morning creative writing description

How to Describe the Wind in Writing (100 Words + Examples)

It can be a bit tricky to find the right words or phrases to make your readers see and feel the wind.

Here is how to describe the wind in writing:

Describe the wind in writing by using sensory language to evoke its force, sound, temperature, effect, direction, time of day, and personified traits. Each description should enhance the narrative, helping to set the scene, build atmosphere, and engage the reader.

In this guide, we’ll discuss all the different ways to describe wind based on its force, sound, speed, and more.

Describing Wind by Its Force

Table of Contents

The force of the wind can dramatically change the perception of a scene.

The contrast between a gentle breeze and a violent gale is not just a measure of intensity.

But can also signify changing moods, symbolize emotional shifts, or foreshadow significant events.

Here is how to do it:

• Gentle : A gentle wind softly touches, a delicate interaction with the environment. Example: “The gentle wind caressed the petals of the blooming flowers, their fragrance subtly wafting in the air.”
• Light : A light breeze is almost playful, just strong enough to stir the leaves. Example: “A light wind tugged at her hair as she sat by the river, the tranquil scene filling her with peace.”
• Calm : A calm wind denotes tranquility and serenity, ideal for peaceful settings. Example: “The calm wind moved lazily through the tall grass, making it sway like waves in a calm sea.”
• Whispering : A whispering wind is quiet, giving a sense of intimacy and closeness. Example: “The whispering wind carried the melody of the distant lullaby, lulling the town to sleep.”
• Soothing : A soothing wind provides relief or comfort. Example: “The soothing wind was a balm against the harsh summer heat, its gentle caress reviving his spirits.”
• Blustery : A blustery wind is strong and cold, often associated with the autumn and winter months. Example: “The blustery wind cut through his jacket, making him shiver as he trod the leaf-strewn path.”
• Howling : A howling wind is fierce, invoking images of storms or tempests. Example: “The howling wind made the old house creak ominously, its eerie tune setting the mood for the night.”
• Fierce : A fierce wind indicates a wild and uncontrolled force. Example: “The fierce wind shook the window panes, a testament to the storm’s power.”
• Wild : Wild wind suggests a sense of chaos and lack of control. Example: “The wild wind tossed the ship like a toy, waves crashing over the deck.”
• Gusty : Gusty winds are strong and sudden, capable of causing brief moments of disarray. Example: “The gusty wind snatched the papers from his hands, scattering them in every direction.”

Describing Wind by Its Sound

The sound of the wind is often used to set the atmosphere of a scene.

From the silent rustling of leaves to the ominous howling in a storm, the sonic quality of wind can bring your writing to life.

• Soft : A soft wind might be barely audible, adding a sense of tranquility. Example: “The soft rustle of the wind through the trees was a soothing backdrop to their quiet conversation.”
• Hushed : A hushed wind is a secret whisper, barely noticeable. Example: “A hushed breeze stirred the silent forest, the only sign of life in the deep wilderness.”
• Silent : A silent wind might not make any sound, but its effects can be seen or felt. Example: “The silent wind danced with the dunes, shifting the desert landscape as if alive.”
• Quiet : A quiet wind does not overpower other sounds, acting as a subtle background note. Example: “The quiet wind murmured through the leaves, a soft accompaniment to the chorus of singing birds.”
• Noisy : A noisy wind is boisterous, drawing attention to its presence. Example: “The noisy wind rustled the newspapers, alerting the alley cat of someone’s approach.”
• Roaring : A roaring wind has a deep, loud sound, often associated with storms or extreme weather. Example: “The roaring wind was deafening, drowning out all other sounds.”
• Screaming : A screaming wind gives the impression of high intensity or danger. Example: “The wind screamed around them, a chilling prelude to the approaching hurricane.”
• Howling : A howling wind is loud and sorrowful, invoking a sense of loneliness or fear. Example: “The howling wind seemed to voice the loneliness of the old mansion, its chilling song echoing in the empty rooms.”
• Whistling : A whistling wind creates high-pitched sounds as it passes through narrow spaces. Example: “The wind whistled through the bare branches, a lonely melody in the frigid winter air.”
• Moaning : A moaning wind can suggest discomfort or eeriness. Example: “The wind moaned through the ruined tower, its ghostly sighs stirring tales of lost battles and ancient sorrows.”

Describing Wind by Its Speed

The speed of the wind can influence the rhythm and pacing of your writing.

Slow winds might suggest a leisurely pace, while fast winds can bring energy and excitement.

• Slow : A slow wind suggests a relaxed or languid mood. Example: “The slow wind moved lazily across the field, the daisies bending and swaying in a slow dance.”
• Lazy : A lazy wind has a lackadaisical quality, perfect for a calm, sunny afternoon. Example: “A lazy wind drifted through the orchard, the scent of ripe apples carried in its wake.”
• Languid : A languid wind is slow and relaxed, hinting at tranquility and leisure. Example: “The languid breeze that wafted from the sea brought a sense of calm and serenity.”
• Meandering : A meandering wind takes its time, as though it’s enjoying the journey rather than rushing towards a destination. Example: “The meandering wind played amidst the autumn leaves, carrying them on a leisurely dance.”
• Drifting : A drifting wind is unhurried and aimless, adding a dreamlike quality to the scene. Example: “The drifting wind carried the scent of lilacs, its sweet perfume invoking memories of past summers.”
• Fast : A fast wind is full of energy, ideal for scenes of action or urgency. Example: “The fast wind whipped her hair around her face as she raced down the hill.”
• Quick : A quick wind might signal an abrupt change or a breathless moment. Example: “The quick wind brought the first hint of the storm, the air suddenly heavy with tension.”
• Swift : A swift wind brings movement and flow to the scene, emphasizing speed and motion. Example: “The swift wind carried the fallen petals, creating a blizzard of cherry blossoms.”
• Rushing : A rushing wind suggests urgency or turmoil. Example: “The rushing wind tore through the narrow streets, a harbinger of the tempest to come.”
• Speeding : A speeding wind signifies rapid movement and can be used to convey a sense of excitement or danger. Example: “The speeding wind roared in his ears as he plummeted towards the ground, his parachute trailing behind him.”

Describing Wind by Its Temperature

The temperature of the wind can greatly influence the overall feeling of a scene.

Whether a warm summer breeze or a frigid winter gust, the wind’s temperature can evoke a range of emotions and sensations in the reader.

• Warm : A warm wind suggests comfort and the promise of balmy weather. Example: “The warm wind, heavy with the scent of blooming jasmine, hinted at the approaching summer.”
• Hot : A hot wind can be oppressive, often associated with desert or drought conditions. Example: “The hot wind carried the sting of the sand, searing any exposed skin.”
• Cool : A cool wind is often refreshing, a welcome relief from the heat. Example: “The cool wind that rustled the palm leaves brought momentary relief from the tropical heat.”
• Cold : A cold wind might suggest discomfort or harsh weather conditions. Example: “The cold wind gnawed at their cheeks, turning them a rosy pink.”
• Chilling : A chilling wind often connotes something ominous or foreboding. Example: “The chilling wind blew through the graveyard, making the mourners shiver uncontrollably.”
• Icy : An icy wind is not only cold but also piercing, cutting through layers of clothing. Example: “The icy wind cut through her coat like a knife, making her shudder with cold.”
• Frigid : A frigid wind can suggest extreme cold, often associated with winter or high-altitude settings. Example: “The frigid wind howled across the snow-covered mountains, stinging any exposed skin.”
• Scorching : A scorching wind is intensely hot, like being in an oven or near a fire. Example: “The scorching wind was like a wall of heat, making the mere act of breathing a challenge.”
• Refreshing : A refreshing wind is cool and invigorating, often associated with spring or morning breezes. Example: “The refreshing wind stirred the wildflowers, carrying their sweet scent across the meadow.”
• Biting : A biting wind is harsh and painful, carrying an insinuation of discomfort or hostility. Example: “The biting wind whipped around them, making every step a battle against the elements.”

Describing Wind by Its Effects

Another way to describe the wind is by the impact it has on the surrounding environment.

This can provide a vivid, indirect way of conveying the strength or character of the wind.

• Rustling : A rustling wind gently stirs leaves and grass. Example: “The rustling wind stirred up the autumn leaves, creating a colorful whirlwind.”
• Whipping : A whipping wind moves with force, capable of causing disarray. Example: “The whipping wind tore at their clothes, making it hard to move forward.”
• Caressing : A caressing wind moves gently, like a lover’s touch. Example: “The caressing wind played with her hair, sending shivers down her spine.”
• Tugging : A tugging wind pulls at things, providing a sense of its strength. Example: “The tugging wind pulled at his hat, threatening to send it flying.”
• Stirring : A stirring wind causes slight movement, especially in water or loose particles like sand or dust. Example: “The stirring wind created tiny ripples across the pond, disturbing the otherwise mirror-like surface.”
• Sweeping : A sweeping wind suggests broad, fast movement over a large area. Example: “The sweeping wind cleared the fog, revealing the breathtaking vista of the valley below.”
• Roaring : A roaring wind gives an impression of intensity and might. Example: “The roaring wind stripped the trees of their autumn leaves, leaving the branches bare and exposed.”
• Dancing : A dancing wind moves unpredictably, swirling and changing direction. Example: “The dancing wind swirled the snowflakes into intricate patterns, as if orchestrating a ballet of the elements.”
• Carrying : A carrying wind can transport scents, sounds, or smaller objects over distances. Example: “The carrying wind brought the distant sound of church bells, drifting on the air like a sacred melody.”
• Buffeting : A buffeting wind strikes repeatedly and forcefully, causing everything in its path to shake or rattle. Example: “The buffeting wind rattled the old window frames, their constant clattering a testament to the storm’s fury.”

