Aircraft Descriptions: Synonyms and Related Words
To make your characters and settings more relatable, use sensory details to bring them to life. Here's a taste of what an airplane might offer:
VISUALS: Cramped navy blue seats, armrests, the beverage cart zigzagging up and down the aisles, overhead compartments jammed with bags, passengers hogging the aisle as they put their luggage away or rummage through the bins. The mid-plane emergency exit, fold-down trays, and the in-flight magazine lying haphazardly on each seat are all part of the scene.
AUDIBLES: Engines droning, the occasional squeak of the beverage cart, muted conversations, laughter, snoring, babies crying, fabric rustling - a symphony of noises that can either drive you bonkers or lull you to sleep.
SMELLS: Perfume or cologne that's been overapplied, food being consumed, stale coffee, canned air, minty gum, foul breath, beer, a whiff of hand sanitizer, BO, old fabric, hair products, stinky feet if someone removes their shoes… you get the picture.
TASTES: Water, coffee, pop, juice, tea, alcoholic drinks (wine, beer, spirits), airplane food (sandwiches, pizza, chocolate bars, chips, granola bars, bagels, muffins, wraps...) or food bought in airports.
TEXTURES: Painfully hard, too-narrow armrests, brushing against seatmates, cramped quarters, hunched backs trying to maneuver through the aisle, kinks in your neck from twisting to look out the window, sliding bags out from under seats, uncomfortable seats belts… Life's little reminders that you're not home yet.
When writing, remember that the words you choose can create an atmosphere and mood. Similes and metaphors can paint vivid images when used sparingly. Here's an example:
Donny always got the worst luck on business trips. He loved those quick, 45-minute flights where he'd have the entire row to himself and even snagged the front seat for extra leg room. But those grueling 8-hour flights to the UK often left him squished next to a shrieking toddler whose Mother hadn't bothered to bring toys, or a sloppy, seat-spilling, cheapskate who couldn't afford an extra seat... Think beyond just what your characters see, and paint a sensory feast for your readers.
For more help, check out our expanded Setting Thesaurus collection, including over 200 settings for you to choose from, each with multi-sensory cues, conflict options, and examples of well-written descriptions to inspire your writing. Visit our bookstore for more information.
Remember, Angela Ackerman, the founder of One Stop For Writers, a powerful tool for writers to elevate their storytelling, is here to help you succeed.
- Angela Ackerman, a writing coach, suggests using similes and metaphors to create an engaging atmosphere and mood, as demonstrated in Donny's business trip predicament, where the planes were likened to crowded, uncomfortable cocoons filled with a symphony of unfavorable sounds, smells, and textures.
- To breathe life into characters and scenes, writers might contemplate the various sensory experiences associated with travel, as explored in the descriptive passage about an airplane flight, considering how these details can connect readers with the characters and their predicaments.
- By immersing themselves in unique environments and capturing the sensory details, writers can enhance their storytelling, as evidenced in the passage about an airplane flight, painting vivid imagery for readers and adding depth to their characters' lifestyles.
- To further expand their horizons and find more sensory cues, writers are encouraged to explore the Setting Thesaurus collection, offering over 200 settings with multi-sensory cues, conflict options, and examples, designed to help writers elevate their storytelling and ensure their narratives are as immersive and captivating as possible.
