describing a tavern. - Writers Forum

Raith · 11-28-2005, 06:18 PM

its hard for me so far, an empty tavern. this is all i described thus far:

. the wine.
. the table.
. the window.
. the chair.

what else?

SeattleGhostWriter · 11-28-2005, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raith

its hard for me so far, an empty tavern. this is all i described thus far:

. the wine.
. the table.
. the window.
. the chair.

what else?

Where is this tavern located? Town (real or make believe), city, country/state.

In what time period does this tavern exist in?

What does the outside look like?

What does the inside look like?

What types of patrons does the tavern attract?

Just some basic questions. Go from general to specific.

Raith · 11-28-2005, 06:50 PM

the beginning is inside the tavern, so you cant really see outside yet. by description the period is easily answered. and its empty so no patrons. trying to describe the inside.

SeattleGhostWriter · 11-28-2005, 07:11 PM

Okay,

Are there windows? How big are they? Are they clean, or grimy? Is there a barkeep tending to the chores, getting the tavern ready for the thirsty patrons? What does he/she look like? what clothing is he/she wearing? The tables and chairs, are they of polished wood? do they contain dust? how many are there? where are they positioned? What does the bar counter itself look like? What's hanging on the walls? Are there ceiling fans? Is it summer, fall, winter, spring? What is the atmosphere like inside the tavern? What type of liqour is congregating along the mirrored shelving unit/regular shelves? Is there a spitoon? Is there a rickety old piano? Are there stairs leading up to some hotel rooms where lady's of the night reside to comfort thirsty horseman?

By asking such questions and answering them, you begin to create the immediate world around there. How old are you if you don't mind me asking? If you are of legal drinking age, go out to a few bars. See what the atmosphere is like. Take a pad of paper with you, describe what you see.

Any more questions, send me a pm

Raith · 11-28-2005, 07:23 PM

ah, i see a bigger picture now. thank you very much.

BauB · 11-29-2005, 01:49 AM

I like to include lighting, smells, and sounds.

For instance (going to free write here):

"Paza closed the shabby door of the tavern and turned around to a roar of faceless voices speaking to no one in particular. The inadequate lighting cast odd shadows throughout the place, leaving Paza uneasy given his current circumstances. He glanced around, searching for a bench without a body in it and started toward the only one in sight. As he neared his target, he was overwhelmed by the smell of vomit and dirty clothes that brought his nose down into his shirt. He hoped to hell that the horrid odor wasn't radiating from the bench he was still 6 feet from reaching."

Pardon the somewhat lame name. I'm not very good at naming my characters.

Also, don't be an architect. Describe only the details that your reader needs to know and leave the rest up to their imagination (unless you're trying to throw in a McGuffin or red herring). I find it terribly distracting to have an author go off on a huge description of a building's architectural design only to have it not further the story at all. I don't want to know the building's floor plan unless I have to!

Avarice · 11-29-2005, 05:10 AM

wine table floors pool table, whores, pinbal machine, door, lights, cigarette smoke, pirates, leprechauns abusing guinness, the man that looks at women lewdly and then giggles to himself, etc...