Describing Wind by Its Direction

The direction of the wind can have significant implications for your narrative, from determining the movement of clouds to hinting at changes in weather or seasons.

Here is how to describe the wind by its direction:

• North : A north wind, often cold, can signify the arrival of winter or a cooling trend. Example: “The north wind carried the scent of snow, a chilling harbinger of the approaching winter.”
• South : A south wind is typically warm, often suggesting the onset of spring or summer. Example: “The south wind, laden with the heady fragrance of blooming roses, heralded the arrival of a sultry summer.”
• East : An east wind can be seen as bringing change or new beginnings. Example: “The east wind brought the first light of dawn, casting long shadows on the silent town.”
• West : A west wind often carries the connotation of ending or closure. Example: “The west wind carried the last notes of the song, echoing the sun’s farewell as it dipped below the horizon.”
• Upland : An upland wind moves uphill, suggesting effort or challenge. Example: “The upland wind whispered encouraging words in her ear as she climbed the steep hill.”
• Downland : A downland wind moves downhill, hinting at ease or relaxation. Example: “The downland wind guided the fallen leaves on their journey to the valley.”
• Seaward : A seaward wind moves towards the sea, often evoking a sense of longing or adventure. Example: “The seaward wind filled their sails, drawing them towards the vast, unexplored ocean.”
• Landward : A landward wind moves towards land, typically associated with feelings of safety or return. Example: “The landward wind carried the familiar scent of pine and woodsmoke, a promise of home.”
• Incoming : An incoming wind moves towards the observer, indicating the approach of something. Example: “The incoming wind carried the distant rumble of thunder, a stark warning of the storm’s approach.”
• Outgoing : An outgoing wind moves away from the observer, often signaling departure or relief. Example: “The outgoing wind took the last traces of the forest fire, the air finally clear and breathable.”

Describing Wind by Its Time of Day

The time of day can also influence how the wind is perceived, adding an additional layer of nuance to your descriptions.

• Morning : A morning wind suggests freshness and the beginning of a new day. Example: “The morning wind, cool and crisp, breathed life into the sleepy town.”
• Noon : A noon wind often conveys the intensity of the midday sun. Example: “The noon wind, hot and dry, made the mirages dance on the distant horizon.”
• Afternoon : An afternoon wind can signal a gradual easing of the day’s heat. Example: “The afternoon wind brought welcome relief, stirring the lethargic summer air.”
• Evening : An evening wind often indicates the transition from day to night. Example: “The evening wind carried the twilight song of the birds, an enchanting serenade as day gave way to night.”
• Night : A night wind is typically associated with mystery, calm, or the unknown. Example: “The night wind whispered tales of forgotten times, its hushed voice blending with the rustle of the ancient trees.”
• Dawn : A dawn wind implies new beginnings or hope. Example: “The dawn wind stirred the sea into a shimmering canvas, painting the first light of day in vibrant hues of orange and gold.”
• Dusk : A dusk wind carries the end of the day and the onset of the evening. Example: “The dusk wind rustled the falling leaves, echoing the sun’s farewell as it dipped below the horizon.”
• Midnight : A midnight wind can evoke the depth of the night and the mysteries it holds. Example: “The midnight wind carried the eerie howls from the distance, its chilling message clear in the silent night.”
• Daybreak : A daybreak wind suggests renewal or a fresh start. Example: “The daybreak wind carried the scent of dew-kissed grass, a subtle hint of the world awakening to a new day.”
• Twilight : A twilight wind signifies transition or change, often bringing a sense of calm. Example: “The twilight wind stirred the lavender fields, their soothing scent bringing a serene end to the day.”

Describing Wind by Its Smell

Scents carried by the wind can help set the scene and evoke strong emotions and memories in your readers.

Here are a few ways you can describe wind by its smell:

• Salt-tinged : A wind that carries the smell of the sea. Example: “A salt-tinged wind swept across the deck, instantly transporting him back to his childhood summers by the ocean.”
• Pine-scented : A wind carrying the aroma of pine forests. Example: “The pine-scented wind was a refreshing balm, cleaning the city smog from her lungs.”
• Smoky : A wind that carries the smell of smoke, indicating a fire. Example: “The smoky wind stung their eyes and throats, a cruel herald of the approaching wildfire.”
• Floral : A wind filled with the scent of flowers. Example: “A floral wind drifted through the open window, the intoxicating perfume of the garden mingling with the crisp linen sheets.”
• Dusty : A wind that carries the smell of dust or dry earth. Example: “The dusty wind was a tangible reminder of the long, parched summer.”
• Rain-soaked : A wind carrying the fresh smell of rain or an approaching storm. Example: “The rain-soaked wind promised a respite from the relentless heat.”
• Herb-laden : A wind filled with the smell of herbs, indicating a nearby garden or meadow. Example: “The herb-laden wind carried notes of lavender and rosemary, a comforting reminder of home.”
• Citrusy : A wind carrying the zesty aroma of citrus fruits. Example: “A citrusy wind drifted from the orange groves, filling the afternoon with a tangy sweetness.”
• Decaying : A wind that carries the smell of decay, indicating rot or death. Example: “The decaying wind held the grim scent of the battlefield, a chilling testament to the day’s losses.”
• Spicy : A wind filled with the scent of spices, indicating a nearby marketplace or kitchen. Example: “The spicy wind was thick with the promise of delicious meals, making her stomach growl in anticipation.”

Describing Wind by Its Feeling

Describing the wind by its physical sensation on a character’s skin can help immerse the reader in the scene.

• Stinging : A wind that is harsh and biting. Example: “The stinging wind battered his face, each gust like a slap of cold, wet canvas.”
• Tickling : A light wind that playfully brushes against the skin. Example: “The tickling wind teased her bare arms, leaving goosebumps in its wake.”
• Caressing : A gentle wind that softly touches the skin. Example: “The caressing wind was a tender lover, its soft touch bringing comfort to her weary body.”
• Slapping : A strong, abrupt wind. Example: “The slapping wind caught her off guard, its sudden force nearly knocking her off her feet.”
• Grazing : A gentle wind barely noticeable on the skin. Example: “The grazing wind was a soft sigh against her cheek, a barely-there touch that hinted at the storm’s retreat.”
• Biting : A cold, harsh wind that feels as though it’s biting into the skin. Example: “The biting wind gnawed at his fingertips, the relentless cold seeping through his gloves.”
• Scratching : A wind carrying sand or tiny debris that feels abrasive on the skin. Example: “The scratching wind was a desert beast, its sandy claws scraping against his exposed skin.”
• Soothing : A wind that brings relief or comfort. Example: “The soothing wind was a welcome respite from the stifling heat, its gentle caress cooling her sunburnt skin.”
• Clammy : A wind that is damp and cold. Example: “The clammy wind clung to her clothes, the damp chill seeping into her bones.”
• Prickling : A wind that makes the skin tingle, often due to cold or static. Example: “The prickling wind was a ghost’s touch, its chilling caress raising goosebumps on her skin.”

Here is a video on how to describe a windy day:

How Do You Personify Wind?

Personification is a powerful literary device that gives human characteristics to non-human entities.

When it comes to the wind, personification can be an excellent tool to create vivid imagery, build atmosphere, and engage readers on a deeper level.

Consider these techniques to personify the wind:

• Whispering : Giving the wind the ability to whisper can make it seem secretive or intimate. Example: “The wind whispered through the treetops, carrying secrets from one part of the forest to another.”
• Laughing : A laughing wind can express joy, freedom, or mischief. Example: “The wind laughed in the open fields, playfully rustling the wildflowers as it passed.”
• Singing : When the wind sings, it creates a sense of harmony or melody. Example: “The wind sang a lullaby, its soothing hum gently lulling the world to sleep.”
• Mourning : A mourning wind carries an impression of sadness or loss. Example: “The wind mourned through the empty streets, a sorrowful echo of the town’s former life.”
• Dancing : A dancing wind implies movement, celebration, or unpredictability. Example: “The wind danced through the autumn leaves, twirling them in a whirl of gold and red.”
• Roaring : A roaring wind can depict anger, might, or wildness. Example: “The wind roared across the desolate plains, venting its fury on the barren landscape.”
• Caressing : If the wind is caressing something, it gives a sense of gentleness or affection. Example: “The wind caressed the waves, leaving a trail of shimmering ripples in its wake.”
• Teasing : A teasing wind suggests playfulness and lightness. Example: “The wind teased her hair, tossing it this way and that in a playful game.”
• Sighing : A sighing wind can convey disappointment, relief, or resignation. Example: “The wind sighed through the abandoned corridors, echoing the despair left behind.”
• Chasing : A chasing wind implies speed, pursuit, or play. Example: “The wind chased the fallen leaves, their rustling flight a merry chase across the park.”

Final Thoughts: How to Describe the Wind in Writing

When you describe wind in your story, try to link your description to the plot, theme, characters, and specific scene.

Everything should tie into the same knotted storyline.

