English 101: Physical Details

Sometimes writers have trouble thinking of details to include, or deciding which ones are most relevant to the story. This list may get you thinking, give you ideas or help you select the most appropriate type of details for your story.

speech (what people say and how they say it)
- words
- tone of voice
- pauses
- volume
facial expression
clothes
posture
movement
setting
- objects (furniture, decorations, tools, technology, books, cds, toys, etc.)
- architecture (structures and parts of structures—rooms, walls, floors, ceilings, doors, windows, etc.)
- landscape (hills, valleys, horizon, plant life, sky, water, roads, bridges, buildings, etc.)
- light
- temperature
- sounds
inner physical sensations
- hunger
- dizziness
- muscle tension