adjectives.

An adjective is a term or phrase that describes and modifies the qualities, state, and quantity of nouns and pronouns. There is a specific rule when there’s more than one adjective in a sentence that cannot be broken even in informal speech or writing, unlike grammar and syntax. It’s called the “order of adjectives,” where the use of adjectives is ranked accordingly: opinion, size, physical quality, shape, age, color, origin, material, and purpose.

Opinion adjectives express thoughts and feelings about a topic, person, or thing. It also describes and modifies a person’s facial expression, body parts, actions, and traits. 

Linda has an amazing voice.

The new cafe’s interior design is beautiful .

She had a very cool demeanor. 

• Flirtatious

Many believe that Helena isn’t a flirtatious woman.

Leonardo De Caprio is one of the most handsome Hollywood actors.

My dad has the irritating habit of talking during meals.

My husband is irrationally jealous of my ex-boyfriend.

Our new professor has a lovely personality.

He’s a nice guy when he’s in a good mood.

You should apologize to your mom for your rude behavior.

She’ll use all her seductive charms to get John’s attention.

I want my steak to be delicious, juicy, and tender .

The drink has a very unusual taste.

Old people and kids are the most vulnerable members of our society.

Ed likes to say a lot of weird things.

These words denote the amount of space available or occupied by a person or an object. It also describes how small or large someone or something is.

Liam wants a big house, but his wife says no.

I want a brainy and brawny boyfriend.

They have a compact kitchen with all the necessary tools and appliances.

Every year, Brazil produces an enormous amount of coffee in the world.

The pack must hunt down a giant bear before the winter season begins.

The story she’s been writing contains a hefty amount of comedy.

• Immeasurable

I hope more filmmakers create movies with immeasurable effects on the younger generation.

She wants to buy a life-size standee of her favorite idol.

• Microscopic

The doctor has microscopic handwriting that’s hard to read.

Many people like to wear an oversize t-shirt because it’s trendy and comfortable.

Do you know where I can buy quality dresses that fit my petite body?

Cecile’s short hair makes her look younger.

Our company will build a tall building in the area.

Every guest has unlimited access to the pool and gym.

A dictionary is a vast treasure box of information.

These describe the physical characteristics of a person, animal, place, happening, or thing. 

He likes to surround himself with attractive people.

My father is still young, but he’s already starting to go bald .

A curvy figure is the new sexy.

Lina is small and delicate.  

Our neighbor is preparing an elegant party for her daughter’s birthday.

He’s fit because he’s a gym enthusiast.

My frail grandfather still refuses to even sit up on his bed.

The hotel room had a musky odor filling the air.

His plump lips are what make him so handsome.

The new table in our kitchen has a rough finish.

Please avoid making sharp turns because it’s dangerous.

His long, straight hair makes people mistake him for a girl.

My brother is that tattooed guy riding the big bike. 

My professor told me to work on my untidy writing.

His well-built body is the fruit of his hard work.

These words describe things without referring to the color and type of material used. Use the terms below to describe and compare different objects based on their shape and structure.

Gio inherits his father’s angular face.

Most bodybuilders have a broad torso and narrow waist.

Grandpa said that his crooked front teeth are his lucky charm.

Big cruise ships need to be in deep waters to sail.

A diagonal line divides the layout of The Da Vinci Code book cover.

Professional contractors in Switzerland make globular houses and buildings.  

Our engineer tests the strength of a hollow block by the drop test method.

The wall painting is at an oblique angle.

My mother’s ring has a unique oval ruby ​​gem.

The kingdom’s soldiers have pointy helmets.

• Rectangular

His rectangular smile is contagious.

People with round faces should opt for a layered haircut.

His uncle has a square jaw.

She’s wearing her favorite tapered jeans.

Today, they will perform on the triangular stage in the park.

These words are commonly used in verbal communication and writings to describe or indicate the age of animate and inanimate objects. 

There are no plans to resolve the age-old issue of land distribution.

The aging founder of our company is planning to resign.

My dream is to visit every ancient home and building around the world.

There’s a lot of antique furniture in my grandmother’s house. 

The declining demand for traditional kimonos will ultimately affect Japan’s culture. 

The group that I will tour today has a lot of elderly people.

Her mature boyfriend always helps her make rational decisions.

Peer pressure often leads to bad decisions among young people.

An old man’s advice is the best you can get.

The neighbor’s senescent dog has been with them for 13 years. 

The organization’s senile leader needs will soon step down.

Hailey is promoted to the senior psychologist position at the clinic.

Her teenage daughter loves to party. 

The modeling company is looking for young models to train.

My mom still has her youthful spirit.

Color adjectives describe the shade of nouns and can also express emotions or feelings.

She wants to change her hair color to ashy gray.

Jay looks good in blue clothes.

The designer uses bright colors and chintzy fabrics to make the room livelier.

Her smallpox left her with dotted skin.

He’s a famous celebrity known for his flamboyant lifestyle.

The athlete’s glistening back shines under the sun.

Half of the clothes in her closet are monotone black.

The newborn child has beautiful muddy eyes.

Add sparkle to your fabrics by making opalescent dyes by hand.

She has a natural pink undertone.

The compliment highlights her red cheeks.

The tourist is amazed by the rustic charm of the village.

The little girl’s skirt has lots of splashy flower prints.

• Translucent

The bathrooms are made of frosted and translucent glass.

She likes to add vibrant colors to her room.

These words indicate where a person, animal, or thing comes from. See the most commonly used origin adjectives by many speakers and writers.

I ate the American breakfast offered by the hotel.

Most of the British police don’t carry a gun .

A Caucasian model visits our store to shop for clothes.

New York City was a trading post founded by a Dutch colonist.

Spice up your usual potato salad with English mustard.

My favorite singer will have his European concert tour next year!

I love cheesy French fries with soda.

He has a strong Greek accent.

Italian pizza is the best!

Japanese people have the highest life expectancy . 

Korean culture is prevalent all over the world because of K-Pop.

The majority of English words we know have Greek and Latin origins.

Ysa loves Mexican food, especially enchiladas.

Can you tell me where I can buy Thai rice?

Dad likes the strong, bold, and bittersweet taste of Turkish coffee.

Material is a substance from which an object is made. In most cases, these adjectives are usually nouns that act as adjectives to describe another noun. 

My uncle collects copper coins.

Sheila’s new husband owns a cotton plantation.

She dreams of having a diamond ring.

Angel’s mom is fond of gold utensils.

Her expensive vice includes shopping for leather bags.

Their house has a metal gate painted like wood.

She needs a replacement for her guitar’s nylon strings.

We should avoid using plastic bags to save Mother Earth.

Polyester clothing is affordable but durable. 

Her silk hair floats with the wind.

Wait for a silver car that will take you to your destination.

Ian dreams of living in a stone house.

She likes how velvet skirts feel against her skin.

I prefer using wooden kitchen utensils. 

My favorite part of the house is the wool carpet in our living area.

Purpose adjectives are words that are almost part of the noun. They describe what an item is for. 

Put your dirty garments in the laundry basket .

Can you look in the cleaning supplies aisle and get some borax?

Mon uses his new cooking pan to make pancakes.

Do you want to take dancing lessons?

My dad stores his fishing rods in the shed.

I use my grandmother’s gardening tools for my planting project.

The hammered copper bowl is the center of attention for today’s auction.  

I use a polishing cloth to clean my glasses.

Mom holds the rolling pin like she wants to hit me.

I lost my running shoes at the local gym.

Come with me to the shopping center and buy a gift for Sophia.

Jake always makes sure that his sleeping bag is in his car.

Miko is looking for a new tennis racket for his brother.

I broke our washing machine.

I use a writing app to assist me in my essays. Looking for more descriptive words to elevate your writing? Check out list of descriptive words !

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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List of 200+ Descriptive Adjectives and Their Definitions

In our last post, we explored the importance of using the right descriptive words, and how doing so can help you write.

In this post, we venture away from any  plural noun, adverb, or different word s to improve your grammar. Instead, we are going heavy on descriptive adjectives.

We go over everything that  YOU   need to know !

We will go over the different  types  of adjectives – which is a  good lesson  for anyone – that will improve your English skills.

This list of  descriptive adjectives  includes many of the common, as well as some less common, adjectives used in creative writing, and they can be used in all types of writing.

The following list is organized alphabetically with the definitions listed first and the common uses for each adjective afterward.

We’ve also included examples to show how these  descriptive words  can be used.

But first! Let’s break down all the different types of adjectives.  And how they can improve your English grammar. 

EXAMPLES OF INTERROGATIVE ADJECTIVES

Here are examples of predicate adjectives:, using adjectives in writing and speech.

When you’re describing something, it can be helpful to use adjectives. Adjectives are words that describe qualities or characteristics of a person, thing, or place. They can make writing more interesting and help you to clarify your ideas.

There are many different types of adjectives, but they all have one thing in common: they add detail to your writing or speech.

Let’s look at some examples.

The flowers are beautiful.

The flowers are red, orange, and yellow.

The flowers are big, brightly colored, and fragrant.

In the first sentence, the author simply states that the flowers are beautiful. But in the second sentence, the author adds more detail by describing the colors of the flowers. And in the third sentence, the author adds even more detail by describing the size, color, and fragrance of the flowers.

As you can see, adjectives can make your writing or speech more interesting and informative. So next time you’re describing something, try using some adjectives to help your readers or listeners visualize and understand what you’re saying. 

Types of Descriptive Adjectives

What are interrogative adjectives.

Interrogative adjectives ask a question about the subject word, for example,  What, Who, When, Why . And they always start with a capital letter. 

They usually begin with the letters  W and H .

What do you think?

Which one do you like better?

Who was in charge of the order?

WHAT ARE POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVE

When you use  “possessive adjectives”   (my, your, our, its, her, his, and their ) before a noun, you are giving more information about the noun that follows.

Your bike was stolen.

My homework is late.

What Are quantitative adjectives?

Quantitative adjectives are adjectives that indicate quantity or amount. They are used to describe how much of something is present. Some common quantitative adjectives are “few,” “many,” “much,” and “little.” 

WHAT IS A COMPOUND ADJECTIVE?

Compound adjectives are a combination of two or more words used to modify a noun or pronoun. This can happen in different ways.

The first way is by using an adjective and noun together as one word.

big picture

simple math

empty bucket

The second way is by using two adjectives together.

nice and warm

soft and gentle

new and popular

What is a limiting adjective?

A limiting adjective is an adjective that restricts the meaning of the noun it modifies to a particular type or group of things. For example, the adjective “unique” is a limiting adjective because it restricts the meaning of the noun it modifies to “one of a kind.” 

This is a small room.

This is not a large room. 

What is a qualitative adjective?

A qualitative adjective is an adjective that describes a quality or characteristic of a person, place, or thing. 

Some qualitative adjectives are: blue, big, happy, and new. 

WHAT IS A DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVE?

Demonstrative adjectives  (this, that, these, those)  are adjectives that point out the noun by indicating a certain example.

It is this book.

That is a good book.

This is my house.

WHAT ARE LIMITING ADJECTIVES

In descriptive writing, adjectives are limiting adjectives when they identify a noun without telling us anything about the thing being described. What are specifically limiting adjectives? 

Let’s take a look at some examples: 

The tall man 

A good car 

He ran fast 

The small building 

I have a big yard 

She is a good student. 

The words “tall,” “good,” and “big” tell us nothing about the people or things being described.

WHAT IS A PREDICATE ADJECTIVE

A predicate adjective is a word or phrase placed after a linking verb and used to describe someone or something. 

The water was cold.  (cold is the predicate adjective)  

He is a smart young man.  (Young is the predicate adjective)

The students worked hard.  (hard is the predicate adjective)

WHAT ARE PROPER ADJECTIVES?

Proper adjectives  are used to describe nouns and they don’t even have to be a proper nouns:

Harry is a  funny  man.

The new dress looks  pretty .

That was a  fascinating  movie.

In each case,  the adjective  ( funny, pretty, fascinating)  describes what kind of thing the noun is.

Simple Adjectives

A Simple Adjectives Adjectives add detail to a noun in their simplest form; by describing, identifying, or quantifying the person, place, thing, or idea that a noun represents.

MEANING OF DETERMINER IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

What is a determiner in Grammar A determiner is a word that is used before a noun or noun phrase to indicate whether the noun is specific or non-specific.

For example , The and An are determiners, as well as many other words such as my, some, these, our, etc.

They clarify and make more specific what the noun will refer to. Then, an and other similar words are called definite articles, because they can help to determine whether the noun is indefinite  (referring to any member of a group)  or definite  (referring to a particular member of a group) .

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT ADJECTIVE

Do you sometimes find yourself struggling to choose the right adjective?

We know that choosing the right word to describe something that you are writing about is hard.

If you are a blog writer or use article writing services, descriptive words can really make a difference.

When you are writing an article, it is not just about describing the topic in your own words but doing it in an exciting way to wow your audience. How do you do so?

The answer is simple; use lots of adjectives!

An adjective is a word that describes a noun. 

So, when you are writing, it is important to choose descriptive words so that your audience can have a clear image of what you are trying to describe. 

It can be anything ranging from a person to an object and everything in between.

WHAT IS A LINKING VERB? 

A  linking verb , sometimes known as a connecting verb, is a type of verb that connects two different parts of a sentence. 

It can link two clauses, or it can link a subject with a noun complement. As the term suggests, the verb links these phrases together.

The most common way to use linking verbs is within compound sentences. 

Frequently, they’re used to connect  two  main clauses.

The main linking verb types are:  is, am, are, was, were, be, being, and been.  

LINKING VERB EXAMPLES 

I like to read books, and I like to review them on my blog.

In this sentence, the first main clause uses the present tense version of “to like,” while the second clause uses the present tense version of “to review.”

Linking Verb:  I am proud of you.

Controller Noun: My son is proud of his grades.

Linking verbs are also commonly used in conjunction with nouns to create a noun complement-a noun that characterizes the subject of a sentence.

LIST OF DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES AND THEIR DEFINITIONS

abashed –  embarrassed, ashamed, shy, abashed

abstemious –  moderate in eating and drinking, sparing

abrasive –  causing irritation or anger

abstruse –  difficult to comprehend; incomprehensible

academic –  of or pertaining to or like a student or a scholar

accede –  agree, yield, accede

accident –  by chance, without intention

acclivity –  upward slope, rise, incline

acclimate –  accustom to a particular climate or to unfamiliar circumstances

accost –  approach and speak to someone in a forward manner

accretion –  growth by addition of small amounts. I love this descriptive adjective.

accrue –  descriptive language for collect, gather together by natural growth or accumulation

acerbic –  sour, bitter, sharp, cutting in a manner that wounds feelings

achromatic –  colorless

acicular –  long thin rod-shaped; needle-shaped

acidic –  having or denoting the properties of an acid; sharp

acquiescent –  submissive or acquiescent

acquisitive avid –  grasping; greedy; eager to gain by taking from others

adamant –  insistent on having one’s own way; inflexible in one’s attitude or opinion; unyielding; obstinate

adduct –  draw toward

aesthetic –  artistic, beautiful, or pleasing in appearance… etc.

Baboonish –  Of or pertaining to the species of apes

Baffling –  Confusing or hard to understand.”

Bacchanalian –  very happy and lively.

Brittle –  Crisp, delicate, and easily broken; easily fractured or snapped.

Brawny –  Having great strength; muscular and powerful.

Brainy –  Having exceptional intelligence.