Here are some tools that I think will help you level up your writing skills:

Related posts:

• How To Describe a House in Writing (21 Tips for Beginners)
• 400+ Words to Describe a Flower Garden: Best Writers Guide
• How to Describe a Sunset in Writing: 100 Best Words & Phrases
• How to Describe a Ghost in Writing (Tips, Words, Examples)

12 Sun, Sunrise & Sunset Metaphors for Writers

The sun is one of the most common contextual features of a setting that we write about. But it’s hard to come up with creative new ways to talk about something that has been discussed in countless books over Millenia. Below, I’ve compiled some creative sun metaphors that can help you break through that writer’s block and find the perfect setting description in your story.

After exploring metaphors for the sun, I’ll also provide some further adjectives and color descriptions that can help add flair to your writing, and create the perfect image in your reader’s mind.

Sun Metaphors and Similes

1. it slipped through my fingers.

You can picture in your mind sunrays on your hand and, with your fingers outstretched, some of them passing through the gaps in your fingers to lay on the ground below. To say it slipped through your fingers is metaphorical because it didn’t literally slip through anything. It didn’t slide or bounce or refract off your fingers at all. In fact, the it is a long, long way away. Rather, it’s the sunrays that pass between the fingers. But we can be much more creative and visual in our description than to say “the sun rays passed between my fingers” – so we say “it slipped through”.

2. The Blazing Sun Mocked Me

This is an example of personification of the sun. In this metaphor, the sun isn’t a friend but a tormentor. An example of a time when it might mock a protagonist is when they’re out on a hike through the desert. The protagonist is exhausted and dehydrated, with a long way to walk in the heat of the day. Here, we might imagine the protagonist being along and feeling as if the sun is their only company. But the heat means it isn’t a friend but an enemy, mocking you as you try to escape its heat.

Related: A List of Summer Metaphors, Similes and Idioms

3. It Peeked Through the Clouds

We use this metaphor for the moon as well. Imagine the clouds obscuring the sun’s view, but as the clouds part, it seems like it “peeks out” at you to take a look. This is another example of personification. Of course, an object without personality or a brain can’t take a peek at anything. But this personification helps us to create an image in our minds.

This metaphor can be used at the end of a storm to show the end of the storm and the return to better weather.

4. It is a Golden Coin

When I took college classes in creative writing, my professor shared a book he wrote, and it opened with the line: “the sun flipped a golden coin”. I’ve always remembered it and banked this in my mind as a great way to start a story. Others have had their own adaptations of this, such as calling the sun a golden orb or medallion in the sky ( See Also: Sky Metaphors ).

5. The Sun Chased away the Clouds

Here again we have personification. Of course an inanimate object can’t chase anything or anyone! But what is happening here is the description of the changes in the weather as a battle between different elements. The clouds are being chased like a sheepdog chases sheep, to return to its rightful position as the top dog in the skies.

6. It Stood Watch over its Realm / Looked over You

We can imagine the sun being the ruler over us. It sits so far overhead and is visible from just about anywhere you are (so long as you’re outside). It almost feels like it’s watching us constantly, standing guard. Again, this is of course personification – it doesn’t really do any watching at all! If we were to consider it to be like a god , we can imagine it’s watching us and passing judgement on us all day long.

7. It Smiled Upon Me

This one is another more positive, upbeat metaphor. The idea that you are being smiled at from above gives you a sense that you’re blessed and cared for throughout your day. This might be a metaphor you use if you feel as if you’ve had a lucky day or got some good news today. You can’t imagine using this metaphor when you’re going through hardship or feeling the punishing heat of rays on your skin.

8. The Sun’s Yolk

This metaphor calls the sun an egg! It may sound absurd, but if you look at it, it looks like a yolk from the inside of an egg. You might write “the yolk of the sun” as a metaphor to describe it, for example. This is your classic straight-up metaphor where you are directly calling one thing something else.

Sunrise Metaphors and Similes

9. god’s morning star.

This is a metaphor you might want to use if you’re writing a story from a religious perspective. To wake to “God’s morning star” is to see God in nature – be it a Christian, Muslim or Buddhist God, or even simply a pantheist . It might be seen as a moment to reflect on God, the beauty of the world, or even a moment for quiet prayer before eating.

The character might be waking feeling blessed, or even, feeling as if they’re downtrodden but continue to sustain their faith in their religion.

The sun is quite literally a star , so this is borderline figurative or literal (also depending on you believe in God!).

Related: A List of 19 Light Metaphors

10. The Sunrise Greeted me in the Morning

I love this metaphor. I can imagine someone pulling open the curtains and feeling joyful about their day ahead. When the curtains open, the sun is revealed – shining big and bright right back at the protagonist. The sun is a symbol of the person’s mood and greets or “welcomes” you to a day you’re looking forward. Here, it is being personified, which means you’re giving human features to non-human things.

   Related Sun, Moon, Sky and Stars Articles:

• Red Sky Symbolism
• Sunrise Symbolism
• Sunset Symbolism
• Morning Symbolism
• Harvest Moon Symbolism
• Orange Sky Symbolism
• Sun and Sunrise Sayings
• Morning Star Symbolism
• Symbolism of the Sun
• Night Symbolism
• Darkness Symbolism

Sunset Metaphors and Similes

11. the sun succumbed to the moon.

This is a description you might use at the end of the day as night falls. Here, we can imagine the sun and moon taking shifts (there’s another metaphor for you!). They swap each 12 hours, almost like they’re in an unending battle. Here, the sun is the loser, succumbing to the moon (or night), to “retreat” through night.

12. It went to Bed

This is a metaphor to explain the coming of the night. Just as we go to bed, we can also imagine that orb in the sky going to sleep for the night. We shape the patterns of our lives around the night and day, so it makes sense for us to project some of our behaviors back onto the sun itself. This, again, is a form of personification where it’s being given the trait of an animal or human – the idea of going to bed!

Read Also: A List of Nature Idioms and Nature Metaphors

Colors to Describe the Sun

• Yellow – This is probably the most common color that comes to mind. On a clear day in the middle of the day, we’d expect its color to be yellow.
• Amber – This is the color you might expect to see during dusk or early in the morning.
• Copper – We’ll often use “copper” as an adjective in creative descriptions, such as “the scorching copper sun”.
• Honeycomb – This is the color you might experience in a certain ambiance, such as in a forest where the rays slip through the leaves and spot the forest surface with honeycomb colors and patterns.
• Golden – Like Amber, we might use this descriptive color when the atmosphere is thick at dawn or dusk.

Adjectives to Describe the Sun

• Blazing – A term you might use on a particularly hot day.
• Flaming – Similar to blazing – for hot days.
• Glowing – A good term for sunrise or sunset when there is a golden color in the air.
• Shining – A good term for the middle of the day.
• Scorching – Another one for hot days.
• Scolding – Again, this adjective describes the heat of the day.
• Licking – When you can feel rays dancing on your skin.
• Tickling  – Similar to licking.

Sun metaphors can help enhance your writing and make it more descriptive. Aim to create an image in your reader’s mind by using adjectives and colors that match the mood you are trying to set. You can use different metaphors or idioms for different times of day or moods of your protagonists.

Other metaphors you can use in your writing to enrich it include happiness metaphors and fear metaphors.

I’m Chris and I run this website – a resource about symbolism, metaphors, idioms, and a whole lot more! Thanks for dropping by.

20 Morning Writing Prompts to Inspire a Great Day

by Laurie Jonas | May 26, 2020 | Manifesting | 0 comments

Starting your morning off in a positive way can make all the difference. In fact, I’m of the opinion that utilizing morning writing prompts is one of the best ways to inspire a great day. When I listened to Abraham Hicks last week, and he told me that “You are in pure positive energy every moment that you are asleep,” I immediately wrote the post, The Power of Positive Thoughts in the Morning . It included 30-morning affirmations you can choose from to keep the positive energy flowing. But I feel like there is more you can do. So today, I am providing you 20 morning writing prompts to keep the positive momentum going.

To motivate you, here are a few reasons to start writing in your journal every morning:

• Your mind is clear and flowing with positive energy. Take advantage of that and write some of the positive intuition and messages down.
• If you journal before you check your phone or social media, you can focus on what you want. Not what you should be doing or how to do something better than others. Journaling is a way to tap into your own creative mind.
• When you repeatedly do something, it becomes a habit. In this case, a positive habit that can change the momentum of your days.
• If you get up early enough, you can take advantage of the quiet before the routine of your day has to start—schedule time when you will have no distractions.
• The more you write about what you love and what makes you happy, the more things that you love and make you happy will show up in your life. It’s the Law of Attraction !
• The key to creating your best life is to be clear on what you desire. Journaling can help you find that clarity.

OK, now that you know the benefits to journal writing , here are some morning writing prompts to get you started.

Just pick one each day. Notice which one triggers a response when you read it. What is your intuition nudging you to write about?

20 Morning Writing Prompts

These 5 things make me feel good and will make me feel better today.

How does my body feel today? Where is there tension and stress? Where do I feel light? Start with your toes and scan to the top of your head.

What is one baby step I can take today that will move me in the direction of my desires?

This is what is really exciting in my life right now!

What thoughts kept me up last night? Write for 15 minutes about that thought and why it lingers.

What can I do today that I will appreciate tonight before I sleep?

How can I bring someone else joy today?

Related Post: Journal Prompts to Find Focus

Start Your Morning Off Right

What can I do today that will make me feel healthy?

