How to Swap Nouns for Adjectives in Stories

Rate: (2 Ratings)

Description can make or break a story. Too much can be overwhelming for the reader, while a sprinkle here and there can help keep the reader’s attention. Swapping nouns for adjectives throughout your story can make your story more interesting and realistic.

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Thesaurus
Red pen

Step1

Read through your manuscript a couple times and circle all of the nouns. Examine each noun and determine which ones could be spiced up or substituted with adjectives.

Step2

Enliven your characters. Your character might be a lawyer, parent, teacher, etc., but what kind of person are there? Maybe they are trustworthy, loyal or shady. Use adjectives to create a 3-dimensional character that readers can relate to.

Step3

Set the scene. The setting helps develop the story and establish a time frame for the reader. The setting can be a symbol for something, or it can parallel a character’s feelings. Use adjectives to describe the scenery, smells and the weather.

Step4

Consult a thesaurus and use different words. Some adjectives are overused and become dull and boring so try out more interesting ones. Try a couple new words and read the sentence out loud to hear what sounds or flows better.