Brackish –  Moderately salty, as a small lake or an area of water.

Baleful –  harmful: malignant.

Bull-headed –  having a head that is difficult to influence or persuade 

Broken-hearted –  feeling or showing sorrow because of a loss or disappointment

Capacious –  Apt to hold or contain; spacious.

Capacity –  The power, ability, or opportunity to contain or hold.

Confused –  not be clear in one’s mind; to have no clear idea or concept of a situation or thing.

Cautious –  proceeding from careful thought or consideration; deliberate: a cautious speech; cautious advice.

Cheerful –  means full of cheer, but a couple of  synonyms  are happy and smiling.

Clumsy –  clumsy in a physical manner; ungraceful

Competent –  the ability to do something at the right time and in the right way

Concerned –  to worry about something or be anxious about it.

Consonant –  A consonant is a speech sound

Certain –  positive, definite, dependable.

Cheery –  Just like cheerful, a couple of synonyms are happy and glad.

Clownish –  characteristic of a clown; ludicrous; buffoonish; silly

Competent –  having the skill and knowledge to do something well.

Conscientious –  thorough, careful, and vigilant.

Daedal –  something that is intricate, complex, and cleverly designed with many details or intricacies. A great descriptive adjective.

Darling –  beloved one.

Dashing –  lively, energetic, and charming.

Dastardly –  fiendishly or scoundrel.

Disagreeable –  Unlikely to agree.

Disastrous –  resulting in a disaster. 

Discouraging –  To make somebody feel bad.

Disgusting –  Gross.

Dishonest –  Not honest.

Disillusioning –  the feeling you get when your ideals are shattered.

Distant –  Far away.

Distinctive –  Something, especially a feature or quality that makes .someone or something stand out from the rest of a group.

Distorted –  Not straightforward or direct; devious or deceitful; misleading or fallacious.

Displeasing –  Causing displeasure or annoyance; annoying.

Eager –  having or showing great desire, keenness, or impatience

Early riser –  a person who gets up very early in the morning.

Easygoing –  people who are relaxed and calm with their life, made easier with  quotes by Epictetus ..

Ebullient –  filled with excitement and energy

Eccentric –  deviating from the commonly or customarily accepted, usual, or normal.

Ecliptic –  the process of omission.

Enthusiastic  – having or showing great excitement and interest 

Energetic –  possessing or showing great energy 

Excitable –  easily excited 

Fabulous – very good or excellent

Fantastic – extremely good or pleasing

Flawless – without any mistakes

Fetching – attractive or appealing

Fierce – very intense or powerful

Flattering – making someone look or feel good

Forgiving – willing to forgive someone’s mistakes

Friendly – pleasant and welcoming

Frisky – lively and playful 

Freckle-faced – having many freckles

Fuzzy – covered with fuzz

Funny – amusing or humorous 

Handsome – having a pleasing appearance 

Hearty – vigorous and strong 

Honest – truthful and sincere 

Helpful: kindly disposed and willing to assist 

Happy – contented and satisfied 

Homey – having a comfortable and familiar atmosphere 

Heavy-handed – using a lot of force

Heartless – without feeling or sympathy

Huge – very large 

High-heeled – having a high heel

Halcyon – idyllically calm and peaceful

Hard – physically tough or robust

Hardworking – taking great pains to do one’s work conscientiously

Harmonious – having a pleasingly consistent sound or effect

Haunting – suggestive of the supernatural; ghostly 

ill-mannered –  behaving badly or rudely 

Impatient –  finding it difficult to wait for something 

Inattentive –  not paying attention 

Inconsiderate –  not thinking of other people’s feelings 

Independent –  not needing other people 

Inflexible –  not able to change your mind 

Insensitive  – not caring about other people’s feelings 

Inexpensive –  not costing a lot of money

Incredibly –  extremely; so as to produce a strong impression

Intense –  strong or vigorous; very severe or violent 

inteligente –  means “intelligent.” 

Long-winded –  having a lot to say; talking a lot

Loquacious –  tending to talk a lot; very talkative

Lengthy –  long in duration; taking a long time

Life-giving –  giving life; supplying vitality or energy 

Majestic:  having or showing great beauty or nobility

Magnificent:  very impressive or large

Marvelous:  extremely good or pleasant

Metallic:  of or relating to metals

Mysterious:  difficult or impossible to understand or explain 

quaint –  describes something that is old-fashioned and unusual

quick –  describes something that is fast or that happens quickly

quiet –  describes something that is calm and peaceful 

quantitative –  A word that describes the quantity of something. 

Sarcastic –  tending to mock or ridicule.

Sardonic –  means having a sneering or cynical quality. 

Short-tempered –   easily angered

Sensitive –  easily hurt emotionally or physically

Self-conscious –  aware of and worried about how you look and act around other people 

Self-centered –   thinking only of oneself and one’s own interests 

Thorough – Having or showing care in every detail; painstaking. 

Terrific – good; excellent. 

Tiny – Very small; tiny. 

Tight-fisted – stingy, not generous with money 

Ugly –  not pretty or attractive

Unique –  being the only one of its kind; not having a duplicate

Under –  lower in rank, status, or quality

Understood –  comprehended or grasped 

Uninterested –  not interested

Ubiquitous –  being present everywhere at the same time

Unbelievable –  too extraordinary or unlikely to be believed

Unpredictable –  not able to be foreseen or predicted 

PERSONALITY ADJECTIVES 

Aggressive –  of, relating to or marked by aggression

Active –  positive words for ready and able to take action.

Adventurous –  full of adventure: an adventurous journey.

Agreeable –  a desire to be in agreement with others.

Ambitious –  having a strong desire for success or achievement.

Analytical –  Advanced or careful consideration

Artistic –  creativity or original ideas in any field of artistic endeavor.

Assertive –  characterized by a confident assurance and readiness to defend one’s opinions or actions.

Authoritative –  of or relating to an authority: of recognized or accepted authority

Beautiful –  handsome, pretty

Calm –  Suitable for a situation that requires patience and quiet behavior.

Caring –  Feeling or showing concern for the well-being of others

Charismatic –  the quality of being alluring or attracting; drawing power

Clever –  observant, expeditious, and ingenious

Cooperative –  agreeable, willing to work together towards a common goal

Courteous –  having or showing courtesy : polite

Curious –  that describes a person who is curious or inquisitive.

Daring –  having or showing a readiness to do bold or daring things

Decisive –  acting with or characterized by quick, firm determination; resolute. 

Deliberate –  to think about something carefully.

Dependable –  worthy of being depended on.

Meticulous –  Having extreme attention to detail.

Rational –  Making judgments based on reason rather than emotions.

Spontaneous –  Not planned or premeditated.

Haughty –  having or showing an offensively superior attitude; behaving as if you are better than other people

DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES FOR FOOD

I got an email from a friend who is a professional food writer, and she said  “We’re often asked to describe a dish or a meal using only words that describe food” , and here is an example of some adjectives and  positive words  to describe food.

Appetizing 

Palatable 

Gourmet –  only used in  a singular form.

Divine –  Also only used in a singular form.

Mouth-Watering

Scrumptious

Crackling –  descriptive language for crisp, juicy, but not so sweet as to be cloying. Used to describe the fruit. 

Creamy –  Smooth, rich, not at all lumpy. Used more to describe different types of dessert items.

Substantial –  healthy with enough protein and fiber 

Light –  low-calorie packaged foods ideal for dieting or reducing weight

Healthy –  fresh produce, lean meats, whole grains

Low Carb Diet –  cutting carbs from your diet and counting calories

Meat Eater- no plant-based items like fruits or vegetables.

Acidic –  having acid

Bitter –  having an unpleasantly sharp taste

Bland –  tasteless or unseasoned

Buttery –  of, or relating to butter; “buttery spread”; “a buttery flavor”

Citrusy –  having the flavor of citrus fruit or juice.

Decadent –  luxurious and sensuous; voluptuous

Delectable –  very great pleasure and enjoyment from a meal. 

Good Descriptive Adjectives

1. Beautiful 

2. charming 

3. funny 

6. intelligent

9. friendly

10. loving 

common adjective

Nationality adjective.

Nationality adjectives examples – The noun adjectives that refer to nationality, or similar concepts.

American, Brazilian, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Russian, Spanish 

List of different descriptive adjectives

1. Beautiful

4. handsome

7. adorable

8. stunning

9. impressive

10. fantastic 

JUST FOR FUN SPANISH ADJECTIVES

Note: This is just for fun, and while I think they are correct, I am not fluent in Spanish, and the gender rules might change them. So double check the gender rule and meaning before you use these adjectives.

Looking for Spanish Adjectives or want the definition of a Spanish adjective?

Follow these quick examples on how to find them and their definitions:

•  ‘aburrido’  is a Spanish adjective meaning ‘boring’.

•  ‘fuera’  is a Spanish adjective meaning ‘outside’.

•  ‘fuertemente’  is a Spanish adjective meaning ‘strongly’.

•  ‘Caliente’  is a Spanish adjective meaning ‘hot’.

•  ‘Seguro’  is a Spanish adjective meaning ‘sure’.

•  ‘grande’  is a Spanish adjective meaning ‘big’.

Bueno –  Good.

Just for More Fun Descriptive Adjectives French

1. beau 

2. bon 

3. charmant

6. généreux

9. intelligent

10. intéressant

12. lumineux

13. magnifique

15. passionnant

16. sympathique

17. talentueux

18. terrible 

In conclusion,  descriptive adjectives  are words that describe the qualities or features of a person, place, or thing. They can be used to make writing more interesting and vivid, and to help the reader get a better understanding of what is being described. There are many different  types of descriptive adjectives , and they can be used to create different effects.

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Adjectives made easy: 5 quick tips for using adjectives in writing

Understanding how to use adjectives naturally can make your writing come alive. In this article , learn what an adjective is , find out why they are importan t, and discover 5 handy tips on how to use adjectives in your writing.  

What is an adjective?  

You probably already know this, but just make sure we’re on the same page, an adjective is a word that describes how something or someone looks, feels, or behaves. Adjectives make your sentences more specific and interesting.   

For example, in the sentence “ The red apple is juicy ,” the word “red” is the adjective because it tells us the colour of the apple, and “juicy” is another adjective that describes how the apple tastes.

How to use adjectives naturally     

At times, English language learners tend to overuse adjectives in their written English, perhaps to showcase their vocabulary. However, this approach can backfire as it shows immat urity in their writing style. So, here are 5 helpful tips on how you can use adjectives naturally in written English and improve your descriptive writing skills.  

#1: Choose the most suitable ones  

When using adjectives in writing , it’s important to choose the right ones. Pick words that accurately describe what you want to talk about. By choosing the most suitable adjectives, you can make your writing stronger and more effective.  

For example, instead of saying “ The flower is nice ,” you could choose a more descriptive adjective like “beautiful” or “charming.” This helps paint a clearer picture in the reader’s mind and adds depth to your writing.  

Explore a list of descriptive adjectives    

#2: Use them in moderation

Try to avoid using too many adjectives in your writing. By using adjectives sparingly, you can make your writing clearer and more effective, allowing the main subject to stand out.  

For example, instead of saying “ The big, beautiful, colourful butterfly flew gracefully through the garden ,” you can simplify it to “ The beautiful butterfly flew gracefully through the garden .”  

#3: Capture the reader’s imagination  

When choosing adjectives, pick ones that make the reader feel something and spark their imagination.   

For example, instead of saying “ The sunset was beautiful ,” you could say “ The stunning sunset filled the sky with vibrant colours, filling me with awe .” By using descriptive adjectives and appealing to the reader’s senses, you can create a stronger emotional impact.  

#4: Experiment with adjectives to see what works  

When you’re writing, try out different adjectives to see what works best. Don’t be afraid to play with words and explore their impact on your writing.   

Experiment with different options to find an adjective that makes your writing stronger and that clearly expresses what you want to say. The more you experiment, the better you’ll become at selecting the perfect adjectives that bring your words to life.  

Here are three different adjectives for describing an old house: “Mysterious”, “spooky”, or “ancient”. Which of these options do you prefer and why? Tell us in the comments below.   

#5: Remember that context is key  

Context is important. Think about the specific situation or thing you’re describing and choose adjectives that fit well. The right adjective can change depending on whether you’re talking about a person, an object, or a particular scene.   

For instance, when describing a person, you might use different adjectives for a friendly neighbour than for a stern teacher. Keeping the context of your writing in mind will help you choose the most suitable adjectives to make your writing as effective as possible.  

Practise your descriptive writing skills in online classes     

Now you know more about using descriptive words for writing , why not put your new skills to the test with an online English class?   

English Online offers live classes taught by experienced British Council teachers who want to help you improve your English skills. You’ll get personalised feedback on your writing, speaking, and listening skills to help you understand what you’re good at and where you can improve. Plus, you’ll get the opportunity to practise your English with other learners at a similar learning level.  

Find out more >  

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Descriptive Adjectives

Written by Eira Edwards

9 february 2024, art of storytelling.

This post may include affiliate links. That means we may earn a commission if you buy through recommended links. See our full disclaimer policy . 

Sometimes your writing needs a little extra sparkle, and descriptive adjectives can help with that. When used effectively, they can enhance description and characterisation.

Of course, stuffing adjectives into your work could also end in boring, exaggerated writing (or what some people like to call purple prose). Likewise, vague adjectives can feel abstract in nature, making it difficult for readers to imagine your world and the characters in it. Strive for descriptive adjectives that provide specificity. Because detail is what will captivate your readers and get them to engage with the story.

So, What Exactly is a Descriptive Adjective?

Descriptive adjectives describe nouns, providing more information about their characteristics, like size, colour or condition. They add detail, so readers can better visualise your world. Imagine one of your characters lives in a bleak house, tangerine house or tiny house, for example.

Here are a few more examples:

• The dog stared up at the cloudless sky.
• They came to an abandoned farm surrounded by marsh.
• He wore a tunic and trousers under a long leather coat.

List of Descriptive Adjectives

Now, let’s dive into my curated list of adjectives that can strengthen the descriptions of your universe and its characters.

• affectionate
• flourishing
• light-hearted
• magnificent
• outstanding
• rectangular
• substantial

GET MORE INSPIRATION

Descriptive adjectives can turn bland writing into interesting prose. But, choose them with caution and always make sure they’re providing necessary detail. Remember, descriptive adjectives can provide specifics, but too many can result in purple prose. Strike a balance and 

Want more writing inspiration? Find tips, tricks and ideas over on the blog .

Written By Eira Edwards

Eira is a writer and editor from the South of England with over five years of experience as a Content Manager, helping clients perfect their copy.

She has a degree in English Literature and Language, which she loves putting to work by working closely with fiction authors.

When she’s not working on manuscripts, you can find her in the woods with her partner and dog, or curling up with a good book.

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Tips on How to Use Adjectives Effectively in Fiction

 Adjectives are like swear words. The more you use them the less impact they have.

Is there a rule of thumb for how often we should use adjectives in a piece of writing?

The unhelpful answer is: not really. But let’s think about swearing again. Here’s a piece of purple prose with the adjectives removed and replaced with: “swearword.” (You can substitute any swear word you’d like.)

The swearword sun magnified the swearword house until its swearword silhouette filled the swearword skyline. Swearword swearword and swearword swearword rays burned through its swearword, swearword windows and sent swearword, swearword shadows down the swearword hillside.

See, it gets a bit boring after a while,  and tiring to read. Even if we revert to adjectives instead of swear words, it doesn’t read well.