What is my soul telling me today? Take 3 deep breaths and ask the question. Then start writing whatever comes to mind.

Where in my life do I need more help? Money, spirituality, love, career, purpose, friendships, or health. Who can I ask to help?

A praise I have is… A prayer I have is… Write praise and prayer. What am I grateful for, and what do I need? This morning writing prompt idea borrowed from Elizabeth McCravy .

Is there a new affirmation I want to write ? Write one based on the answer to these questions. What do I want to feel like today? What am I really good at? How do I want to show myself to the world?

What would a perfect day look like today?

Things to Journal About in the Morning

Write about a memory from my childhood that makes me happy.

What popped into my mind while I was showering, exercising, brushing my teeth, making coffee, etc., this morning? What is my intuition telling me?

Can I remember anything about my dreams last night? What might they have been trying to tell me?

Related Post: 16 Thoughtful Journal Prompts for Self Reflection 

What do I have to do today that I would rather not do? How can I change my perception of it?

Who can I connect with today? What kind of friend do I need in my life? Who can get me closer to my goals?

Or try these prompts taken from my Living Marvelously Journal.

Say this to yourself or out loud, “Spirit, take my hand. I am ready and willing to speak with you today. Thank you in advance for your words, your wisdom, your guidance, and your grace.” Then start writing.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if…? Finish that sentence in 25 different ways.

Journal Writing in the Morning

I hope I have given you some inspiration to start writing each morning with these morning writing prompts. Take advantage of the time in the morning when your mind is still in pure positive energy and is clear.

You may discover your next big dream or desire. Or, you might solve some issues that you have been struggling with. And I know you will start your day with a more positive mindset.

Happy writing!

For more motivation and inspiration to live a positive and marvelous life, check out The Living Marvelously Journal and The 5 L’s of Living Marvelously .

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50 Morning Journal Prompts to Help You Start the Day

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on Published: August 29, 2022  - Last updated: July 4, 2023

Categories Creativity , Inspiration , Productivity , Self Improvement

Morning journal prompts are a great way to start your day. They allow you to reflect on the past day and prepare for the next. A morning journal can help you set goals, reflect on what went well and didn’t, and plan for the next day.

Daily journal prompts also encourage you to slow down and spend time with yourself before you get too busy with work or family. This way, you can take quiet time for yourself each day and focus on your self-care and balance in life!

50 Ideas for Morning Journal Writing Prompts

Each morning journal prompt below will help you start your day off right!

Whether you’re an experienced diarist or starting, these sayings will help you get into the habit of writing down your thoughts in the morning.

They’ll help you make daily resolutions, focus on gratitude and positivity, and more.

You can write your responses in a notebook or on your phone – it’s up to you!

• What’s the first thing you’ll do today?
• What’s the last thought you remember before you go to sleep?
• What did you dream about last night?
• What’s the first thought that comes to your mind when you wake up?
• How did your dream end last night?
• What do you think about the weather today?
• What’re your plans for the next hour?
• Are there any tasks/projects you need to do today? If so, is there any way you can get started on those tasks/projects early in the morning before other distractions arise?
• What’re your plans for the rest of the day?
• how can you improve today?
• If money were no object, what would be on your bucket list?
• What’s on your mind right now?
• What was the last thing someone told you they were doing?
• What do you want to do that you haven’t done yet this year?
• Who was the first person to mind when you woke up this morning?
• What’re you most grateful for today?
• What’re you looking forward to today?
• What would it be and why if you could change one thing about yourself?
• How did you feel yesterday?
• Who do you love more than anything else in this world, and why do they mean so much to you?
• What does your ideal day look like?
• What would you like to accomplish today?
• What did you learn from yesterday?
• How are you feeling right now?
• What’re you passionate about right now? Why is this important to you?
• What do you need to be happy today?
• Do you regret yesterday or have plans for today that you know will make tomorrow better than today (or worse)? If so, what’re they?
• What can you do to make today better than yesterday?
• What was the best part of your day yesterday and why?
• What worries you most in the world right now?
• What’s your greatest strength? Your weakness?
• List three things you love about yourself
• Make a list of all the things that are stressing you out right now, and then write down how you can turn them into something positive
• Make a list of all the things that make you feel at peace
• Write down 3 things that happened yesterday that you’re grateful for.
• Write down 5 things that make you feel good today YOU
• What do you want to accomplish today? (What big things do you want to do?)
• What will help you achieve your dream life?
• What three things could go wrong today, and how would they affect your life?
• Who made a difference in your life yesterday (in whatever way)? How did they make a difference?
• Where would it be and why if you could go anywhere in the world?
• What’s one favorite thing that always makes you smile, no matter what’s happening in life?
• What would it be and why if you could change one thing in the world?
• Who do you want to connect with today?
• Who do you want to avoid today (if anyone)?
• What’re you planning for your next vacation?
• What’s your favorite way to start the day?
• What’s your favorite part of the day? And why?
• How was your week in general: good, bad, or just okay? And why?
• If today were a vacation, what would it be called and why?
• If you could wish for anything today, what would it be?
• Name one positive thing you’ll do for yourself today and why.
• What song do you have in your head (if any), and what does it remind you of?

These morning journal prompts are just a few examples. You can write as many as you like in your morning journal, positive or negative thoughts, new or final thoughts, or happy or painful emotions. Your journal should also help you with your self-discovery and help you deal with your daily routine and emotions. A good morning journaling routine can positively affect your morning routine over time.

How to Write a Journal at the Beginning of the Day

Journaling at the beginning of the day is a great way to set yourself up for success. Whether you journal throughout the day or start in the morning, morning journaling practice has been shown to help you feel more organized, focused, and positive.

When you journal in the morning, you give yourself a chance to think about how you want to approach the day. You can use this time to figure out what’s important and then write down any goals that might help you achieve those things.

Keeping a journal during the day is also beneficial because it allows you to record ideas that come to mind without interrupting your workflow. This can be especially useful if you’re working on something important that requires concentration and focus (e.g., writing a report or preparing for a job interview).

Is It Better to Journal at Night or in the Morning?

That depends on what you hope to get out of your journaling.

Researchers have found that you sleep better at night when you journal because it helps you eliminate feelings and thoughts that would otherwise keep you awake. However, other studies also show that the morning is the best time of day to write consciously.

In general, it’s best to do what works best for you. If you find that journaling at night helps you fall asleep faster and sleep through the night longer, make it so! If journaling in the morning helps you get more out of your day and be more productive, then start doing it! The most important thing is to stick to the schedule that works best for you.

How Long It Should Take to Write Your Morning Pages

That depends on a few factors. If you’re just starting, you’ll likely write a little slower than if you’ve gotten into the daily journal habit. How fast you write also depends on what kind of pen you use and whether you’re in a hurry.

How long you should journal each day depends on many factors, all of which depend on your personal needs and the time you’ve available.

Researchers recommend keeping a diary for at least 15 minutes a day. That’s enough time to get the hang of it without feeling like you’re overstaying your welcome. And once you’ve been doing it for a while and feel like it’s helping you with your problems, then maybe it’s time to increase your morning journaling practice time – maybe even to an hour or more if you feel it’s helpful!

It also depends on how much time and energy you’ve in general. If you’re very busy at work or school, it may be difficult to find an hour each day just to write down your thoughts and feelings. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways to write down what’s going on in your head. You could try writing letters instead of putting them in your morning journal, keeping a list of things that make you happy, or just taking notes during a meeting, so they don’t get completely lost!

Should You Reread Your Journal Entries?

You don’t have to reread everything every time you write something, but it’s a good thing to reread parts of your journal now and then.

First, if you write in a journal daily, some really interesting things will likely happen over time. Reading through your old entries can jog your memory if you don’t remember what happened on this or that day last year.

Second, sometimes we forget how far we’ve come over time and how much our lives have changed since we wrote about something important (like entering college or graduating from high school). Reading through old entries can help us remember how far we’ve come and how much we’ve grown as individuals.

Finally, reading through old entries allows us to reflect on our past selves and how they relate to who we’re today – giving us insight into who we want to become tomorrow!

5-Minute Journals Are Also Worth It

5-Minute Journals are worth it if you’re looking for a way to stay focused and on track.

If you’re trying to get a handle on your life but don’t know where to start or what to do, or if you’re too busy to spend 15 minutes a day writing your journaling prompts, 5-Minute Journals can be an incredibly useful tool. They’re so simple that anyone can use them, regardless of their reading level or diary writing experience.

Used correctly, 5-Minute Journals can help you stay focused on your goals and keep you motivated throughout the day. They can also help you track your progress over time to see how far you’ve come and celebrate your successes!

What Do You Write in a 5-Minute Journal?

You can write whatever you want! A 5-minute journal is an opportunity to write down what’s on your mind, and it’s a chance to practice mindfulness and self-care.

If you’re used to writing in a journal, it can be helpful to structure the first few minutes of your journal by writing down any goals or intentions in your mind. This can help you focus for the rest of the session.

For example, if you want to exercise more this week, write, “Exercise 3 times this week.” Then at the end of each day, when it’s time for your 5-minute journal, write something like, “I exercised twice today!” This will keep you motivated throughout the week and feel like you’ve accomplished something when it’s time for next week’s goal setting.

A Journal Is a Great Way to Get in Touch With Yourself!

When you keep a journaling morning routine, you can let go of your innermost thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. You can talk about what’s going on in your life and how it makes you feel.

The benefits are endless:

• Keeping a journal helps you identify patterns of behavior, it helps you understand what triggers certain negative feelings and thoughts,
• It helps you figure out what things make you happy or sad, and it helps you plan for the future. Journal writing is also good for your mental health.
• Studies show that journaling can help lower stress levels, improve sleep quality, and increase overall happiness levels.
• Journaling in your morning routine allows you to take stock of where you’re now in your life and how far you’ve come – and it gives you an outlet for all the feelings that might otherwise go unspoken or unexplored.
• It also helps you improve your creative writing and is a great way to clean up your thoughts simultaneously.

Journaling has so many benefits; it’s hard to list them all!

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Do you ever struggle to find the time or energy to write creatively in the morning? If so, you’re not alone. Many people find it hard to get into the creative mindset early in the day. In this blog post, I’ll discuss some tips for establishing a morning routine that will help jumpstart your creativity.

1) Get up early. 

This may seem counterintuitive, but getting up earlier can give you more time to focus on your writing. Plus, there’s something about the quiet of early morning that just feels conducive to creativity. So set that alarm clock a little earlier than usual and see how it goes. Personally, I baulk at the idea of getting up an hour early, but I can manage twenty minutes. Those twenty minutes make a huge difference to me and my writing life.

2) Take some time for yourself. 

Before you start writing, take a few minutes to do something for yourself. This could be anything from taking a quick walk around the block to reading a few pages of your favourite book. The important thing is to take a few moments to clear your head and get into the right mindset for creative writing. 3) Find a comfortable spot.

Make sure you’re comfortable before writing. Find a spot where you can sit or stand comfortably. You might also consider playing soft music in the background to help you focus.

4) Try journalling or free writing before turning on the internet.

Set a timer for five or ten minutes and just write whatever comes into your head, without stopping to edit or worry about spelling or grammar. This can help get the creative juices flowing and warm up your brain for writing later in the day.

5) A change of space. 

If you want to write in the morning, but you’re struggling, try writing in a different location each day, or at least mix things up a bit. If you typically write at your kitchen table, try taking your laptop outside to the porch or park or working at a coffee shop instead. A change of scenery can help jumpstart the creative process!

If you’re not a morning person, don’t despair – there are plenty of other times during the day when you can get your creative juices flowing. Try setting aside some time each day to brainstorm new ideas or work on developing existing ones. If you can’t seem to get started, try brainstorming in the evening before bedtime or whenever you have some free time during the day. The important thing is to find a routine that works for you and stick with it! Want to know more about your writing routine? Click here for my fun quiz.

Do you have any other tips for jumpstarting your creativity in the morning? Share them with me here.

If you want to read something similar, check out the following:

How to Find the Time to Write How To Set Effective Writing Goals

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19,890 quotes, descriptions and writing prompts, 4,964 themes

cloudy morning - quotes and descriptions to inspire creative writing

• cloud forest
• cloudy night
• early morning
• pink clouds

This morning, each sole upon the street, each soul riding upon the clouds, ever warm in that bright sunlight.

The cloudy morning brought the blacktop street to dappled hues that spoke of soulful blues.

The cloudy morning is shafts of light amide the blue-grey and the soft promise of sweet rain.

My dreams give way to wakeful wonderings as the cloudy morning ever bluer.

The cloudy morning brings a gentle diffuse light that soothes the eyes and gives space for my soulful musings.

On this morning the clouds diffuse the daylight to a soft gentle sweetness; even out in the street I could be cozy under my duvet in a strong summer light. They move much as the ocean, showing the blue amid the whitish dove-grey, a medley of silvers that ripple outwards to adorn the sky.

On this cloudy morning there are growing patches of blue, the sort of hue that is soft and bright at the same time. Though beneath the sheet of cloud is a grey that deepens to steel, the leading edge is a brilliant white, as if it is the pages of a new book ready for any curious eye. So, on this day that could bring rain or sunshine, I'm hoping for both, for the chance of a rainbow and to feel so much more because the day is blessed with clouds.

Clouds move in the morning sky, kissed into brilliant white by the sun. They move south toward the ocean, together yet independent. Gaps widen and close, one slides right under another and always they are changing shape.

The morning brings strings of white stratus to contrast against the blue sky. They drift lazily in the breeze without destination or purpose, as if every day for the clouds is a Sunday afternoon.

Light grew steadily outside until the curtains glowed just the same as stained glass. Eddie stuck his head behind the fabric to survey what the day might bring. The road was slick with water, though the puddles remained quite still, no hint of rain still falling. Above the clouds were still grey but without the denseness of yesterday, allowing patches of blue to form.

The clouds were arranged as neatly as child's toys, scattered over blue, content to drift where they fell. The morning sun had the potential to bring a day as hot as yesterday, but those wonderful puffs of white radiated it back out into space. The air was cooler, the colours less vivid and all without a drop of rain.

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Morning Darkness

by Joe Bunting | 61 comments

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PRACTICE Write about the darkness of morning. Write for fifteen minutes. Post your practice in the comments when finished. And if you post, make sure to comment on a few other Practitioners' posts. Good luck!

Photo by Per Ola Wiberg

Here's my practice:

His eyes snapped open before dawn from a long restlessness. He had fought for too many hours to stay dreaming, and he knew there was nothing left to do but get up. He got up, turned off his alarm to spare his sleeping wife the sound, and stumbled into the living room, where he stood in front of the window for several minutes, scratching his bare belly.

It was dark. He couldn't remember the last morning he woke to darkness. Behind the bare trees he could see an aircraft warning tower flashing its livid red lights. He thought it an odd thing. Why have a light tower in the middle of the country? Are planes in danger of hitting the oaks? He had never noticed it before.

He went outside. The cold wasn't the biting but the slow seeping kind. He wished he had brought his slippers, but he didn't want to go back to his room to get them. He felt he was doing something important, surveying the land, taking in something he saw only a few times per year: the darkness before dawn.

It was different than nighttime. Night's darkness is a winding down, meant to tell you your world is getting smaller, more stiff with cold, meant to lead you to your bedroom and to sleep. But this darkness that seeped into his bones, that glared livid like the red flashing light tower, seemed full of potential, as if he could reach out and grab it from the sky and form it into a small ball of darkness, make something magical out of it, a jewel maybe or maybe it was like a lump of clay to turn into a small bowl. What he meant was that this darkness felt more like light.

Beyond the darkness were the trees and they were shrouded in it, wore darkness like great cloaks, and before the trees was a field full of dark colored grass. He could not see the grass, though. He just knew it was there like he knew the trees were there and like he knew his wife lay sleeping inside and knew nerves lay underneath his skin and cold was seeping through them and into his bones. Like he knew he must go inside soon.

But there, beyond the trees, stood that red glaring light tower he did not know. It flashed on and off. He looked into it and he did not know why it was there or why the darkness seemed to gather around it as moths gather around light even though they're beaten back again and again by the heat. Yes, the dark was darkest around that red light and he couldn't go inside but just stared into the darkness, trying to memorize its shape.

He stood until the sky let out enough light that the tower he hadn't known was there was gone again and he went in.

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61 Comments

The alarm blared. I groggily stagger to the dresser to push the button. Just a few more minutes. The same tired shuffle until I collapse onto the bed. It’s never enough, for the alarm blares again. This time I have to open my eyes to find the shut off button. Monday morning bleariness: what a way to start the week. I shuffle to the kitchen, the cold tile on my feet begins to wake me as I prepare the elixer of life. A quick prayer of thanks is offered for the creation of coffee. Stretching I return down the hall. Stopping at each door to wake the rest of the crew my efforts are met with grunts and other noises. I let the robe fall in a puddle in the floor as I step into the shower. Jets of hot water massage my skin and scalp as I begin to wake. Slowly, I begin to come alive again. I can’t remember the last time I woke on my own in the morning, when it actually was morning. It’s still dark and will be for another hour. In my mind, the morning darkness should be for sleeping and burrowing deeper under the covers. It wouldn’t be such an issue if I were actually a morning person. My muse visits me late into the night, causing furious episodes of working while the inspiration is there. Last night was one of those nights. A smile gently plays at the corner of my mouth, the days are getting longer now and the sun is rising earlier. Simple things are worth smiling about. Ten minutes later, I’m fully awake. The hustle and bustle of the morning routine is like a frenzied dance that is well choreographed. It works until somebody misses a step. It’s my job to keep them on task, focused, and moving. By the time everyone is taken care of; the kids on the bus, the husband’s lunch packed and on his way, it’s now time for my day to begin in earnest. A refill of coffee is the all important ingredient as I settle in at my desk, and fire up the beast. The first rays of sunlight stream through the glass of the front door, streaming audio playing, it’s going to be a grand day! I roll my shoulders and begin. After the obligatory staring at the screen period, I eventually find my groove as I pour myself into the current project. I always think I’ll get a nap later, but it never happens. It will be full dark before I even think about sleep, then the cycle will begin again.

This is a good description of morning and especially of coffee, the only morning companion you mention in detail. The coffee almost has a personality.

I like this a lot, Ellie, don’t stop contributing. I smiled several times while reading, sometimes at content, other times at how your phrased it. I loved this blunt line with no explanation of what you were working on (I don’t think it needed one) “Last night was one of those nights.” Loved “fire up the beast” and how you “roll your shoulders to begin.” I actually found myself rolling my shoulders to get into the same groove you describe, except it’s the end of my day and I’m rolling them to get ready the other “beast” — family time. Nice work.