The bloodshot sun magnified the crumbling house until its looming silhouette filled the darkening skyline. Fiery red and flaming amber rays burned through its stark, gaping windows and sent long, deep shadows down the heathery hillside. 

It’s exhausting to read something with that many adjectives.

 So the first rule for adjectives is: less is more.

Notice how in the passage above it becomes hard to know where to focus.  The second rule is: adjectives should enhance your writing, and make it clearer. 

 Several years ago, as a beginning writer, I entered a short story contest for which every entry received a critique. My story got nowhere and the critique it received got screwed up into a ball and thrown around the room, eventually landing in the trash. I can’t remember exactly what it said, but I do remember the general gist was: over-written, purple prose with a side order of flowery writing. After I’d ranted a while about the idiocy of the competition readers I sent it out to another contest. Bizarrely, it came third.

I felt vindicated. Sort of. Then a few months ago when I came upon that story, and I realised the first competition’s readers knew more about literature than the second. Luckily, although that story was published, the journal had such a tiny circulation that only a few hundred people will ever have seen it. Here’s a snippet: Hannah painted the wide open spaces in front of them, and tiny flowers shyly hiding their heads .

The story is about a childless couple and I think the idea of that sentence was to convey their loss, but it is so oblique and full of cliché that instead of illuminating it obscures. In another part: She draws back from its icy coldness… What she draws back from is a cold hand, so “icy” is (a) wrong: there is no ice on the hand, and (b) superfluous: if I want to use an image if ice, I don’t need “coldness” too. Everybody knows ice is cold! So it could be instead, She draws back from its coldness… or perhaps, Its iciness makes her recoil.

The third rule for adjectives is: choose them carefully.

An exercise many creative writing tutors recommend it to take a piece of writing and get rid of all adjectives. Let’s return to that first passage and see how it is with all adjectives removed:

The sun magnified the house until its silhouette filled the skyline. Rays burned through its windows and sent shadows down the hillside.  Doing this doesn’t mean we can’t use adjectives, but it does help to show where they are needed and where they aren’t. In this passage, without the adjectives there is no sense of the house being a ruin. But perhaps crumbling wasn’t the best adjective to convey that. It could just mean a house that was in need of repair, whereas the house in this story has no roof or windows. Perhaps it would be better to simply say ruined. To give a sense of it being sunset, we could put back in either  bloodshot sun or long shadows . It doesn’t need both. Because the sun appears first, and because this is the beginning of a horror story, let’s opt for blood! And to keep the blood images going, let’s change a verb. The rays no longer burn; instead they spill.

The bloodshot sun magnified the ruined house until its silhouette filled the skyline. Crimson rays spilled through its empty windows, sending shadows down the hillside. 

So, to sum up: with adjectives, less is more and they should make writing clearer, not confuse or exhaust the reader. As long as you remember that, there are no rules!

11 Comments on “Tips on How to Use Adjectives Effectively in Fiction”

Loved where you were going with this, Yvonne. Thanks for this informative piece.

Thanks Ruchira.

When I read a bit of “purple prose” like you wrote above, I simply know something isn’t right. I wouldn’t be able to read an entire story like that. I can never pinpoint and explain the problem nearly so well, though. Thank you for the lesson.

I had fun writing that first bit of purple prose Christine! And totally, you could not read an entire story – at least not without getting a severe headache! Thanks for your comment.

You have dissected and explained an issue I’ve had lately with some of the books I’ve tried to read. Years ago I would sit and pick apart my writing as if I were building a Lego essay. Hours spent looking for the most powerful way to phrase my ideas. Now that I’ve taken up writing again I’m looking forward to practicing and learning it as a craft. I’m so glad I’ve found your blog!

RAWR, when I began writing I’d spend ages trying to find clever ways to describe something and now I really see that plain language can often be the most powerful. Your phrase “as if I were building a Lego essay” is a great example – original yet not overpowering. Thanks for your kind comment and I’m glad to have you here!

Good tip Yvonne. I never thought about adjectives that way before.

Thanks Salma.

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9 Types Of Adjectives All Writers Should Know

Katy Ward has been an editor and writer for more than a decade. Having written for both national newspapers and independent media outlets from her home in the north of England, she specialises in finance, tech, mental health, and the arts. As well as penning short stories in her spare time, she can be found on Twitter at @KatyWardHull

Bringing your words to life is the most effective way to engage your readers with your work. In order to achieve this, powerful description is key.

As you probably remember from English lessons at school, adjectives are the primary tools through which we add description to our work. If used skillfully, these words can transform dull, uninspiring prose into an evocative piece of writing that creates a strong emotional response in your reader.

Even if you were far from the star of your English class, you probably wouldn’t have much difficulty recognizing terms such “big” and “small” as adjectives. But, be honest, did you know that there is more than one type of adjective? Could you, for instance, tell your quantitative adjectives from your possessive adjectives?

If the answer is no, you’re definitely not alone. Getting to grips with the correct use of adjectives is a difficult task, and even some of the most accomplished writers would admit to struggling in this area. To help you gain a clear sense of how adjectives can enhance your writing, we’ve rounded up the nine types of adjectives all writers need to know.

What is an adjective?

Adjectives are the describing words of the English language. They ascribe certain qualities to people, places, and things. When you’re reading about grammar, you're likely to see this process being described as the adjective modifying the noun.

As a rule of thumb, adjectives tend to take the following suffixes, which are the ending sections of words.

• ful: boastful, beautiful
• ic/ical: diabolical, toxic
• able/ible: reliable, incredible
• ine : asinine, canine
• ile: facile, futile
• ive: reproductive, superlative
• al: trivial, superficial
• an : Korean, Herculean
• ar: stellar, clear
• ent: different, patient
• ous: tedious, malicious
• some : cumbersome, tiresome
• ant: blatant, militant

If you’re uncertain whether or not a word is an adjective, you can often get an idea from its placement within a sentence. In most cases, an adjective will come before the noun being described or modified — for instance, “an angry dog.” When an adjective appears before the noun it modifies, it is known as an attributive adjective and often follows a definite article (such as “the”) or an indefinite article (such as “a” or “an”).

However, when an adjective follows a linking verb such as “was,” “smells,” or “tastes,” it will appear after the noun. Consider the following sentence: “Her mother was furious.” In this case, the word “mother” is the noun, “was” is the linking verb and “furious” is the adjective. When an adjective takes this form, it is known as a predicate adjective.

In certain circumstances, an adjective may appear directly after the noun it describes—for example, you could write “something sinister.” In this case, the adjective is known as a postpositive adjective.

1. Descriptive adjectives

Descriptive adjectives are words that describe nouns and pronouns and, not surprisingly, most adjectives fall into this category. Also known as qualitative adjectives, their function is to attribute certain characteristics to the thing that is being described. For example:

• I have a lovely neighbor
• I feel miserable

2. Quantitative adjectives

As the name suggests, these words describe the quantity of the object being described: i.e. they provide details as to how much or how many there is of something.

Quantitative adjectives are not only numbers. They can also be words that modify a noun or pronoun—these terms indicate more or less of something. For example:

• I ate seven pieces of cake at the birthday party
• I need to work more hours this month if I want to pay my rent
• I cleaned the whole bathroom

3. Demonstrative adjectives

Also known as determiners, demonstrative adjectives help identify a particular noun or pronoun within a sentence and can confer a special importance on the object (or objects) being described.

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Take the following sentence: “That woman is cheating on her husband.” In this sentence, the demonstrative adjective (that) can make it clear that you are referring to a particular woman and not, for example, the woman standing next to her.

For example:

• ‍ This dress makes me feel frumpy (refers to a singular noun that is close in distance) ‍
• That dog is always playing in our rubbish bin (refers to a singular noun that is far away in distance)
• These sunglasses were a present from my husband (refers to a plural noun that is close in distance) ‍
• Those curtains would look great in my bedroom (used in reference to a plural noun that is far away in distance)

4. Proper adjectives

While most of us are familiar with proper nouns, the concept of proper adjectives is less well known. However, it’s actually relatively straightforward. These words are simply the adjectival form of a proper noun. For example:

• I was wearing a Victorian wedding dress ‍
• Japanese food has a real kick to it
• I gave up on my diet and had a McDonalds burger

5. Possessive adjectives

These terms denote the person to whom an object belongs. For example:

• ‍ My parents ‍
• Her guitar ‍
• Your laundry ‍
• Our television
• His trousers

If you’re using the adjectives listed above (with the exception of “his”), you can only do so before a noun. For example, you would say “her fiancé”, but cannot simply say “her” without specifying which noun is being described.

Should you want to leave out the noun, you can use one of the possessive pronouns listed below.

You could, for example, have the following exchange:

“Whose naughty children are those? The parents ought to be ashamed.”

“Oh, they’re mine.”

6. Interrogative adjectives

The function of these adjectives (of which there are just three examples) is to ask a question.

• ‍ Which jacket matches this shirt? ‍
• What subject do you prefer at school? ‍
• Whose turn is it to make dinner?

Be aware that the term “whose” belongs to both the interrogative and the possessive adjective types.

7. Distributive adjectives

The purpose of these adjectives is to describe certain individuals or objects within a group of many. For example:

• ‍ Neithe r sister had a talent for ballet ‍
• Every child in the class had completed their homework ‍
• Each of these allegations is untrue

Be aware that distributive adjectives are normally used with a singular form of the noun.

8. Compound adjectives

One of the least complex adjective types on our list, a compound adjective is simply two or more words that together form an adjective. These are often, although not always, joined by a hyphen. It is common for compound adjectives to begin with a number and end with a noun.

• Rachel had written Ross an 18-page letter
• Chelsea worked on a part-time basis as a cleaner
• His wife’s apologies had started to sound all too familiar

One important point to bear in mind: if the first word within a compound adjective ends with the letters “ly,” it will not take a hyphen. As such, the description “the scantily clad actor” is correct, while you could not write “the scantily-clad actor.”

9. Indefinite adjectives

Writers often use these terms to describe non-specific items, people, or objectives. Indefinite adjectives can be particularly useful if you don’t possess all the information regarding the noun being described. For example:

• There were a few cows in the field ‍
• Several of the windows were open ‍
• Many of the students were late for school

Degrees of adjectives

In the same way that there are different types of adjectives, there are also different degrees of adjectives, which are often, although not always, used for the purposes of comparison between various numbers of nouns.

• ‍ Positive: as the most common adjectival degree, this is probably the form of the adjective you think of first. For example, “the car is red_._” The term positive simply means that these adjectives do not draw a comparison between two (or more) nouns. ‍
• Comparative: these words draw a comparison between two or more people or objects. For example, “the younger sister” ‍
• Superlative: used to describe three or more nouns, a superlative adjective describes the noun with the most extreme quality and typically appears after the definite article (“the”). You might, for instance, write “Nell is the brightest child in the class.”

Getting your adjectives in order

When you’re using multiple adjectives to describe the same noun, it’s important to be aware that there are specific rules regarding the order in which these adjectives must appear.

Although most native speakers tend to order their sentences correctly without the need to be taught, the order in which adjectives for a single noun should be listed goes as follows:

Size comes before color, which is why “the big yellow car” sounds better than “the yellow big car.”

And, okay, it would be extremely unlikely to find all these types of adjectives in one sentence—if you have one, chances are you need to be more succinct. However, you should remember this rule if your work includes more than one adjective in a single sentence.

A word of caution

One point to bear in mind: no matter how much value adjectives can bring to your writing, you should be wary of overusing them. Should you fall into this trap, your prose could appear cumbersome and overly complex, or, in a worst-case scenario, ridiculous. For example, the sentence “she is an intelligent person” works perfectly well, and there is typically no need to write “she is both cerebral and erudite” in order to show off your extensive vocabulary.

That said, don’t be put off experimenting with adjectives the next time you use them in your writing. Picture the object you want to describe and the precise word that would help your reader recreate a similar picture in their mind. If the first word that comes to mind doesn’t fit, try another.

To learn more about how Eleven’s team of expert writers can help you communicate more effectively with your readers, check out our copywriting services .

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Strong Adjectives to Show Creative Writing

Table of Contents

With strong adjectives come strong thoughts. Anyone can use strong adjectives to convey a potent idea or paint a vivid picture through their words. There’s always a better way to state a fact.

Our manner of speech can influence the way people perceive us and our ideas. You need only look at how leaders, lawyers, and other influential people write and speak. Their word choices and tone can hold sway over listeners and deliver a powerful message.

In this article, we’ll be learning some strong  adjectives for a writer .

But before we delve into these words, it’s important to understand strong adjectives and the right way to use them.

What are Strong Adjectives?

Strong adjectives describe the important characteristics, feelings, or qualities of writing . These adjectives are often things that readers cannot ignore. 

Writers use strong adjectives instead of very + a normal adjective.

For example:

Very short → Succinct, Terse

Very long → Lengthy, Extensive 

They often paint a strong example of a noun they are describing. They can help make a sentence more potent or describe a character in greater detail. Writers use strong adjectives in all sorts of creative works, from books to poems.

These adjectives often cause readers to take note of an object they read about.

The Importance of Strong Adjectives

Strong adjectives are important because not all descriptive words can sufficiently capture the full meaning of a subject. Strong adjectives give a different sense of reality and highlight one part of an object or idea. It does this to demonstrate the characteristics that make certain nouns unique.

Strong adjectives also help an audience relate better to a thought. They help them grasp their essence entirely, allowing us to accurately describe what we feel and want to convey.

Moreover, strong adjectives also give the impression that we are an authority on the subject we are describing. Rarely will you find a critic use “very bad” to describe a poorly-written piece of writing.

You need to learn to use strong adjectives to write powerful sentences that leave a strong impression. The list below includes strong adjectives for a writer: 

List of Strong Adjectives for a Writer

• Authoritative
• Enthralling
• Exhilarating
• Imaginative
• Intelligent

The English language is replete with a wide collection of words you can use to convey a thought. Descriptors are among the most potent words writers can use to paint a vivid picture for their audience. Strong adjectives are useful in order to command influence over your audience and deliver a powerful message.

Try to learn new and better words to spice up your vocabulary. Doing so will improve your writing and speaking skills and will allow you to command attention like the way influential people do. Feel free to follow our other guides on strong adjectives if you want to gain better mastery of the English language.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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List of 260 Positive Adjectives to Use in Your Descriptions

Helly Douglas

Table of Contents

What are adjectives and how do we use them, what are positive adjectives, how can prowritingaid help you find the best adjectives, which positive adjectives best describe a place, how to use positive adjectives in your writing.

Adjectives are powerful. Used well, they bring settings and characters to life by adding descriptive details. They can also add flavor to non-fiction texts.

This ultimate list of positive adjectives is perfect if you’re looking for a particular word to describe something optimistically, or simply want to expand your vocabulary. They’re sorted into words that could describe people, and those that best describe places, all helpfully arranged in alphabetical order with a simple explanation of their meaning.

Adjectives are often called "describing words." They modify the noun in a sentence. You can either use them directly before the noun to create a noun phrase or separate them from the noun they’re describing.

Noun phrase: The ambitious employee.

Separated from the noun: The employee was ambitious .

You can use more than one adjective in a sentence separated by a comma. However, try not to overuse adjectives, as this makes your writing harder to read.

Highlight how great a person or place is by using positive adjectives. They are often used to describe personalities, particularly heroes. These adjectives give more detail about how a character behaves, their emotions, and their personality.