I loved this, Ellie. Loved the description, the dailyness of it all and the commitment to your own good work and how that carries your through from dark to dark. Well done.

Why is it that when I set my fingerts to keys; I always think “Theirs is so much better than mine?” Does anyone else do that to themselves? Not a very descriptive attempt but more of a get the bones down contribution. I loved yours, and wanted to just like a skip posting. BUT,it’s part of my plan this year to challenge myself, so I posted.

Good for you, Ellie. Comparison is a trick of the Resistance. It will kill your creativity (and maybe even your soul). Way to overcome it.

My cell rang one, two, three times. Damn alarm… I turn it off and stumble to the bathroom. I turn on the hot water and get in. My eyes are still closed. I shower in darkness. Only when I get out and turn to the sink to brush my teeth that I open them. I brush my teeth, floss and comb my hair.

I enter my room and turn on the lights. It’s like a cave in here, the way I like it. I put on my clothes and my make up. I do my hair up, after all it’s Thursday already, I might have a drink or two after work. Yes, that’d be nice. Maybe I’ll try that new pub on Carlson Street. I wonder if Nick will join me.

Still thinking about Nick I walk to the kitchen and start a pot of coffee. Maybe I’ll have toast this morning. I eat my breakfast in silence. Thinking about nothing. God, I’m so sleepy today.

As I walk back to the living room I notice. Why it’s still dark? I turn around and walk back to the kitchen. For the first time I look at the clock in the wall.

Damn it. It’s 3 o’clock in the morning.

I’m so tired that I can’t even get mad. I just walk to my room, strip from my clothes and reset the alarm clock. Good night.

Ha! I’ve done that but I never got completely ready before I figured out what was going on. It’s awful when that happens but it’s funny too. Thanks

Nicely done. It really conveys the whole sense of being on automatic pilot very well.

Oooh, nice twist! thank you.

This is beautiful Joe. As an insomniac, I often see the early hours of morning before dawn. It’s almost shiny sometimes, luminous, magical as you said. I like the lines about the trees wearing cloaks and “The cold wasn’t the biting, but the slow creeping kind.” not just because I like that description of cold but because of the way the sentence is constructed. It sounds good. Also your description of the difference between the quality of the night’s darkness in the morning, as opposed to in the evening it interesting, lyrical and memorable. What more could you want from writing?

Yes, luminous and pregnant with the potential of the day. You’re great. Thanks for the critique!

Mrs. Dalloway would approve of the potential of the day I think. ; )

This is my second post here (but I think I everyone missed my first post, on last Monday’s thread, because I was two days late posting).

I wake up suddenly. 7:25. Five minutes before the alarm, as usual. I don’t know why I even set it. I turn it off, walk quietly to the kitchen, turn on the coffee maker. Head to the washroom, relieve myself and splash cold water on my face. Back to the kitchen and pour a cup of coffee. My routine so ingrained I do it in the dark.

The house is so peaceful with the boys still asleep. I stare out the kitchen window at the darkness, broken only by the streetlights. Still an hour till sunrise. I hate these short winter days. I rarely see the sunlight, the sun rising and setting while I’m stuck in my office.

Still, the darkness has its own beauty. Hoarfrost covers the trees and bushes from an overnight ice fog, tiny crystal daggers glinting, giving the trees near the streetlights a ghostly glow. But I can already feel the chill in my bones, knowing that I have to go out into the cold, scrape the ice from the car windows, sit in the ice-cold seat, driving for several minutes before the car finally warms up. Winter is beautiful when you can stay inside. Not so much when you have to go out.

I sit in front of my SAD light, waiting for the bright light to fool my brain that it’s summer, giving me the energy to go about my day. Without it I would probably just crawl back into bed. I dream of the real summer sun, rising before I do, the bright light already shining through the bedroom window when I awake. My time is up. I go to wake the rest of the family.

I too enjoy the solutude of being the first to wake in the morning. You captured that feeling very well.

I can see the trees with that kind of glinting halo they get near the streetlights now. I like how you move though the story with action, but have enough description that I can “see” what going on.

Hey R.E., Welcome back! i just checked out your first post…so you can go back there and know it wasn’t lost in the sea of comments 🙂

This piece is very cool. I love how you use everyday, common language to describe your routine (no fancy adjectives here), and then LET LOOSE when you shift to describing the darkness! Tiny crystal daggers glinting. Fantastic. I can see them without even having to squint.

I wonder if you could stretch this part out a smidge…i’d love to luxuriate in the visuals of the darkness for just a few moments more before having to sit in the ice-cold seat. 🙂

Well, again — so glad you’ve joined us! Will look for you in upcoming posts!!

What a “quiet” piece you’ve written, exactly typifying the experience the charact is having. There seems to be an incongruity, however. You say that winter is beautiful inside, but then describe the use of the SAD light. I understand what you mean, but you might want to make it clearer. Nice work. My wife and I REALLY enjoy the short time we have in the morning before the boys wake up and become the center of our existence.

Morning comes with the blinds pulled and the day, the outside world, not quite real yet. The remnants of a dream dissolve in the buzz buzz buzz of the alarm. There are so many things to do. So many obligations to meet. But you lie still in the dark dawn listening to the cat purr and watching a thin line of creeping sunlight move slowly across the room. “Move,” you say. A command. A wish. The floor is cold; the winter chill coming up through the foundation and stealing the strength from your bones. The cat stretches and curls up without a care next to the pillows in the warmth your body has left there. You walk stiffly to the window; turn the blinds to see only the weak, just rising sun barely glint through the heavy clouds. Dark days. January through March covered in frost or rain or the endless grey that presses on your heart like a nearly forgotten sorrow. No course to take except continue to get ready for the day because the minutes start ticking to the hours that won’t be your own. So much to do and it is all the same every day.

Your story really set a mood. I can remember those cold morning when the only thing that made you move was the fear of eviction.

Nicely done, I like the way you use description.

I like this and especially like that it is short, as if you had to quickly leave the exercise “because the minutes start ticking to the hours that won’t be your own.”

I like this image: “…the endless grey that presses on your heart like a nearly forgotten sorrow.”

thanks for sharing your work.

Not just your description but the whole tone of this is gray and weary, a workday morning, very sad. I like this “Presses on your heart like a nearly forgotten sorrow”.

Exactly. A mood piece – beautifully captured feeling of dark, both in the environment and in your own spirit. Winter can be like that…

The bed creaked as I lifted myself from the warm cocoon of blankets. I hadn’t taken off my jeans when I went to bed last night, so I stepped into my shoes and stood listening to my wife’s rhythmic breathing. I tiptoed out of the bedroom and gently closed the door behind me. In the kitchen I poured a cup of coffee into my travel mug and walked to the front door, then stepped out into the early morning darkness. I settled in behind the steering wheel and turned the key, the engine sounded loud as it groaned to life in the suburban quiet. Gravel crunched under the wheels as I eased down the driveway and pulled out onto the paved road. I turned to car toward the lake high up in the mountains. The Tennessee Valley Authority had created the lake when it built the dams used to generate cheap electricity. It was one of the most beautiful lakes I had ever seen. I pulled in along the side of the road and turned off the engine. I sat there listening to my breathing, the engine ticked as it cooled. I put the cup in the holder and opened the door and stepped out into cool air. I walked to the edge of the lake and sat on a fallen tree and looked out onto the placid water. Looking east I saw a sliver of light on the horizon. A invisible jet engine growled in an inky sky pricked with lights of diamond. My thoughts returned to last night and what happened just as my shift was ending at midnight. The call came in over the radio, her voice filled with static. An armed robbery had just occurred and the suspect fled in a red Mustang. The dispatcher was still speaking as a red Mustang drove past me at high speed. Before I had a chance to reply to dispatch I pulled out and accelerating after the car. That time of night left very little traffic on the road so I was able to catch up to the suspect car quickly. The car suddenly pulled to the side of the road and the driver jumped out and ran. I stopped and chased the dark figure as it ran. As I rounded a corner I saw him and froze. He was only ten feet away and he had a gun aimed at me. I dropped to my knees as I withdrew my weapon and fired, three times, and then watched him fall back and go down. It was a clean incident, one for which I was sure I’d be cleared of making a wrong decision, even when it was learned that the suspects gun wasn’t real.

The lake surface became a mirror as the sun broke above the horizon and turned the sky pink and grey. In the dim light, it was difficult to know where the mountain began and where the reflection ended. I sat back and turned my eyes to the lightening sky and thought about the man I had killed. Kill or be killed? Many people think it’s that simple, but I learned that it isn’t simple at all. He was dead and I was left to think about it.

What a story! You packed a lot into a very little bit of space and it makes sense. I like it. I wish the other guy hadn’t had a toy gun though. Bummer! to put it mildly.

It’s never a good idea to point a gun at a police officer, real or not. But it happens quite often. There is something called, “Suicide by cop,” where a person who lacks the courage to kill themselves will put themselves in a situation where a police officer will have to shoot. Either way, it can have the same effect on a policeman.

Angelo, love this story. I especially like this graf: “Looking east I saw a sliver of light on the horizon. An invisible jet engine growled in an inky sky pricked with lights of diamond. My thoughts returned to last night and what happened just as my shift was ending at midnight.”

I like the thin psychological line you’ve created between doing what’s necessary and doing what can be psychologically traumatic. Very nicely crafted.

The psychological trauma is often missed when a police officer is involved in a shooting, although police departments are beginning to recognize the phenomenon.

Wow…While reading this, I could see it like I was there, and I could feel what he was feeling. You are very talented at describing the details, Angelo. I, too, wish the other guy didn’t have a toy gun.

Was NOT expecting that. And I sure that are those times when you must just have some space and some quiet to reflect on those parts of the job that are the very toughest. You went somewhere bordering on deep with this one. I would encourage you to take this out and write more, reworking, rethinking. If this really happened to you, not only would it be good for your writing skills, but it could be good for your soul, too. Therapy in your fingertips.

My heart started beating faster when I read the action part. Whew! Your use of words like “froze” and “fled” made it so effective.

And boy, I love the description in your last para. It’s like a sort of contrast after the action.

Joe, you turned the darkness into a living, breathing entity in your story.

I can’t take too much credit, Angelo. We’ll blame it on my muse. But thank you for the compliment 🙂

Her heard his wife moving about in the house, coming up from the basement, walking though the dining room, and onto the porch. He looked at the clock’s square illuminated dial. It was five o’cock. He decided to go ahead and get up.

She worried him when she walked around at night just before dawn, and then lay down to sleep as the sun rose. She knew that and tried to act like she didn’t get up like she just needed to sleep a lot now that she was older, but he heard her after twelve, running water to make tea, turning on the fan, typing. He started down the steps and sure enough, he heard her shut the porch door and hurry to the basement where she slept. She would be pretending to be asleep if he followed her. Such an odd woman he thought fondly, how did he wind up married to her.

As he entered the dining room, he heard something moving about on the porch. It sounded like it was pulling out a porch chair, or maybe getting ready to open the door. He went to the closet grabbed his rifle, and rushed back to the porch, but rather than throw open the door and shoot the intruder, he felt it prudent to take a look out there first.

There in the odd darkness of early morning in Virginia, he saw what appeared to be a huge fat old dog moving about on the porch. But no, it wasn’t a dog, it was a raccoon, a vector for rabies. He checked his rifle to see if it was loaded, started to open the door, and then heard her behind him. 
“Don’t shoot Ralph,” she said. He felt her leaning against him, warm and soft in her housedress, taking nervous rapid breaths.

“It’s a raccoon. Raccoons carry rabies,” he said, and even to him, his voice sounded too loud, strident.

“Please don’t hurt him. I opened the door. He looked so sad, you know how they look.” He saw how sad she was and waited for her to add a word or two about how the raccoon’s world was being wrecked by humans, but she didn’t mention that, just stood their, her hair messy, her face childlike, anxious.

“Let’s just let him get off the porch before we go out and keep the door locked,” He said in a gentler but still exasperated voice. They watched as Ralph, who seemed to get the idea that he should leave, slowly sauntered off the porch not looking back.

“Okay, I’m going to bed now,” she said.

He’d hoped for a cup of coffee with her but she’d probably been up most of the night. He made himself a cup and took it to the porch. The sky was still dark but had a glow that meant dawn was coming. He sat in the quiet and smoked. As the dawn lifted and a grayish light moved over the porch, he saw something shining on the floor near the table. He leaned forward to see a dish, with just a little bit of peach preserves clinging to it, and just beyond that on the other side of the screen was a face with a dark mask surrounding luminous eyes, glow in the dark eyes.

“So Ralph, you’re who she’s eating breakfast with now-a-days,” he said.

Marianne, I like your story. Using a raccoon was a great idea. They look like miniature bandits, but they’re cute. But they carry rabbies. You gave your reader lots to think about. Leave him alone, feed him because he’s cute? Or shoot him because he carries a dangerous disease?

Thanks Angelo. I used the raccoon because I used to work at a state hospital, had to go in one night, parked by the building only to see a huge raccoon cracking acorns on the sidewalk in front of the building. I had heard they were rabid and was afraid to go past him. I had to honk my horn until one of the aides came out and yelled “Git coon!” I kid you not. That’s exactly what she said. Bless her heart. The raccoon heeded her, shuffled off and I went in. After asking around about how fat this raccoon was, I heard that one of the aides had been feeding it cat food, so it was getting that in addition to the acorns, and whatever else it could find. It just worries me when people make pets of them because they are vectors of rabies. I’m from the city but have lived where I am now for 25 years, and I love the wildlife but it worries me a lot too.

A number of years ago my family and I went camping in the Florida Keys. The raccoon’s were everywhere. At night you could hear them getting into people’s coolers and they actually popped the tops of soda and beer cans. They not only look live thieves, they are thieves.

What a great little vignette of a story. I’m left wondering so much more – about their marriage, about the area where they live. Way to draw the reader in. (And I’m with you, they may be cute looking, but racoons are wild creatures and need to be respected as such. And they can be scary, sometimes, too.)

“Morning darkness” is an oxymoron. Morning belongs to the sun. Vampires vanish in the morning. Criminals hide. Workers wake.

This morning, however, Trevor slip-slod to the window, swooshing aside with his right foot a tee-shirt and then a pair of underwear with his left. He cracked open the blind. It was dark, but his clock shown 7:13. What was wrong? Where was the light? Were there nefarious beings up to no-good? Aliens in need of a sun who possibly lassoed our hallowed yellow ball and hauled it to a distant galaxy, or at least a few light years past the dwarf planet Pluto?

Trevor’s left hand instinctively scrunched into his left eye socket, deeply rubbing out the confusion he felt. His right hand did the same to its symmetrical visual partner. Still, the darkness reigned.

At the bureau, Trevor flicked on the TV. Large smiling heads seemed to bob up and down, albeit blurry, rambling about stuff that didn’t quite filter through Trevor’s cortextual understanding. But, he thought, this means it’s morning. So where is the sun?

Out to the kitchen, the somnambulant Trevor could smell the coffee brewing. Again, he peaked out the window. It seemed darker than before. What were those lights in between the trees? The bushes? The cars? There seemed to be little twinkling lights, as if the very atoms of matter were visible. These blinkering mirages didn’t seem to give off light, but they were light nonetheless.

“Hey,” he said into his phone. “What time is it?”

Gabe, on the other end, obliged the request. “7:21, why?”

“Where’s the light?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The light outside. Where is it?”

“Where are you, Trevor? Are you okay?”

“I’m in my house. Just woke up and it’s as dark as sin outside, and inside come to think of it, and I want to know where the light is.”

There was a long pause. Trevor blinked out the window again, seemingly dodging the flashing blinkering lights that were everywhere.

“Trevor, are you feeling okay? There’s plenty of light where I am. How do you feel? Do you have a headache? Were you out late last night? What’s going on?”

Trevor dropped the phone. He ran to the bathroom, flicked on the light, but there was no difference. He continued flicking the light switch on and off, on and off, on and off. But there was no difference in his visual perception.

Did he go blind?

I don’t know. My 15 minutes were up.

LOVE this answer. Hope you find out one day!

Ha! I know the feeling, my characters are either getting away with murder, or suffering alone, or who knows what else, now-a-days because I can’t keep my eye on them. I do love the timer though, it makes me not as paralyzed and overly analytical. Thanks for a good story anyway, I will just have to decide for myself what happened to him, I guess that’s the way life really is anyway. ; )

nothing wrong with a cheesy cliche love story.

Wow, Marianne, I really like this story. Full of surprises and humanity, and something perhaps “extra” humanity.

Thanks Chris

Barely awake, but a commitment pulls me between warm sheets. It is a commitment to meet seven or more friends for that early morning walk. Some of the ladies like Ginny, Florence and Cissie have walked together for many years and thirty or more have joined them, but most of the larger group have decided walking at the crack of dawn is not for now.

I’m fairly new to some in the group and as I turn to my side and lower my legs I, too, am not sure that I am one who can keep the commitment for jaunts beginning in the dark and yet, I know the expectations and so I begin the day.

From habit I quickly pull up the bed covers and place the pillows on top making sure of the neatness. Bed making when half asleep was something that I learned early in life when I lived back in the mountains of North Carolina. Mother had taught that a bed made up is the first responsibility of growing up and growing up meant assuming responsibility and no daughter of hers would be a slacker. My second responsibility growing up was to quickly brush teeth, don clothes for school and a good warm coat, a scarf and mittens, go out the front door and out to the road and up the hill to the Scott’s mini farm. They had fresh raw milk and eggs and monthly my Dad paid the milk bill. I remembered that I hated that early morning walk.

The woods on either side of the road were dark. The snow and rocks on the road crunched under my feet. The wind blew hard making trees swish and sway and throw down straggly leaves. Occasionally Bozo my dog would bark and head off into the woods and my imagination would go wild in the semi-darkness. I walked quickly and I pray for God’s protection.

The gate lock into the Scott’s yard creaked but the kitchen light sent rays to the steps so up I stepped up, opening the screen door and before I knew it Mrs. Scott had two bottles of milk in my arms and had turned me around to face the walk home still in the semi darkness.

My eight year old heart raced as booted feet quickly walked down the snowy hill eager to see the light on the front porch and happy when I was back at the kitchen table where fried bacon, scrambled eggs, apples slices had been fried with just enough brown sugar added to made them sweet. Hot thin buttered biscuits slithered with butter and a cold glass of Mrs. Scott’s milk then made the awful walk worthwhile in the warmness and brightness of my Mother’s kitchen.