When you’re writing, you might find that you rely on the same familiar adjectives. Or perhaps you’ve noticed that you tend to overuse certain words?

ProWritingAid has a range of reports that will help you spot overused words and helpfully suggest alternatives:

All Repeats : Identify adjectives you over-rely on.

Overused Words : Find and eliminate generic words.

Word Explorer : Find a huge range of alternative adjective choices.

Which Positive Adjectives Could Describe a Person ?

If you’re trying to describe a character in a positive way, this wide selection of adjectives is sure to help.

Positive Adjectives A–C

Accomplished: Proficient at something

Adaptable: Able to change quickly

Adept: Good at something

Adventurous: Enjoys taking risks/trying new things

Affable: Friendly

Affectionate: Shows fondness

Agreeable: Willing to do things

Alluring: Sexually appealing

Amazing: Wonderful

Ambitious: Determined to succeed

Amiable: Friendly, pleasant

Amicable: Friendliness

Ample: Plenty of something

Amusing: Makes people laugh

Approachable: Easy to talk to

Articulate: Speaks well in an educated manner

Awesome: Inspiring awe, amazement

Blithesome: Cheerful

Brave: Not scared

Bright: Clever

Brilliant: Clever, inspirational

Broad-minded: Open-minded

Calm: Even-tempered

Capable: Able to do something

Captivating: Keeps attention

Careful: Uses caution

Charismatic: Compels others to agree

Charming: Has charm

Chatty: Talkative

Cheerful: Happy

Communicative: Clear communication with others

Compassionate: Caring

Competitive: Driven to win

Confident: Self-certainty

Conscientious: Does their duty

Considerate: Thinks of others

Convivial: Cheerful, friendly

Courageous: Brave

Courteous: Good manners

Creative: Artistic

Positive Adjectives D–F

Dazzling: Bright

Decisive: Makes decisions quickly

Dependable: Can rely on

Determined: Focused on success

Devoted: Cares deeply for a person or ideal

Diligent: Works hard

Diplomatic: Tactful

Discreet: Keeps secrets

Dynamic: Full of ideas

Easy-going: Relaxed temperament

Educated: Well-studied

Efficient: Completes tasks easily

Elegant: Graceful, stylish

Emotional: Full of emotion

Enchanting: Delights

Energetic: Full of energy

Enlightened: Spiritually aware, rational, well-informed

Engaging: Interesting

Enthusiastic: Keen

Excellent: Very good

Expert: An authority on a subject

Exuberant: Full of energy

Fabulous: Wonderful

Fair-minded: Impartial, just

Faithful: True to something

Fantastic: Wonderful, amazing at something

Fearless: Without fear

Flexible: Able to change easily

Focused: Goal orientated

Forceful: Makes change happen, determined

Frank: Speaks honestly and openly

Friendly: Pleasant to others

Funny: Amusing

Positive Adjectives G–I

Generous: Gives to others

Gentle: Uses a light touch

Giving: Gives to others

Gleaming: Shining, very clean

Glimmering: shining with a wavering light

Glistening: Shining with a sparkling light

Glittering: Shining with a shimmering light

Glowing: Lit up from within

Good: Honest

Gorgeous: Beautiful

Gregarious: Sociable, likes company

Hard-working: Puts in full effort

Helpful: Looks after others

Hilarious: Extremely funny

Honest: Tells the truth

Humorous: Amusing

Imaginative: Has a vivid imagination

Impartial: Not biased

Incredible: Extremely proficient at something

Independent: Able to support themselves

Inquisitive: Interested, curious

Insightful: Has deep understanding

Intellectual: Intelligent, educated

Intelligent: Clever

Intuitive: Instinctive understanding

Inventive: Creative, comes up with new ideas

Positive Adjectives K–M

Kind: Looks after others

Knowledgeable: Intelligent, studied

Kooky: Unusual

Laid-back: Relaxed

Likable: Easily liked by others

Lovely: Good, kind

Loving: Shows affection

Loyal: Consistently supportive

Lustrous: Shining (often to describe hair)

Magnificent: Wonderful

Marvelous: Amazing, stunning

Mirthful: Full of humor, amused

Modest: Doesn’t seek credit or well-covered in clothing

Positive Adjectives N–P

Nice: Pleasant

Observant: Sharp-eyed

Open-minded: Willing to listen to alternative ideas

Optimistic: Positive

Organized: Works efficiently and systematically

Outstanding: Beyond normal, very good

Passionate: Feeling strongly, ardent

Patient: Happy to wait

Perfect: No flaws

Persistent: Does not give up

Personable: Pleasant appearance

Philosophical: Calm reaction to difficulties

Pioneering: Trendsetter, first to do something

Placid: Calm, easy-going

Plucky: Courageous

Polite: Well-mannered

Powerful: Strong, has power

Practical: Skilled at manual tasks

Pro-active: Takes action before it becomes necessary

Productive: Gets lots done

Proficient: Skilled at something

Propitious: Favorable

Positive Adjectives Q–S

Qualified: Certified as able to do something

Quick-witted: Intelligent, quick-thinking

Quiet: Not loud

Rational: Thinks without emotion

Ravishing: Delightful, entrancing

Relaxed: Free from tension

Reliable: Consistent, can be relied upon

Remarkable: Unusually skilled or talented

Reserved: Slow to reveal emotions or opinions

Resourceful: Able to find solutions

Responsible: Takes charge, reliable

Romantic: Demonstrates their love

Rousing: Stirs emotions in others

Self-confident: Belief in own abilities

Self-disciplined: controlled

Sensible: Does not make rash decisions

Sensitive: Aware of others

Sincere: Honest and genuine

Sleek: smooth

Sociable: Enjoys company

Spectacular: Wonderful, makes a spectacle

Splendid: Extremely good

Stellar: Exceptionally good

Straightforward: To the point

Stunning: Very beautiful

Stupendous: Extremely impressive

Super: Good

Sympathetic: Cares about others, shows sympathy

Positive Adjectives T–Z

Technological: Understands technology

Thoughtful: Thinks of others

Tough: Can withstand hardships

Trustworthy: To be trusted

Twinkling: Shining

Unassuming: Modest

Understanding: Sympathetic to opinions of others

Unique: one-of-a-kind

Upbeat: positive

Versatile: Skilled at different things

Vibrant: Bright, colorful

Vivacious: Full of life

Vivid: Very bright, strong color

Warm-hearted: Kind to others

Willing: Happy to do something

Witty: Verbally clever, amusing

Wondrous: Wonderful

If you want a vivid description, this list of positive adjectives will help you find the perfect word to describe a setting.

Positive Place Adjectives A–C

Abundant: Full of something

Agricultural: Farmland

Alive: Full of life

Astronomical: Extremely large

Attractive: Appealing, beautiful

Beautiful: Very pretty

Blazing: Full of light or fire

Boundless: Endless, very large

Bountiful: Fertile, lots of something

Breath-taking: Visually beautiful

Bright: Very light

Bustling: Full of people

Calm: Quiet and relaxed

Charming: Quaint, lovely

Colossal: Extremely large

Colorful: Full of color

Cosmopolitan: Includes people from disparate countries

Positive Place Adjectives D–F

Dramatic: Drama

Dusky: Darkish, dim

Enchanted: Magical

Enchanting: Creates a feeling of magic

Extensive: Very large

Fairy-tale-like: Magical

Far-flung: distant

Fascinating: Very interesting

Favorable: Promising, good

Fertile: Full of life, easy to grow

Fresh: New, newly grown

Positive Place Adjectives G–K

Harmonious: Living in harmony, without dispute

Historic: From the past

Homey: Warm, inviting, small

Immaculate: Perfectly clean

Immeasurable: Impossible to measure

Immense: Enormous

Imposing: Large, overwhelming

Impressive: Admirable

Incredible: Beyond belief

Indescribable: Unable to describe using words

Inspiring: Inspires someone

Positive Place Adjectives L–M

Lively: Full of life, energetic

Lush: Especially of vegetation, rich

Luxurious: Luxury

Magical: Magic, wonderful

Magnificent: Extremely beautiful or impressive

Majestic: A sense of majesty

Marvelous: Wonderful

Massive: Very large

Meandering: Not in a straight line

Monumental: Extremely large

Mountainous: Like a mountain

Mysterious: Strange, unknown

Mystical: Magical

Positive Place Adjectives N–P

Nostalgic: Warm feeling of the past

Palatial: Like a palace

Pastoral: Arable farmland

Peaceful: Quiet, undisturbed

Picturesque: Visually attractive

Pleasant: Nice, enjoyable

Prosperous: Rich

Positive Place Adjectives R–Z

Remarkable: Unusual

Rural: Remote, farmland

Sandy: Made of sand

Sensational: Creating a sensation, wonderful

Serene: Calm and tranquil

Shiny: Reflects light

Spacious: Ample space

Stunning: Extremely impressive, attractive

Sun-drenched: Extremely sunny

Superb: Wonderful, best quality

Terrific: Wonderful, great

Towering: Very tall

Tranquil: Quiet and calm

Unspoiled/Unspoilt: Unaffected, undamaged

Vast: Extremely large

Vibrant: Bright, full of life

Adjectives should be used sparingly to have the greatest impact. Overusing adjectives, particularly if they have very similar meanings, weakens your writing, and makes it harder to read. Carefully choosing the most effective ones creates a vivid picture for your reader without over-explaining every detail.

ProWritingAid’s readability suggestions will show you stronger alternatives for weak adjectives. If you write that something is "really good," you’ll see the alternatives below:

If none of those quite fit your meaning, come back to this list to find an adjective that is specific and strong to engage your reader.

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Helly Douglas is a UK writer and teacher, specialising in education, children, and parenting. She loves making the complex seem simple through blogs, articles, and curriculum content. You can check out her work at hellydouglas.com or connect on Twitter @hellydouglas. When she’s not writing, you will find her in a classroom, being a mum or battling against the wilderness of her garden—the garden is winning!

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The Best Examples Of The 5 Senses And Descriptive Writing

Using the 5 senses in writing can deeply immerse readers in scenes and stories by creating more vivid imagery in their minds. It’s a skill that can elevate books to a higher level. But so often we writers find ourselves lured into the trap of relying on sight and sound. Relying on a narrow range of sensory language isn’t always enough to bring a story to life. We can inject so much more into our stories simply by utilizing sensory details in our writing.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at our sensory organs, why we use vivid writing that appeals to the senses, look at the 5 senses and descriptive writing examples, and ways we can use each sense to elevate our stories to the next level. 

Many people experience things through smell, touch, and taste. So appealing to the senses in our writing will enrich our tales and prose with vivid imagery, which is often used to help the reader feel immersed and engaged. 

In fact, the oft-forgotten 5 senses are some of the most powerful forms of description, things that can enrich a story and give it life.

And, as we’ll see below, using a sensory description has an incredible ability to connect with us on a psychological level.

Let’s dive in. 

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What Are The 5 Senses In The Context Of Writing?

Why are the five senses important in writing, how to use the 5 senses in writing, the power of sensory description, what are the five sensory organs, imagery and the 5 senses, the 5 senses and descriptive writing examples, 5 senses writing checklist, examples of a descriptive paragraph using sensory details, exercises to help you use the 5 senses in writing, a list of helpful adjectives for the five senses, frequently asked questions (faq) on the 5 senses in writing.

This may seem like a straightforward question, but it’s always best to cover the basics before advancing to more technical points.

This style of prose is essentially writing that employs the five senses to create mental images for the reader.

For example, if you want to create a vivid image of a beach, you may describe the smell of seaweed or the grainy texture of sand. 

In drawing upon these familiar sensations, we can open the portal wider for our readers to step into the scene, to feel what it’s like to be there. It’s a key part of creative writing in respect of description and something that can elevate your stories. 

So that’s what the 5 senses in writing are—they empower your descriptions and help draw readers into the story. Let’s look more at why using them is important.

Here’s a quick video explainer with lots of handy examples:

Using your five senses in your writing is an incredibly powerful way to immerse your reader in the tale.

The more the reader can understand what it’s like to be in your character’s shoes at that precise moment, be it fleeing a demon or marching to war, knowing how it feels and smells like, as well as the visual and audio descriptions, can elevate stories to a whole new level. It quite simply makes it more enjoyable to read.

From a writing perspective, incorporating each of the five senses in your writing at appropriate moments is something your readers will love.

From the perspective of the fantasy writer specifically, using the 5 senses is a terrific way to reveal the details created during your world building process.

This is especially useful when you’re trying to convey unique imagery or something that’s altogether alien to the reader. It’s something I used a lot when writing Pariah’s Lament and readers loved it. This is just one of the many 5 senses examples you’ll find below. 

If you re-read some of your favourite books there’ll no doubt be passages where the writer employs a sight and smell or taste or touch to great descriptive effect. Oftentimes they employ simple but effective techniques (which we’ll cover below) that draw you deeper into the scene, so much so that you feel as if you’re there. 

Often some of our favourite books are those that use to great affect the five senses. Books that transport us to new worlds and take us on epic adventures. And so often it’s the vivid descriptions that draw us in and help us walk amongst the characters.

We’ll look at some examples of the 5 senses in writing below that illustrate just how effective they can be further on below. But first, let’s look at why this is all so important.

Achieving Vivid Writing That Appeals To The Senses

If you want to learn how to achieve vivid writing that appeals to the senses, here are some quick tips:

• Practise – it sounds simple but one of the best ways to get used to including the 5 senses in your writing is to practise. Below, you can find lots of handy exercises that can help you sharpen your writing skills.
• Reading – another very effective method of sharpening your usage of the five senses in your writing is to simply read the works of top-class authors. These talented writers can use small details that appeal to the senses and immerse you in the story. 
• Explore – to boost your vocabulary when describing scenes, characters and feelings with the senses, it helps to go out and explore the world and absorb what it is you’re trying to convey. For example, if you need to describe the feeling of the bark of a tree, going out and examining and touching the different trees around you can help you come up with ideas for describing textures, smells and unique visual descriptions. 

The 5 Senses And Writing About Feelings And Emotions

It’s difficult to describe how a character feels. People are complex beings and at the best of times, we can’t make sense of how we think and feel about a given thing. 

When writing, using the 5 senses can open up doors into the minds of our characters. In utilising them, we can avoid simply telling the reader what our character is feeling, (like, “he felt sad”) and instead, we can suggest or show it through the likes of body language, like how their shoulders are (sagging or raised).

Here are some more examples of the 5 senses when describing emotion:

• Sight – If, for example, your character is feeling a little down, you could focus on describing the way they interpret the world around them, such as focusing on the grey clouds hanging low in the sky, the wilted flowers in the garden, or the empty chair across the room.
• Sound – Incorporating sounds can help to create an atmosphere that resonates with your readers. Let’s say your character is feeling anxious. You could describe the ticking clock, the distant sirens, the creaking floorboards—things that increase the tension.
• Touch – A powerful method is to use tactile descriptions to help your readers feel what the character is feeling. For example, if your character is feeling nervous, you can describe their clammy hands, the beat of their heart in their ears, the tightness in their chest.
• Taste – Using taste really adds depth to your descriptions of emotion. If your character is feeling joyful, you could describe the sweetness of a ripe strawberry, the richness of a dark chocolate truffle, or the effervescence of champagne bubbles. Linking these things back to memories can also help to trigger a more powerful reaction. For instance, the taste of a an Indian curry that you had the night you proposed to your wife.
• Smell – Scent can also help to create a visceral experience for your readers, one that relates to them on a more emotional level. If your character is feeling nostalgic, you can describe the aroma of freshly baked cookies, the salty sea air, or the musky scent of old books.

By using the five senses in your writing you can create a multi-dimensional experience for your readers, making your characters and their emotions more real and relatable. Let’s take a look at just how powerful sensory details are when it comes to painting a picture in the reader’s mind. 

We’ve covered a lot about using sensory descriptions and how they can elevate your writing to the next level. However, there are a lot of scientific studies that back up the theory.

For instance, in a study published back in 2011 by The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, it was found that we process certain words faster than others if there is a sensory experience attached to them.

Such studies aren’t new. In fact, Miller and Johnson-Laird (1976) examined how fundamental “word-percept associations” are to our language. This was expanded upon n a 2003 study by Rakova who emphasised a very important point—that the purpose of language is to express how we feel, what we see, hear, smell and taste.

Another study on sensory linguistics (which looks at how language relates to the senses), published by the University of Birmingham , examined humanity’s dependence on perceptions and how we interact with the world through feeling, seeing, tasting, hearing and smelling.

What we can see here is a growing understanding of the power and influence of a piece of sensory description. By examining these studies, writers can find a whole new appreciation for using the 5 senses in writing.

Before we dive into looking at the 5 senses in a writing context, let’s look at what the five sensory organs are:

• Special receptors in the skin that enable us to touch and feel

Combined, our five senses enable us to learn, experience and create memories. Pepsi Max, for example, always reminds me of my history lessons in college—I’d drink a can during every lesson. Think of songs too. They have an incredible ability to transport us back to moments in our past. Let’s explore things in more detail.

If you’d like to learn more about the basics surrounding the 5 senses, see more examples, or learn how to incorporate sensory description in your writing, see this quick video.

Are There More Than 5 Senses?

Now, something you may be wondering about is whether or not there are more than the 5 classic senses. It is, in fact, believed that there is more than touch, taste, sound, sight, smell. These golden 5 were defined by Aristotle because he could relate them to sensory organs. They are sometimes known as the “five senses folk model”.

But it depends on the manner in which you define a sense.

Newer approaches look at the number of sensory organs we have. And many academics now counter the sixth sense as the vestibular system . This relates to the inner ear and the impact it has on our balance and vision.

But other academics have gone further than this. Some tweak the definition to include sensory receptors. Now the skin, for instance, has at least four sensory receptors, relating to pain, temperature, touch and body awareness (otherwise known as proprioception).

So when someone asks how many senses do we have, it’s all a matter of definition. You can check out this awesome video below by SciShow which explains things in more detail.

Perhaps the main one of the five senses, sight often receives information first and therefore forms our initial judgements.

When it comes to using sight in writing, our stories and characters are often guided by this prime form of description. We describe what our characters see.

However, it would be nigh impossible to describe every aspect of a scene, and even if you did achieve it, nigh impossible to read.

Some of the most acclaimed writers, Charles Dickens, in particular, approached it by picking the right details. The little things that tell us everything. Let’s look at an example of the sense of sight in writing from Great Expectations :

“There was a bookcase in the room; I saw, from the backs of the books, that they were about evidence, criminal law, criminal biography, trials, acts of parliament, and such things. The furniture was all very solid and good, like his watch-chain. It had an official look, however, and there was nothing merely ornamental to be seen. In a corner, was a little table of papers with a shaded lamp: so he seemed to bring the office home with him in that respect too, and to wheel it out of an evening and fall to work.”

This is Jagger’s office. Though he doesn’t feature, we’ve gleaned much about who he is from details like the types of books upon the shelves and the paper-filled table, suggesting he lives a busy, professional life.

Colour is another fantastic tool when it comes to sight. Dickens was known for using colours to portray emotions or themes, such as red for frustration or anger, black for death, white for purity or goodness. Using colour, particularly with themes and the premise , can add extra layers to a story.

We explore some more 5 senses examples below to give you some ideas when it comes to sight.

Writing Prompt

Stand in the middle of your bedroom. Look all around you. Make notes of every little detail you see. Colours, shapes. Crumbs or dust on the floor. The more attentive you can be the better.

Pick out things that could relate to characterisation. The books on a shelf perhaps—what kind of books are they? Are there empty glasses beside your bed, dishes too? All of this helps to build interesting imagery, as well as contribute to other elements of the story, in this instance, characterization .

Sound is incredibly important when it comes to using the 5 senses in our writing. Dialogue dominates many stories, but so often little attention is paid to how characters sound when they talk. It’s strange when you think about how unique people sound, and a person’s voice makes such a difference to how we form views of them.

Something I learned not so long ago is that ducks don’t quack. They tend to grunt or even cackle. It’s easy to assume how things sound, but sometimes what we assume is wrong.

It’s always worth taking the time to research. In doing so you may find new and original ways to describe the sound. Using metaphors and similes, particularly if the sound is unusual, is a great way to bring clarity to descriptions.

Another often overlooked thing is silence. Silence is an excellent tool to set the tone or build an atmosphere or tension . A noiseless forest. A still, foggy street. Eerie.

Either using yourself or ideally, your character, place yourself in a location in which things are happening around you—a park, for instance. Close your eyes and listen.

Make a note of every little sound you hear, from tweeting birds to jackhammers digging up roads. If you can, make a note of how different sounds make you feel. Do fireworks startle you, for instance? Then think about why they could startle you or your character.

Of all the five senses, touch is, in my view, one of the most powerful yet underrated ones. If you can convey touch in an effective way, you’ll reap the rewards.

The scope of this sense depends on the nature of the scene, but imagine, for example, walking barefoot through a forest. The softness of moss between your toes, the cool slime of mud, the pokes and scratches of sticks and stones. Such details can draw readers deeper into the story.

We’ll look at some sensory writing exercises below, but as a brief writing prompt now, close your eyes and pick something up. Describe how that object feels. What features does it have? The texture? Sturdiness? Width? Weight?

These little details can make all the difference when it comes to incorporating the 5 senses in your writing.

Taste is the more neglected one out of the five sensory organs when it comes to writing. Just like all of the senses, using taste can enrich your story immensely.

How many times have you said the phrase, “It tastes like …”. So many of our memories are tied to tastes. Like I said before, Pepsi Max always reminds me of history classes in college. Which tastes trigger memories for you?

If this happens to us, it happens to your characters too. It’s a great thing to include within your characterization process.

Like smell, taste can serve as a trigger for memories. For example, a husband who shared a love for apple turnovers baked by his deceased wife is reminded of her whenever he eats one.

Taste can also trigger emotions. There’ve been times when I’ve eaten food that tasted so good I bounced with glee in my chair.

A fun one. Head down to your kitchen and finding something to eat that has a bit of texture. Close your eyes, take a bite. Focus closely as you chew, as the food rolls around your mouth, over your tongue and down your throat. How does it taste? How does it make you feel?

We, at last, arrive at smell, though its place is no reflection on its importance when it comes to using the 5 senses in our writing.

The power of smells cannot be underestimated. We smell things all of the time and those scents help to shape our impressions. What can you whiff right now?

A smell helps us to form a judgement on things, such as whether something’s okay to eat. And crucially, smells can trigger vivid memories and emotions, vital tools to any writer.

Here’s one of my favorite 5 senses examples for using smell in writing from James Joyce’s Ulysses :

“ Mr Leopold Bloom ate with relish the inner organs of beasts and fowls. He liked thick giblet soup, nutty gizzards, a stuffed roast heart, liverslices fried with crustcrumbs, fried hencods’ roes. Most of all he liked grilled mutton kidneys which gave to his palate a fine tang of faintly scented urine.”  

How do you describe the smell of rain in creative writing?

The technical term for the smell of rain is “petrichor”.

Rain brings with it a freshness, a crispness, an earthiness. It awakens the scents of other things like dry soil, flowers and grass. It’s something I turn to a lot when writing fantasy , especially in those scenes where characters are moving through rich, rural landscapes. 

Similar to the task above which involves a trip out to a busy place, like a park, sit down and have a good sniff. Another good place to try is a coffee shop. Lots of smells of roasting coffee and baking cakes in there.

Importantly, think about where those smells lead you in your mind. Do they trigger memories? Do associated words pop into your mind? From your character’s perspective, this is what their experience would be like too.

The main aim of using the 5 senses is to create imagery in the minds of readers. That is the ultimate aim of writing fiction—to transfer the thoughts and ideas from the writer to the reader. 

It’s arguably the most magical thing about writing, the ability for an author to connect with a reader thousands of miles away or hundreds of years into the future. 

So it’s up to the writer to create vivid imagery and the 5 senses is one way of achieving that. 

There are actually specific terms for the types of imagery that each sensory organ can conjure. Here they are:

• Visual Imagery – this, of course, relates to sight
• Olfactory Imagery – this fancy word relates to smell
• Auditory Imagery – you may have guessed, this one relates to the description of sounds
• Gustatory Imagery – this one’s all about taste
• Tactile Imagery – and this final one is all about touch, an often-forgotten sense

5 senses imagery, in short, is a powerful tool in a writer’s arsenal. Let’s look at some examples of how it’s used in practice. 

Let’s move on to look at the 5 senses and descriptive writing examples. As we’ve seen above, vivid imagery is often used to help the reader feel immersed in the story. So in this section, I’ve provided some from some bestselling books that make great use of the 5 senses.

“The tearing of flesh, as though a butcher were yanking meat from a flank. The bubbling of liquids and the soft rasping of the cutting tools.” Tooth & Nail , Ian Rankin

“Stars spun across his vision and his head felt as if it were about to burst… With difficulty, Hanno undid the chinstrap and eased off his helmet. Cool air ruffled his sweat-soaked hair.” Hannibal: Fields of Blood Ben Kane

“A cold wind was blowing out of the north, and it made the trees rustle like living things. All day, Will had felt as though something were watching him, something cold and implacable that loved him not.” A Game of Thrones, George RR Martin

“It was dark and dim all day. From the sunless dawn until evening the heavy shadow had deepened, and all hearts in the City were oppressed. Far above a great cloud streamed slowly westward from the Black Land, devouring light, borne upon a wind of war; but below the air was still and breathless, as if all the Value of Anduin waited for the onset of a ruinous storm.” The Return Of The King , JRR Tolkien.

This last one for me is a great example of a descriptive paragraph using the five senses. From the off, you not only get a vivid image of the setting (dark, dim, sunless dawn), but you can feel what it’s like to be there on an emotional level (hearts in the City were oppressed). Our senses are further teased with the description of a “still and breathless” air. 

If you’d like to find more sensory description examples, I recommend doing this simple exercise:

Pick up any book that you see, one ideally that you don’t mind marking with a pen or highlighter. Next, scan the pages, looking for descriptive scenes. Whenever you see a sentence that refers to any of the five senses, highlight it in some way.

The benefit of doing this is that you get examples from a variety of different writers, each with their own clever way of making their exposition more immersive.

Something you may notice is that many of them employ metaphors and similes to help you build a visual image in your mind. This is a very effective way of using the 5 senses in writing. You could say things like:

• The water smashed into the ground like the tide hitting a rocky coast
• A squeal filled the air like a pig fearing slaughter
• It smelled like an overflowing latrine pit sat in the baking sun

You can learn more about using metaphors and similes in this guide on writing prose.

More Examples Of Descriptive Writing Using The 5 Senses

If you’re looking for more 5 senses examples for your writing, one of the best things you can do is to read books that pay particular attention to this. One of the standout books that explore this is Blindness by José Saramago.

There’s no shortage of sensory language examples out there for you to study. From books to writing guides like this, there are plenty of helpful resources you can learn from. 

Something I’ve done to improve my use of the 5 senses in my writing is to include them within the planning process. It’s good to save it until the end when you’ve plotted out your story or chapter, however.

What I do is read over the plan and try and place myself in the scenes. Working my way through each sense, I list everything that pops into my head.

• It’ll be unlikely that you need to spend too much time on sight , but taking the time to consider things in detail can provoke new and unique ideas. What little details can be included? Remember the power of specificity.
• Next, onto sounds . Like sights, it’s unlikely you’ll need to spend too much time on this but it’s always helpful to consider the likes of characters’ voices and any usual sounds that could be featured.
• Smells . When it comes to smells a good starting point is to list everything that comes to mind, even mere whiffs, which can be the most telling of all. Smells can provoke memories and emotions too, like the smell of perfume could remind a character of their dead lover, and that leaves you open to describe emotions.
• What can your character touch or feel? How does the hilt of the sword feel in your character’s fingers? How does the touch of a vivacious woman feel to your lonely character? What information can be gleaned from the manner of a handshake?
• Lastly, what tastes , if any, can you include? Is your character eating? Can they taste blood after being punched in the cheek? Do they enter a room where the smell is so foetid they can taste it?

I wanted to provide you with a few examples of descriptive paragraphs that use sensory details. Examine how they elevate the scene by drawing you deeper. Each little detail paints a more vivid picture, such that you can almost feel yourself there, experiencing it yourself. This is a real skill when it comes to creative writing, but it’s definitely one you can learn and master. 

Let’s look at our first 5 senses paragraph example:

The mud of the road sucked at her tattered leather boots, a quagmire after incessant rains. Autumn circled like a hawk. The wind grabbed at her woollen green cloak and homespun dress. The hand-me-downs from her cousins never fitted, always too wide at the waist and short of length. She pulled her cloak tight about her, bundling it around her hands to keep away the biting chill.

The ringing gave way to those crashes and bangs, each one coming with the beat of his heart. His eyes flickered open. Slate-grey clouds hung above. Dust hovered in the air, rocks and debris showered down upon him. He raised his throbbing head and looked around. Men and women, hands over their ears, cowered down behind the crenellations of the wall, fear etched upon their faces, consuming their eyes, paralyzing their bodies. A few defiant individuals continued to loose arrows. For many, it was the last they shot. The Karraban thunder smashed the parapets to bits, obliterated siege engines, battered the cliff behind them and knocked from it great chunks of rock that tumbled down to crush those below. The ringing in Jem’s ears eased enough for him to hear the screams. They became the backdrop to the rumbling of the Karraban thunder. Only one thought entered Jem’s mind: flee.

The bells rang loud and panicked across Yurrisa. Hidden in the shadows of the abandoned warehouse, Edvar and the others lay in wait. He peered through a crack in a boarded window at the cobbled street. Echoing along it came a shout. Another. Steps rushed toward him, and into view burst a group of soldiers, breaths billowing mist in the cold morning air.

Laughter rippled from the table behind Edvar. The three men were tanners, the least difficult of all working men to identify: stained clothes and hands and stinking of a peculiar cocktail of rotten flesh and mint. They rubbed themselves with the latter to mask the stench of the former. Nobody could bear their presence long enough to tell them it didn’t work.

As you can see, these examples use each of the five senses to great effect. If you’re curious where these came from, I pinched them from Pariah’s Lament .

Here are a few useful exercises to get into the swing of using the senses. The more you practice, the more it’ll become ingrained in the way you write and that’s why it’s one of my favorite writing tips of all!

• One place, one sense . As the title suggests, think of a place and describe everything you can using just one sense. Challenge yourself. Pick a sense you feel you struggle with. Or do one sense, then a different one. 
• Describe an object using the 5 senses. This is a nice simple exercise. Pick one object and describe it using all of your senses. Examples of objects could be chocolate (so you can taste) or a bottle of perfume (for the smell!).
• Close your eyes and pick an object up. This one was mentioned above, but it’s a powerful tool. Jot down everything you can think of.
• Pick your favourite food and eat! This one’s a bit more fun. Take chocolate for example. Savour each bite and write down everything, from taste to texture, the sounds of it breaking in your mouth, and importantly, how it makes you feel.
• Pick something alien and try to use sensory descriptions. This is a great way to challenge your use of the 5 senses because you have to create everything from scratch and to a whole new level of detail. So if you’re a sci-fi writer, this could be a great way to learn how to describe a spaceship in writing. 

Here’s a brilliant visual exercise too which I highly recommend trying. It’s quick, and easy and really does hone your skills when it comes to using the 5 senses in writing.

1. Walk And Write

This exercise I call walk and write . Take a notepad and write five headings: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. The next time you go out, even if it’s just to the shop on the corner, write down everything you experience. The touch of the rain or breeze, how the pavement feels underfoot, snippets of passing conversation you hear, the whistle of birds, how that warm and crispy sausage roll tastes. *Warning* You may look odd stopping all the time.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Take a walk outside and observe your surroundings. Use your senses to take note of what you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. Write down your observations.
• Choose one of the things you noticed on your walk and use it as a prompt for your writing. For example, if you noticed the sound of birds chirping, write a descriptive paragraph that captures that sound.
• As you write, be sure to use sensory language to bring your description to life. Instead of simply saying “I heard birds chirping,” try something like “The melody of birdsong filled my ears, each chirp a delicate note in a symphony of nature.”
• Repeat this exercise for each of the senses. Choose a different observation each time and challenge yourself to use vivid sensory details to paint a picture with your words.

2. Write A Short Story With The 5 Senses

One of the most effective ways that you can sharpen your sensory description writing is to write a short story with the 5 senses. 

The way it works is simple. Plan out your story—characters, plotting, theme—and then when it comes to the writing, you’re only permitted to use the five senses. 

It can help to think of a story in which you’d likely use the sensory organs more than usual. Let’s look at a few writing prompts:

• Your protagonist awakens in a dark cave. It’s cold and damp. They must figure out what’s happened and find their way out.
• Your protagonist is fleeing through a forest. What are they running from? What awaits them up ahead?
• Your character is upon a ship and is knocked overboard. How do they survive in the turbulent waves?

These are just a few prompts that are specifically designed to help you use the five senses in your writing. Trust me, an exercise like this will have your skillset sharpened in no time.

3. Use 5 Senses Writing Prompts

Here are some 5 senses writing prompts that may help you get started:

• You’re at home, watching TV. You catch the scent of something. Something that makes you mute the TV, look around, stand up. What is it you smell?
• For three days you’ve been travelling alone through the woods. You’re two days from your destination. Tired, weary. And you’re pretty sure something is following you. The sun has long since set. The embers are dying in your fire. And you begin to hear sounds close by…
• You’ve just started a new job. The office is big, labyrinthine. On your way back from lunch on your first day, you get lost. You open a door with stairs leading down. You follow them. Get further lost. And the steps give way. You awake in darkness to the sound of something growling. You reach for your phone, turn on the torch…

There are a few examples of sensory language-based writing prompts for you. See where they take you.

You can never have enough adjectives to help you describe the five senses. Below, you can find a pretty simple list, but it serves as a great starting point. From there you can add some of your own examples of using the 5 senses in descriptive writing. I also have some other helpful writing tools here that you may find useful. 

Below, you can find answers to some commonly asked questions when it comes to sensory descriptions, as well as more descriptive writing examples using the 5 senses.

“The icy wind rattled the ancient shutters upon the windows, stirring a shudder and setting every hair on her body on edge.”

This sentence uses sensory language to describe not just how the setting looks (from the rattling ancient shutters we see it’s an old possibly abandoned house), and crucially, we get a sense of how it feels to be in that setting, which is the main objective. It feels eerie, we feel the cold. We’re spooked. 

Sensory description in fiction writing requires a writer to utilise the 5 senses – sight, sound, touch, taste and smell.

Incorporating the senses into your writing is simple. First, focus on what your characters can see in the scene. Then, one by one, think about what they can hear, smell, feel and taste. Assort your various descriptions and pick out your most powerful few.

The five senses are often used to draw a reader deeper into the scene, to feel closer to the characters. Writers do this by adding extra details focusing on the likes of touch and smell. This vivid writing that appeals to the senses can help immerse readers in our tales.

The best way is to pick up your favourite book and highlight any sentences or paragraphs that utilise the 5 senses. You’ll then have a bank of sensory details examples to call upon whenever you need them.

A sensory description is one that includes sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. Exploring sensory language examples gives you a greater ability to immerse your readers in the story and experience what the characters feel.

If you have any questions or need more examples of the 5 senses in writing, please contact me.

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32 thoughts on “The Best Examples Of The 5 Senses And Descriptive Writing”

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When writing about the senses, authors should be careful to avoid FILTER words (saw, heard, felt, smelled, tasted) that detract from the scene. Don’t say, “I saw the sparkling water.” Instead, make it more vivid. Leave out “saw.” We know you saw it because you are describing it to us. Tell us instead more of WHAT you are seeing. “The sparkling water bubbled as a creature from below made its way to the surface.” Same goes with using “heard,” “felt,” “smelled,” and “tasted.” Omit those words and describe those senses so people can experience what the character is experience.

Terrific points! Thanks for taking the time to share!

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Thanks for sharing!

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Thanks for the link!

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This was very helpful in as a source.

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Awesome Adjectives List

Adjectives are words that describe nouns. When you write with interesting adjectives, you help your reader know more about how your characters and your setting look, feel, smell, taste, and sound. Better adjectives create a story with more vivid and precise detail. For example, your character could have blue eyes. Or, your character could have narrowed, ice-blue eyes that glint like sharpened diamonds. Your character just got a lot more interesting with some stronger adjectives. Explore the lists of awesome adjectives for kids that will help you bring your story to life. See our story samples for more awesome adjectives in action.

Choose an Awesome Adjectives List:

• Easy Adjectives List - 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade adjectives
• Advanced Adjectives List - 5th grade, 6th grade, middle school adjectives

Activities:

Also try our adjective-based activities.

Awesome Adjectives List- For Kids Grades 2, 3, 4

Download the adjectives list for kids in 2nd, 3rd, 4th grade: PDF Download-- Awesome Adjectives List (2nd, 3rd, 4th grade)

Busy Lazy Careless Clumsy Nimble Brave Mighty Meek Clever Dull Afraid Scared Cowardly Bashful Proud Fair Greedy Wise Foolish Tricky Truthful Loyal Happy Cheerful Joyful Carefree Friendly Moody Crabby Cranky Awful Gloomy Angry Worried Excited Calm Bored Hardworking Silly Wild Crazy Fussy Still Odd Starving Stuffed Alert Sleepy Surprised Tense

Rude Selfish Strict Tough Polite Amusing Kind Gentle Quiet Caring Hopeful Rich Thrifty Stingy Spoiled Generous Quick Speedy Swift Hasty Rapid Good Fantastic Splendid Wonderful Hard Difficult Challenging Easy Simple Chilly Freezing Icy Steaming Sizzling Muggy Cozy Huge Great Vast Sturdy Grand Heavy Plump Deep Puny Small Tiny Petite Long Endless

Beautiful Adorable Shining Sparkling Glowing Fluttering Soaring Crawling Creeping Sloppy Messy Slimy Grimy Crispy Spiky Rusty Smelly Foul Stinky Curly Fuzzy Plush Lumpy Wrinkly Smooth Glassy Snug Stiff Ugly Hideous Horrid Dreadful Nasty Cruel Creepy Loud Shrill Muffled Creaky

Awesome Adjectives List- Grades 5, 6, Middle School

Download the list for kids in 5th grade, 6th grade and middle school: PDF Download-- Awesome Adjectives List (5th, 6th, Middle School)

Graceful Clumsy Awkward Nimble Clever Dull Obtuse Meek Anemic Frightened Timid Vigilant Cautious Capable Adequate Absent-minded Adventurous Daring Indifferent Apologetic Hideous Horrid Dreadful Ghastly Revolting Nasty Cruel Cheeky Obnoxious Disrespectful Contrary Ornery Subtle Optimistic Courageous Cowardly Gullible Arrogant Haughty Naïve Curious Stubborn Brazen Modest Humble Proud Dishonest Righteous Greedy Wise Tricky Loyal Relaxed Tranquil Lazy Rambunctious Erratic Fidgety Lively Still Famished Surprised Startled Sullen Terrified Furious Annoyed

Sullen Groggy Alert Tense Cranky Gloomy Irritable Lonely Exhausted Ecstatic Cheerful Delighted Blithe Content Carefree Demanding Challenging Effortless Simple

Fantastic Marvelous Splendid Brilliant Superb Striking Stunning Gorgeous Picturesque Lovely Charming Enchanting Delicate Pleasant Monstrous Immense Enormous Massive Brawny Bulky Towering Rotund Cavernous Puny Minute Diminutive Microscopic Petite Slight Bitter Frosty Sweltering Scorching Blistering Muggy Stifling Oppressive Cozy Eternal Ceaseless Perpetual Endless Temporary Intimidating Menacing Miserable Dangerous Delinquent Vile Quarrelsome Hostile Malicious Savage Stern Somber Mysterious Shocking Infamous Ingenious Thrifty Generous Prudent Stingy Spoiled

Anxious Nervous Impatient Worried Excited Courteous Compassionate Benevolent Polite Amusing Entertaining Creative Precise Eccentric Decrepit Ancient Rotten Whimsical Dense Desolate Disgusting Dismal Opulent Idyllic Lavish Edgy Trendy Peculiar Rancid Fetid Foul Filthy Repulsive Lousy Fluttering Soaring Sparkling Gilded Verdant Glowing Askew Dowdy Gaunt Sloppy Serious Grave Intense Severe Heavy Solemn Absurd Ridiculous Sluggish Dawdling Meandering Scarce Copious Muffled Lulling Creaky Shrill Piercing Slimy Grimy Gauzy Mangy Swollen Parched Crispy Spiky Slick Fuzzy Lumpy Plush Wrinkly Slick Glassy Snug Stiff

Writing Resources

• Story Prompts for Kids
• Vibrant Verbs List
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• Conjunctions
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200+ Adjectives To Describe A Creative Person and Creativity

If you’re stumped on how to describe a creative person with adjectives, you’re not alone. It can be tricky to find the right words to define someone whose work is defined by its originality and inventiveness. However, there are a few characteristics that are often found in creative people. 

They tend to be inquisitive and open-minded, always exploring new ideas and approaches. They’re also usually good at problem-solving, seeing things from different angles and coming up with innovative solutions. And of course, creative people often have a strong sense of intuition and imagination, which allows them to see possibilities where others see only limitations. 

So if you’re looking for a way to describe a creative person, keep these qualities in mind.

Table of Contents

How to describe a creative person with adjectives?

If you’re looking for creative adjectives to describe someone, you’ve come to the right place. This article is chock-full of creative words to describe a person, whether you’re looking for positive adjectives to describe a creative person or creative adjectives to describe someone with a more negative connotation. 

But before we get into all of that, let’s start with a quick definition of what we mean by creative adjectives. Creative adjectives are words that are used to describe someone who is creative. Simple, right? Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get into the good stuff.

J | K | L | M

Final verdict

A creative person is someone who sees the world a little differently. They’re often able to find beauty in things that others might miss, and they have a unique way of looking at the world. Creative people are often imaginative and curious, always exploring new ideas and ways of doing things. They’re also often passionate and expressive, with a strong need to express their creativity. If you’re looking for a way to describe someone who is creative, any of these terms might be a good fit.

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Word lists, cheat sheets, and sometimes irreverent reviews of writing rules. kathy steinemann is the author of the writer's lexicon series..

400+ Adjectives to Describe Texture: A Word List for Writers

Engage the Senses, and You Engage Readers

Visuals are often a writer’s first consideration. You might describe dimensions, shape, and color . Sound could come next, followed by scent . You might assign taste attributes to food, teardrops, and lipstick.

But many writers undervalue texture.

After reading this paragraph, close your eyes and imagine a piece of driftwood that has been sitting on a shelf for three years. How would you describe it? Take your time.

Consider the following:

• After three years, the wood releases no scent.
• It lies on the shelf, silent.
• If you decide to check its taste, your tongue might pick up dust, or maybe it would catch on a knobby protuberance.
• Using your sense of touch, your fingers would feel grain or grooves; you’d notice hardness and temperature.

A Few Well-Chosen Texture Words Can Add Depth and Intrigue

Clanton’s palms patted the surface on both sides of her body. They met the velvety texture of … moss? It certainly wasn’t the carpeting in her office.

Three sentences. Two texture words. We intuit that Clanton is confused , and we can assume she’s in a forest. Or is she?

Jens rubbed the threadbare tweed sleeve of his jacket. Although his hand hitched over the knife strapped beneath, he hoped no one would notice his keen messenger of justice.

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.

Vary Your Style Occasionally to Lead With Texture

Do you always describe how something looks and then follow with everything else?

Whenever you write descriptions, imagine how a blind person perceives the world. A well-chosen texture adjective will invigorate your words.

Everything touchable has texture. Pick up a tin-can lid, a paper towel, or a cutting board. Each has a unique surface, distinguishable with closed eyes.

Smooth describes texture, but smooth objects have distinct surfaces. Consider the variations between a tin can, a plastic jar, and a water glass. You could describe all three as smooth, but your fingers will discern the difference.

Instead of smooth , consider:

• tinny, plastic, glassy
• metallic, flexible, glossy
• rusty, slick, glazed

Each adjective carries a different connotation.

The Body Senses Texture in Multiple Ways

• 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.
• The entire body will sense vibrations when a vehicle shimmies across the steel deck of a bridge.
• Pine needles on the forest floor might lodge in socks and pants, causing prickly tingles.
• Burrs will stick to clothing and hair , irritating wherever they touch skin.
• Tongues are adept at analyzing food textures and detecting goosebumps on a lover’s neck. Speaking of lovers, have you ever worn silk underwear or slept in satin sheets? How would you describe the experience?

Consider These Avenues for Adding Texture

Warning: You might find a few story prompts and plot twists in the following list.

• knees grating over gravel, splintered boards, or desiccated bones
• heels rubbing against ankle cuffs or rough ridges in shoes
• bare elbows contacting with people in a crowd or zombies on the prowl
• nose or buttocks reacting to cheap tissues or toilet paper
• chin chafing against a muzzle or rough wool scarf
• ears irritated by a scratchy hatband, collar, or blindfold
• cheeks bumpy after an overnight stint sleeping on the couch
• back aching because of a lumpy mattress or a long ride in a trunk
• wrists raw from rubbing against handcuffs or rope restraints
• thighs covered with red welts from stinging nettle
• legs brushing by a pet, bush, or hanging corpse
• fingernails broken after scouring dried blood from the floor
• fingers gooey from scraping bubblegum off a chandelier
• fingertips freezing while scratching frost off a car window
• lips brittle and split from days in the desert or at sea
• eyes gritty with debris dislodged by helicopter blades

Texture surrounds us. It deserves a prominent place in your writing.

Do You Have an Inventive Mind?

Shakespeare coined many words in common use. From his pen came adjectives such as caked, gnarled, and lustrous . You’ve probably used at least one of his words today.

Add – able, -al, -est, -esque, -free, -ful, -ible, -ic, -ish, -ive, -less, -like, -oid, -ous, and other suffixes to nouns and verbs to create new adjectives.

Let’s consider angora, asphalt, and concrete. We’re already familiar with their texture. Angoraful could describe a baby’s hair. Asphaltous might be appropriate for whisker stubble. Concretesque would be an excellent description for a fitness trainer’s abs .

Better yet, combine words. Smog is a combination of smoke and fog . Brexit was formed by joining British and exit . Chortle is a merging of chuckle and snort .

Your creativity is your only limit.

Ready for the Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious list?

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is another invented adjective so well-known that it didn’t trigger a warning from my spell checker.

The following table presents over 400 texture adjectives. Use them as is or try combining a few. How about ticklehairy , bristlehatched, or gummysoft , for example?

See also the Complexion/Texture list from 300+ Words to Describe Skin .

A and B abrasive, adhesive, alligator-like, asymmetrical, bald, barbed, barnacled, bearded, blemished, blistered, braided, bristly, brittle, broken, bubbled, bubbly, buffed, bumpy, bunched, burnished, burred, bushy, buttery

C caked, calcified, cardboard-like, carved, chafed, chafing, chalky, channeled, chaotic, chipped, chiseled, cleft, clotted, clumped, coagulated, coarse, cobbled, concave, concrete, congealed, convex, corduroy, corroded, corrugated, cottony, cracked, cracking, cratered, creamy, creased, crenelated, crepe-like, crimped, crinkled, crisp, crispy, crocheted, crocodilian, crooked, crosshatched, crude, crumbly, crumpled, crushed, crusty, crystalline, cushioned, cushiony, cutting

D and E damaged, delicate, dense, dented, depressed, diaphanous, dinted, distorted, doughy, downy, drooping, ductile, dull, edged, elastic, emblazoned, embossed, embroidered, enameled, encrusted, engraved, entwined, erupted, etched, even

F feathery, felt, festered, fibrous, filamented, filigreed, filmy, fine, firm, fissured, flabby, flaccid, flaky, flat, flattened, flawed, flawless, fleecy, fleshy, flexible, flinty, flocculent, floppy, fluffy, fluted, foamy, folded, friable, frilled, frilly, frozen, furred, furrowed, furry, fuzzy

G and H gathered, gauzy, gelatinous, gelled, glassy, glazed, glossy, glutinous, gnarled, gnarly, gooey, gouged, grainy, granular, granulated, grating, gravelly, greasy, gristly, gritty, grooved, gummy, hairless, hairy, hard, harsh, hatched, hempen, hirsute, holey, honeycombed, hooked, horned

I ice-covered, impenetrable, imperfect, imprecise, imprinted, incised, incrusted, indented, inelastic, inflexible, inlaid, inscribed, inset, interlaced, interlocked, intertwined, interwoven, intricate, ironed, irregular, itchy

J to L jacquard-woven, jagged, jellied, jumbled, keen, knitted, knobbly, knobby, knotted, knotty, laced, lacy, latticed, layered, leathery, level, limp, lined, linen, liquid, lizard-like, lumpy

M to O malleable, marked, marred, matte, meshed, metallic, mirror-smooth, misshapen, molten, mosaic, mushy, mutilated, nappy, needlelike, neoprene-covered, nicked, nodular, notched, nubby, oily, ossified, overlaid

P padded, papery, parchment-thin, patchy, patinated, patterned, paved, pebbled, pebbly, peeling, petrified, pillowy, pinked, pitted, plaited, plastered, plastic, pleated, pliable, pliant, plumose, plumy, pocked, pockmarked, pointed, polished, porous, potholed, powdery, pressed, prickly, printed, protuberant, puckered, puffy, pulpy

Q and R quilled, quilted, ragged, rasped, razor-sharp, regular, reptilian, ribbed, rich, ridged, rigid, rocky, rough, rubbery, rucked, ruffled, rumpled, runneled, rusty, rutted

Sa to Sl sandy, satiny, scalloped, scaly, scarred, scooped, scored, scraped, scratched, scratchy, scrunched, sculpted, sculptured, serpentine, serrated, set-in, shaggy, sharp, sharp edged, shaved, shingled, shirred, shorn, shredded, shriveled, silken, silky, sleek, slick, slimy, slippery, slit

Sm to Sy smooth, snarled, soapy, soft, soggy, solid, spiked, spiny, splintered, split, spongy, springy, squashy, squidgy, squishy, stamped, steely, stiff, stitched, stony, straw-like, streaked, stretchy, stringy, stubbly, stuccoed, studded, stuffed, supple, suppurated, syrupy

T to V tacky, tarnished, taut, tensile, terrycloth-draped, tessellated, thick, thin, thorny, threadlike, tickling, tickly, tinny, tooled, toothed, toothy, tough, tufted, tweedy, twilled, twisted, unblemished, undulating, uneven, uniform, unshaven, unshorn, unyielding, upholstered, varnished, veined, veinous, velvety, veneered, viscid, viscous

W to Y wadded, waffled, warped, washboard, watery, wavy, waxen, waxy, weather beaten, webbed, well-defined, well-honed, whiskery, wilted, wiry, withered, wizened, wooden, woody, woolen, woolly, worsted, woven, wrinkled, yielding

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2 thoughts on “ 400+ Adjectives to Describe Texture: A Word List for Writers ”

I saw this on Kboards. I’ve been bookmarking all your wonderful blog posts and just wanted to stop by and say thanks. Awesome list. Happy Holidays, Tess

Thanks, Tess.

Expanded versions of these blog posts will appear in a book sometime next year. I’m enjoying the challenge, although sometimes I realize I need to pay more attention to my own advice. 😉

Happy Holidays to you too!

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What is Creative Writing? A Key Piece of the Writer’s Toolbox

Not all writing is the same and there’s a type of writing that has the ability to transport, teach, and inspire others like no other.

Creative writing stands out due to its unique approach and focus on imagination. Here’s how to get started and grow as you explore the broad and beautiful world of creative writing!

What is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is a form of writing that extends beyond the bounds of regular professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature. It is characterized by its emphasis on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes or poetic techniques to express ideas in an original and imaginative way.

Creative writing can take on various forms such as:

• short stories
• screenplays

It’s a way for writers to express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas in a creative, often symbolic, way . It’s about using the power of words to transport readers into a world created by the writer.

5 Key Characteristics of Creative Writing

Creative writing is marked by several defining characteristics, each working to create a distinct form of expression:

1. Imagination and Creativity: Creative writing is all about harnessing your creativity and imagination to create an engaging and compelling piece of work. It allows writers to explore different scenarios, characters, and worlds that may not exist in reality.

2. Emotional Engagement: Creative writing often evokes strong emotions in the reader. It aims to make the reader feel something — whether it’s happiness, sorrow, excitement, or fear.

3. Originality: Creative writing values originality. It’s about presenting familiar things in new ways or exploring ideas that are less conventional.

4. Use of Literary Devices: Creative writing frequently employs literary devices such as metaphors, similes, personification, and others to enrich the text and convey meanings in a more subtle, layered manner.

5. Focus on Aesthetics: The beauty of language and the way words flow together is important in creative writing. The aim is to create a piece that’s not just interesting to read, but also beautiful to hear when read aloud.

Remember, creative writing is not just about producing a work of art. It’s also a means of self-expression and a way to share your perspective with the world. Whether you’re considering it as a hobby or contemplating a career in it, understanding the nature and characteristics of creative writing can help you hone your skills and create more engaging pieces .

For more insights into creative writing, check out our articles on creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree and is a degree in creative writing worth it .

Styles of Creative Writing

To fully understand creative writing , you must be aware of the various styles involved. Creative writing explores a multitude of genres, each with its own unique characteristics and techniques.

Poetry is a form of creative writing that uses expressive language to evoke emotions and ideas. Poets often employ rhythm, rhyme, and other poetic devices to create pieces that are deeply personal and impactful. Poems can vary greatly in length, style, and subject matter, making this a versatile and dynamic form of creative writing.

Short Stories

Short stories are another common style of creative writing. These are brief narratives that typically revolve around a single event or idea. Despite their length, short stories can provide a powerful punch, using precise language and tight narrative structures to convey a complete story in a limited space.

Novels represent a longer form of narrative creative writing. They usually involve complex plots, multiple characters, and various themes. Writing a novel requires a significant investment of time and effort; however, the result can be a rich and immersive reading experience.

Screenplays

Screenplays are written works intended for the screen, be it television, film, or online platforms. They require a specific format, incorporating dialogue and visual descriptions to guide the production process. Screenwriters must also consider the practical aspects of filmmaking, making this an intricate and specialized form of creative writing.

If you’re interested in this style, understanding creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree can provide useful insights.

Writing for the theater is another specialized form of creative writing. Plays, like screenplays, combine dialogue and action, but they also require an understanding of the unique dynamics of the theatrical stage. Playwrights must think about the live audience and the physical space of the theater when crafting their works.

Each of these styles offers unique opportunities for creativity and expression. Whether you’re drawn to the concise power of poetry, the detailed storytelling of novels, or the visual language of screenplays and plays, there’s a form of creative writing that will suit your artistic voice. The key is to explore, experiment, and find the style that resonates with you.

For those looking to spark their creativity, our article on creative writing prompts offers a wealth of ideas to get you started.

Importance of Creative Writing

Understanding what is creative writing involves recognizing its value and significance. Engaging in creative writing can provide numerous benefits – let’s take a closer look.

Developing Creativity and Imagination

Creative writing serves as a fertile ground for nurturing creativity and imagination. It encourages you to think outside the box, explore different perspectives, and create unique and original content. This leads to improved problem-solving skills and a broader worldview , both of which can be beneficial in various aspects of life.

Through creative writing, one can build entire worlds, create characters, and weave complex narratives, all of which are products of a creative mind and vivid imagination. This can be especially beneficial for those seeking creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree .

Enhancing Communication Skills

Creative writing can also play a crucial role in honing communication skills. It demands clarity, precision, and a strong command of language. This helps to improve your vocabulary, grammar, and syntax, making it easier to express thoughts and ideas effectively .

Moreover, creative writing encourages empathy as you often need to portray a variety of characters from different backgrounds and perspectives. This leads to a better understanding of people and improved interpersonal communication skills.

Exploring Emotions and Ideas

One of the most profound aspects of creative writing is its ability to provide a safe space for exploring emotions and ideas. It serves as an outlet for thoughts and feelings , allowing you to express yourself in ways that might not be possible in everyday conversation.

Writing can be therapeutic, helping you process complex emotions, navigate difficult life events, and gain insight into your own experiences and perceptions. It can also be a means of self-discovery , helping you to understand yourself and the world around you better.

So, whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, the benefits of creative writing are vast and varied. For those interested in developing their creative writing skills, check out our articles on creative writing prompts and how to teach creative writing . If you’re considering a career in this field, you might find our article on is a degree in creative writing worth it helpful.

4 Steps to Start Creative Writing

Creative writing can seem daunting to beginners, but with the right approach, anyone can start their journey into this creative field. Here are some steps to help you start creative writing .

1. Finding Inspiration

The first step in creative writing is finding inspiration . Inspiration can come from anywhere and anything. Observe the world around you, listen to conversations, explore different cultures, and delve into various topics of interest.

Reading widely can also be a significant source of inspiration. Read different types of books, articles, and blogs. Discover what resonates with you and sparks your imagination.

For structured creative prompts, visit our list of creative writing prompts to get your creative juices flowing.

Editor’s Note : When something excites or interests you, stop and take note – it could be the inspiration for your next creative writing piece.

2. Planning Your Piece

Once you have an idea, the next step is to plan your piece . Start by outlining:

• the main points

Remember, this can serve as a roadmap to guide your writing process. A plan doesn’t have to be rigid. It’s a flexible guideline that can be adjusted as you delve deeper into your writing. The primary purpose is to provide direction and prevent writer’s block.

3. Writing Your First Draft

After planning your piece, you can start writing your first draft . This is where you give life to your ideas and breathe life into your characters.

Don’t worry about making it perfect in the first go. The first draft is about getting your ideas down on paper . You can always refine and polish your work later. And if you don’t have a great place to write that first draft, consider a journal for writing .

4. Editing and Revising Your Work

The final step in the creative writing process is editing and revising your work . This is where you fine-tune your piece, correct grammatical errors, and improve sentence structure and flow.

Editing is also an opportunity to enhance your storytelling . You can add more descriptive details, develop your characters further, and make sure your plot is engaging and coherent.

Remember, writing is a craft that improves with practice . Don’t be discouraged if your first few pieces don’t meet your expectations. Keep writing, keep learning, and most importantly, enjoy the creative process.

For more insights on creative writing, check out our articles on how to teach creative writing or creative writing activities for kids.

Tips to Improve Creative Writing Skills

Understanding what is creative writing is the first step. But how can one improve their creative writing skills? Here are some tips that can help.

Read Widely

Reading is a vital part of becoming a better writer. By immersing oneself in a variety of genres, styles, and authors, one can gain a richer understanding of language and storytelling techniques . Different authors have unique voices and methods of telling stories, which can serve as inspiration for your own work. So, read widely and frequently!

Practice Regularly

Like any skill, creative writing improves with practice. Consistently writing — whether it be daily, weekly, or monthly — helps develop your writing style and voice . Using creative writing prompts can be a fun way to stimulate your imagination and get the words flowing.

Attend Writing Workshops and Courses

Formal education such as workshops and courses can offer structured learning and expert guidance. These can provide invaluable insights into the world of creative writing, from understanding plot development to character creation. If you’re wondering is a degree in creative writing worth it, these classes can also give you a taste of what studying creative writing at a higher level might look like .

Joining Writing Groups and Communities

Being part of a writing community can provide motivation, constructive feedback, and a sense of camaraderie. These groups often hold regular meetings where members share their work and give each other feedback. Plus, it’s a great way to connect with others who share your passion for writing.

Seeking Feedback on Your Work

Feedback is a crucial part of improving as a writer. It offers a fresh perspective on your work, highlighting areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. Whether it’s from a writing group, a mentor, or even friends and family, constructive criticism can help refine your writing .

Start Creative Writing Today!

Remember, becoming a proficient writer takes time and patience. So, don’t be discouraged by initial challenges. Keep writing, keep learning, and most importantly, keep enjoying the process. Who knows, your passion for creative writing might even lead to creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree .

Happy writing!

Brooks Manley

Creative Primer  is a resource on all things journaling, creativity, and productivity. We’ll help you produce better ideas, get more done, and live a more effective life.

My name is Brooks. I do a ton of journaling, like to think I’m a creative (jury’s out), and spend a lot of time thinking about productivity. I hope these resources and product recommendations serve you well. Reach out if you ever want to chat or let me know about a journal I need to check out!

Here’s my favorite journal for 2024: 

Gratitude Journal Prompts Mindfulness Journal Prompts Journal Prompts for Anxiety Reflective Journal Prompts Healing Journal Prompts Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Journal Prompts Mental Health Journal Prompts ASMR Journal Prompts Manifestation Journal Prompts Self-Care Journal Prompts Morning Journal Prompts Evening Journal Prompts Self-Improvement Journal Prompts Creative Writing Journal Prompts Dream Journal Prompts Relationship Journal Prompts "What If" Journal Prompts New Year Journal Prompts Shadow Work Journal Prompts Journal Prompts for Overcoming Fear Journal Prompts for Dealing with Loss Journal Prompts for Discerning and Decision Making Travel Journal Prompts Fun Journal Prompts

Inspiring Ink: Expert Tips on How to Teach Creative Writing

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Descriptive Adjectives List for Kids to Level Up Their Writing 

Help kids learn what descriptive adjectives are and get a printable list to build their vocabulary and writing.

Michele is a writer who has been published both locally and internationally.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

English is nothing if not a descriptive language. It's full of adjectives to describe everything from how tall you are to the color of a backpack. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or even a student looking for a list of adjectives for kids, you can find plenty of examples here. Find types of adjectives kids might learn at different age levels to make their writing and vocabulary more colorful. You'll also get a printable to keep handy, along with tips on how to teach adjectives and make it fun.

What Is an Adjective?

Words that describe people, places, and things, or nouns, are called adjectives. You can remember this by thinking "an adjective adds something." But what's a descriptive adjective? Let's break it down.

• A descriptive adjective is one of the three main types of adjectives .
• Descriptive adjectives, or describing words, give details about a subject.
• Descriptive adjectives can help you understand how something looks, how many there are, what size it is, or what it's made of.
• Printable Feelings Charts for Kids and How to Use Them

Having a clear definition of adjectives for kids is only the beginning. Now, it's time to break descriptive adjectives down.

• Printable List of Prepositions

Examples of Descriptive Adjectives for Kids

Having an extensive list of descriptive adjectives handy can help kids improve their vocabulary skills, whether they are at home or at school. You can look at a list of adjectives to see how some are describing words and others tell you different details about a noun. You'll also notice that some are simple and some are compound (like itsy-bitsy).

Adjectives to Describe a Person's Appearance

A world without descriptive adjectives would be very bland indeed, especially if you are trying to describe an adult or child. You can use descriptive adjectives to give details about their appearance, size, or age.

Descriptive Adjectives for Size

If you're describing a building, animal, or object, giving details about exactly what size your subject is will make your writing come alive.

Adjectives to Describe Personality Traits

Whether it's how an animal or a person is acting, descriptive adjectives about personalities can be fun and useful. For example, you can say your brother has a bold attitude or your mom is a clever crafter.

Adjectives to Describe Emotions and Feelings

Kids have lots of emotions, and they're often very big feelings. Different emotion words can help you share exactly how you are feeling.

Positive Descriptive Adjectives for Kids

In a world where you want to be kind and happy, positive describing words can help you be positive too. It's fun for kids to tell their friends how amazing they are. You might even turn that into a lesson for your kiddos to write positive notes about the class using positive descriptive adjectives.

Descriptive Adjectives by Grade-Level

Not all descriptive adjectives are the same; as children learn and grow, they'll gain more advanced ways to describe things. The vocabulary your child has at four isn't the same as the one they have at ten. Get a quick breakdown of some common adjectives found in early elementary, upper elementary, and middle school.

Early Elementary Descriptive Adjectives

Preschoolers and kindergarteners are just learning how to define themselves, their peers, and the world around them. The descriptive adjectives they learn include color, size, shape, texture, and weather.

Elementary Descriptive Adjectives

Older elementary students have a better grip on their describing words. They are working to expand their vocabulary to include more complex words, like compound and proper descriptive adjectives.

Middle School Descriptive Adjectives

By the time students reach the middle school level, it's all about expanding their vocabulary to make their writing more colorful and incorporating figurative language .

Printable List of Adjectives

Keeping a printable list of adjectives handy can help kids find new words to use during writing lessons or creative writing time. This list features nine categories that cover common adjectives, such as words describing feelings and words describing size. Click on the image of the list to download and print it.

Descriptive Adjective Teaching Tips

Learning adjectives can be a challenge for kids. Looking for creative ways to share adjective examples to make the most of these grammar lessons can make it more fun and engaging.

• Buy or print flash cards with descriptive adjectives on them. Hold up a picture of a person, animal, or other noun and let kids sort through the pile of cards to find a great describing word for that picture.
• After a child writes a paragraph or short story, circle all their adjectives and challenge them to come up with new adjectives to use in place of the circled ones.
• Use mad lib style writing activity to help kids explore a variety of adjectives with humor.
• Encourage kids to combine adjectives when describing items like saying "the adorable brown dog" instead of just "the dog."
• Teach your child to use a thesaurus or kid's dictionary to liven up their writing and keep lists of new adjectives they discover.
• You can also try banning certain generic adjectives to help your child be creative in making their writing more lively.

Describe in Detail

Writing in elementary school is important because kids really build their own vocabulary and writing style. Each descriptive adjective means something very specific, and kids can explore lists of words to find the right adjective to use at the moment. Using descriptive adjectives also just makes writing more fun!

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A busy beginning to the spring term in the english and creative writing department.

It's been a busy beginning to the spring term, around campus, and in the English and Creative Writing department, with several exciting events already taking place.

In the first week of the term, we had several well-attended events in celebration of the 150th birthday of Robert Frost. An article in The Dartmouth covers these lively events held in collaboration with other departments. In the second week of the term, Argentinian Cartoonist Liniers was off-site at Still North in conversation with Professor Peter Orner. The conversation was joyous, warm, and humorous while taking a direct look at the state of affairs. "Optimism is his superpower," a friend in the audience said of the cartoonist. Read more about the event here .

Singer-Songwriter Cam Discusses Working on Five Tracks for Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’: ‘She’s Just Such a Creative Genius’

By Steven J. Horowitz

Steven J. Horowitz

Senior Music Writer

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In June 2021, Cam got a call from her publisher who told her that a different songwriter couldn’t make a session and asked if she could go instead. Details were scarce — she didn’t even know whose session it was — and off she went to the studio on a whim. Little did she know she’d be walking into sessions for Beyoncé’s new chart-topping album, “Cowboy Carter,” which inevitably would feature writing, production, engineering and background singing from Cam on five of its songs.

Since debuting in 2010, the 39-year-old has etched a name for herself as an artist and songwriter, releasing a pop album in 2010 before a heel-turn to country with 2015’s “Untamed.” That record spawned her highest-charting hit to date, the confessional “Burning House,” which landed her a Grammy nomination. But she hit a different stride with 2020’s “The Otherside,” working with longtime collaborator Tyler Johnson and Jack Antonoff for a collection of songs that conveyed a deeper sophistication in her writing and performance.

Cam recalls that she worked on the album for the latter half of 2021, encouraged to share her ideas to be threaded into the bigger picture. “I could show up with these pieces that were purely myself,” she says. For instance, she channeled her love of requiems, which she sang in choir as a kid, for some of her contributions. “There’s no way you could even guess where she’s going. That’s one of my favorite things about Beyoncé and about this album, is that even though there are so many ties to the past and you hear everything woven through, it’s so forward-facing. She’s singing to us about the future and where we’re going, and I want to go there. So I think spiritually, I definitely felt aligned once I heard it all together. I couldn’t even realize that that’s where this was going back then. I was just contributing these pieces and building blocks that came from me that obviously were on the same journey.”

Right as “Cowboy Carter” released, Beyoncé revealed that she initially intended to put it out before 2022’s “Renaissance,” the first of a planned trilogy that centered on house and dance music. Cam states that she was surprised when “Renaissance” dropped instead, unsure of when the music she worked on would see the light of day.

“I was like, no!” she says with a laugh. “But I absolutely love ‘Renaissance’ so it was a no with a smile and a dance at the same time. The difference between me as an artist and writing for myself and getting to control the timeline and how it all goes and then deciding you’re going to collaborate and be in service as a writer, it’s a whole different ride. I’d like to say I have more understanding and patience for it, because I know how hard it is on the other side of things when you’re trying to direct the flow of traffic, but I definitely was like, this album is so important… So yeah, it was a big sigh of relief when it was finally released.”

She beams as she talks about “Cowboy Carter,” and recalls listening to “Protector” as a finished product for the first time. Cam is mother to her five-year-old daughter Lucy, and identified with the nurturing message of the song. “I just remember I was flying on a plane with [Lucy] and she was probably two and I was so overwhelmed,” she says. “I just remember thinking, all our parents have done this for us. They did it for us and now I’m doing it for her, and I just bawled my eyes out when I first heard that.”

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Nursing’s creative writing award announces winners

• Written by UNMC College of Nursing
• Published Apr 9, 2024

The 2023-2024 UNMC College of Nursing Creative Writing Awards announced winners for this year’s contest. The theme was “Nursing Does That,” encouraging students and alumni to write a story about an experience of how they were changed by caring for an individual who was different than themselves. 

This was the first year offering a contest for alumni, who could submit a story on the same theme.

“We received stories from all our five campuses and from all our academic programs,” said Mark Darby, assistant professor in the UNMC College of Nursing and contest chair. “Our alumni were very supportive, providing not only great stories but funds for our awards this year.”

Darby added, “The stories reflect the deep respect and care our students and alumni provide to the citizens of Nebraska. Nurses face difficult clinical situation and still provide high levels of care.”

This is the fourth year for the contest, which has provided more than $53,000 in awards and resulted in four student stories being published in the American Journal of Nursing.

The top award winners of the student contest will share their stories at a virtual banquet, available at this link , on April 25 from 5-6:30 p.m.

The names of the awardees and the title are below. For previous winners, see the Creative Writing Project website .

Student awards

• Emily Tanner, “Marge Dancing in the Rain”
• Julia Miller, “Your Secret is Safe with Me”
• Sierra Bryant, “I Know That Voice”
• Tayla Goettsche, “His Cat Named Oreo”

Honorable mention

• Greta Rosno, “To My Best Friend Grief”
• Kirsten Hepburn, “Just Hope”
• Kylee Solberg, “Fight Like a Princess”

Publication award

• Alyssa Ramsey, “Compassionate Care – The Heart of Nursing”
• Amanda Gould, “Nursing Can Make You Cry”
• Emma Wareham, “Nursing Does That”
• Ethan VanEnkevort, “Nursing Did That to Me”
• Gabriel Bodeman, “Heartbeat”
• Kaitlyn Gamble, “Pivot”
• Kia Scott-Sellers, “The Ventilator”
• Kylee Solberg, “A New Day”
• Lauren Longacre, “Strangers”
• Lisa Salisbury, “Nursing Does That”

Alumni awards

Alumni top award

• Jan Fuccillo, “A Change of Heart”
• Candy Lussetto, “Nursing Does That”      
• Sharon Redding, “SR- Nursing”

Alumni honorable mention

• Rebecca Stone, “Beautiful Changes”
• Cindy Miller, “Imposter No More”
• Dawn Steinman, “In August Of 1979”
• Mary Martin, “Nursing Does That Changes Lives Forever”
• Katie Weaver, “The Limit Does Not Exists”
• Kay Rockwell, “Nurse Kay”

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Director of Saint Leo’s Master of Creative Writing Program Awarded 2023 Bronze Medal in Florida Book Awards

Dr. Anne Barngrover’s ‘Everwhen’ poetry collection earns a top prize in the state. Read more about her book and her advice for writers.

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During National Poetry Month, it’s fitting to congratulate Saint Leo University’s Dr. Anne Barngrover, who has been awarded the 2023 Bronze Medal by the Florida Book Awards for her poetry collection, Everwhen.  Barngrover, associate professor of creative writing, and director of the  Master of Arts in Creative Writing Program , will attend the awards ceremony in Tallahassee, FL, at the end of April. 

The Florida Book Awards were established in 2006. The 18th annual competition featured 170 eligible publications submitted across 11 categories for books published in 2023.

Earning the gold medal for poetry was Kweku Abimbola of Tampa for Saltwater Demands a Psalm (Graywolf Press) and the silver medal was awarded to Jessica Q. Stark of Jacksonville for Buffalo Girl .

Barngrover’s Everwhen will be among the other Florida Book Award-winning books on permanent display in the library at the Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee and in an exhibit case on the third floor of Florida State University's Strozier Library.

Published by the University of Akron Press, the award-winning Everwhen is Barngrover’s third poetry collection. Barngrover’s  Brazen Creature was published in 2018 also by the University of Akron Press and was a finalist for the 2019 Ohioana Award for Poetry, and Yell Hound Blues  was published by Shipwreckt Books in 2013. 

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Barngrover earned her Bachelor of Arts from Denison University, her Master of Fine Arts from Florida State University, and her doctorate in English and creative writing from the University of Missouri.

Q&A with Dr. Anne Barngrover

Q. This is a BIG award! Are you having “all the feelings?” Why do you think the judges selected Everwhen ?

 A:  Thank you! I’m not exactly sure why the judges selected Everwhen. In the writing world, as in other creative pursuits, there’s so much subjectivity and rejection, the rejection far outweighing the acceptances, and oftentimes you never know why your work can get rejected by one literary journal, press, or award and accepted by another. I’ve had to learn a long time ago not to take any of it too personally and to develop a thick skin, to trust my creative instincts, and to keep marching on. That being said, I am so grateful to all those who have supported Everwhen and am very honored to have been chosen for the bronze medal.

Q: Do the poems in Everwhen follow a theme — are they connected? And if so, can you explain the theme?

 A:  I wrote and revised these poems from around 2017-2021, so the images, obsessions, and preoccupations of those years became part of this collection. Everwhen is an anxious book concerned with how our planet is being treated and how vulnerable people, especially women, are treated in tandem. Many of these poems speak as plants or as the Roman goddess Ceres, ruler of agriculture and of women and girls, as imagined in the 21 st century. Ceres’ insistence on truth-telling and resilience are familiar navigations for me. 

As a decade-long Florida resident, I experience this state as verdant, otherworldly, and misunderstood, rife with the manmade horrors of toxic algae, disappearing species and coastlines, dangerous weather patterns, and the highest reports of cyber-attacks in the country, and all of these local concerns are reflected in the poetry of this book. Overall, Everwhen deals with love, grief, and beauty in the apocalypse; the body and mind in peril; and the ecological concept of Deep Time.

Q: What inspires you to write, whether it be poetry or another form of writing?

  A: I am most inspired to write when I am reading other poems that strike me in their imagery, visual form, musicality, and use of the line, or when I am reading evocative prose. I love that poems are made up of both lines and sentences; I am most inspired by the possibility of sentences. 

My daily bike rides around my neighborhood also inspire me because I live in an area that contains a lot of lush and unusual nature. Likewise, I am inspired by the places I travel to, whether that is a nearby beach or a city in Europe. Physically moving outside helps me to meditate, think deeply, and observe the world around me. I bring all of my reading and my observations with me when I come to the page to write, and in doing so, I never face the blank page alone.

Q: What advice do you give to young writers?

 A : Read! My  students know that my mantra is, “Read five times more than you write.” Read within your genre and outside of your genre. Read work that is old and work that is new. Read work that is similar to what you want to write and work that is wildly different. 

Reading gives you permission to try new things in your writing, to experiment with form and perspective, and to re-imagine the possibilities of storytelling and expression. No one can work in a bubble; all successful writers borrow from the writers who came before them. If you do not read, you will stagnate as a writer. What’s more, reading can become one of the greatest loves of your life; I know it has been a great love in mine. 

Leading Micro-credential in Creative Writing This Summer

This summer, Barngrover will lead the 2024 master’s in creative writing summer residency as well as a micro-credential program in creative writing. The micro-credential program will provide feedback from creative writing faculty and peers on what participants are working on — new fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry. It takes place 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., July 8-13 at Saint Leo’s campus, 33701 County Road 52, St. Leo, FL 33544. The deadline to sign up is June 15. For more information, email  [email protected]