Sixty years later, a recent widow, who for forty-six years had enjoyed a dependable and loving husband crawling out of bed, making the hot coffee, filling the carafe and returning to my side of the bed he put the carafe on the night table, bent over and gave me a kiss. All was a glorious habit and love received. I had to make the decision whether I would get up and get my own coffee. For some reason I couldn’t. It wasn’t delivered with loving attention so the taste wasn’t the same.

It was something that I simply gave up. So with an aching heart I walk to the bathroom, brush teeth, wash my face squinting into the mirror I see wrinkles but hair still brown. I add some silky-smooth face cream, a little make-up and slip from gown to warm ups and then a jacket, grab gloves and turn on the alarm system I walk to meet the women.

Stepping into the semi-darkness again the trees sway but they don’t bother me and my imagination doesn’t work overtime. I again take the time to pray as I feel the cold air on my face.

It is dark in this flatland far from the North Carolina mountains. But the glow from a lamp in the window of my friend’s house, an unlocked door with the understanding that one simply opens it plus the smell of hot coffee and a warm welcome draws one in from the darkness into the light.

Fifteen minutes later warmed with the hot beverage all are out the door and soon in the darkness we walk the sidewalks that wind through the country club golf course. As daylight approaches we see that the greens are perfectly manicured, the trimmed trees are beginning to leaf and here and there a dogwood is beginning to bud. Walking over the humpback bridges we enjoy the awakening of life. It might be doves cooing, or the rushing brook or a distant bark of a dog. In the semi-darkness aloneness has been shattered by togetherness

Every morning is different but usually advice sought and given has been received, the concerns of hearts have been listened to and the assurance that one is never really alone has been experienced. The day began in the darkness, but now it is light and there is day ahead.

That’s so well described that I felt like I was not watching a movie, but was there as I read it.

I wasn’t sure what time it was. How long had I been asleep? My dream woke me in a panic. My heart raced. I felt paralyzed as small streaks of light came through the dark window. I slowly got out of bed and tip-toed around the squeaky floor boards. I went down the stairs and breathed a sigh of relief. I can do this. I know I can. I pulled out my brown canvas bag. I reached inside and pulled out my notebook. I flipped through the pages. So many ideas already in there. “I don’t need to write anymore today,” I thought to myself. My heart beat faster at this thought. I pulled out my pen and started to mark on the page. “I’m not giving in today,” I told myself. I’m a writer, so I write.

Jim, i can totally see the action of pulling out your notebook…something so pedestrian as a brown canvas bag, and the verbs that accompany it: reaching in, pulling out, flipping through the pages.

i’d love to know more about the dream. is there any way to tie in the content? something that wakes you in a panic — seems like a perfect “hook”, and would be so awesome if you could bring it back somehow at the end. or keep it as a theme throughout the piece.

i know what you mean, when there are so many ideas already logged in, it seems almost fruitless to add more. but not giving in is key. thanks for the reminder!

Thanks Kati! I don’t remember the dream, so it is hard to tell you more about that 😉 Glad I can offer a reminder to keep working!

I like the interesting way that this is arranged, the halter-skelter of morning, and that thought of not needing to write in quotation marks. It catches that idea that I, and I imagine most of us who want to write have, that maybe it can be put off, and then the kind of anxiety that comes with that thought “My heart beat faster at this thought”. I wonder if you might make the source of the anxiety more apparent. I think I know it’s the “I need to write” anxiety but I’m not sure. This is really good Jim and join Kati with a “thanks for the reminder”.

Thanks, I’ll think about your suggestions and see how it hits me when I write more later 🙂 Thank you so much for the kind words, I’m glad you liked it.

“Good morning,” I tell myself. I’m so tired. It’s not quite light yet and the warm covers steal me back to dreamland.

My alarm yells at me. Again. I groan, press snooze, and snuggle up to my husband on my left while my Doberman mix sneaks up on the right side.

This happens every morning. Paisley, the dog, hears my alarm and gently comes sneaking on my bed. She noses under the covers and rests her warm head on my stomach, sighs, and sits still. All 50 pounds of her are against my right side, all 220 pounds of my warm husband on my left. So warm. So happy. So quiet. So perfect.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

My eyes snap open for the third time. I groan, slip up to the tip-top of the bed so I don’t disturb the over-sized sleepers that have officially blocked me under the covers and get up.

Paisley slips out of the covers with me, her desire to be by my side more important than sleep. She whines quietly and wags her stub. “Good morning!” it says.

I smile, although I hate crawling out of bed, I just realize that I’m secretly a morning person. Lying awake next to quiet beings who love unconditionally reminds me that in a few hours the hectic day will take over and that part of snuggle time will be over.

The details here create a clear picture. Being the one who’s always asleep I like to know what it looks like to the ones who get up early, and make the coffee, make morning inviting for us night people. I envy you that moment, which means even in fifteen minute, you’ve created something visceral. Thanks

Aw, thanks! Don’t give me too much credit. I do love those early morning hours, but only until I have to slip out of bed! Thank you for thanking me. I’m never really sure about my writing. 🙂

Four-thirty. Yes, that’s what it said. Shaking her head as she rolled over, she remembered: market day. Stifling a sigh, she sat up, rubbed her eyes and headed for the bathroom. Clothes laid out the night before were pulled on grudgingly – teeth brushed, hair combed, sleep washed from eyes. All of it quietly done, so that her husband could doze until a more normal rousing time.

Mornings were not part of her routine, especially dark mornings. But she had signed on for the whole enchilada when she opened her business, so down the stairs she went. Backing carefully out of the narrow driveway, she headed down the silent street, wondering if anyone else was aware of how very dark it got before the light made its morning debut.

Sailing easily onto the freeway, she headed her car towards downtown Los Angeles. No competition for lane space today, even on that granddaddy of all freeways, the 110, heading toward the interchange. Impossibly narrow lanes seemed wider in the crowdless dark, and the car seemed to steer itself round every bend.

Exiting at Hill Street, she wound her way through Skid Row to Sixth, pulling into the ramp for the parking structure. It was now 5:00 a.m. and parking was at a premium. Hanging her badge around her neck, she locked the car and rode the escalator into another world. This one was brightly lit and noisy, filled with the hustle of vendors and buyers, each wanting to make the deal of the day. But it was the smell that brought her fully awake: the sweet scent of lilies, the spicy aroma of carnations, the ripe, growing smell of greens, all kind of greens.

Grabbing a cart, she began her usual circle, finding bargain roses in the corner, interesting newer breeds along the narrow hallways. “Have you got any scabiosa today?” she asked, still somewhat amazed that something could be so delicate with a name like that. “How about freesia? No, not fully open – have you got some still in buds?”

Slowly, the cart filled with newspaper wrapped bundles. There were two weddings this weekend and a graduation party. And she always liked fresh flowers around her own house – the best advertising in the world and so cheap! When her cart was full and her list checked off, she lugged them all to the car and locked them away.

Then it was time for the supplies. A large warehouse on the floor between the parking and the flowers was filled to the rafters with the stuff of dreams. Designer ribbons, boxes of Oasis, floral tape – anything and everything she needed to make her clients happy. The list was short this week, and soon the shopping was done. Now it was time for breakfast.

This was often the best time of these mornings – fried eggs over rice and char siu pork at the greasy diner next door to the flower mart. Each table filled with shoppers like herself, with a few vendors to liven things up. Lots of hot tea, lots of eavesdropping on conversations, lots of people-watching. Yes, this is what capped off the morning best.

Except, of course, for the ride back home. She knew there would be hard work to do once she got there. The flowers needed to be unwrapped, re-trimmed, set in buckets filled with tepid water and plant food. They needed to harden off for several hours before any arrangements could be assembled. But until then, for the next thirty minutes of so, she had the joy of the rid. With the sun just peeking over the horizon, coloring the California sky with pinks, peaches, lilacs. she could imagine that anything was possible. Anything.

What a beautiful morning from the empty freeway in early morning darkness (reminds me of the one ride on the DC and Baltimore expressways during which I felt almost safe), to the busy shopping, to the breakfast (that sounds so nice and fattening) to the ride home into that sunrise. Well done.

The truth is, she was afraid of the dark, always had been ever since she was little. As a five-year-old, she would lay in her bed, clutching her teddy bear close to her body, covers pulled all the way up to her chin, ready to use them as a sheild at any moment against a nighttime invader. The darkness was dangerous; it brought hideous unnamed monsters out from inside her closet and under her bed.

And even now, when she was all grown up, it was no different. The terrors had merely changed. She’d never admit it to anyone, but the darkness of night still frightened her. It changed her, turned her into an entirely different person. It was during the darkness of night that her demons crept back to her, and she was forced to fight them off. It was only in the hours of the early morning, when the nighttime darkness slowly gave way to morning darkness that she could truly rest easy.

The morning darkness was different than at night. At night, when the sun set and dark came all it brought was more darkness, more black which promised to creep into your thoughts. The darkness of morning was different; she knew its promise was not of more dark, but of light. It promised to chase away the monsters.

Even as an adult, she lay in bed, covers pulled up to her chin, waiting. Waiting for the darkness of morning to come, to give way to dawn, when she could finally rest easy.

She slowly opened her eyes. Waking up this morning wasn’t the usual rude jolt that rocked her out of restfulness. It was more like the gentle coaxing of Mother’s tender voice, lulling her awake with fond crooning.

The room was still dark, her sleepy brain slowly realized. The deep blue shadows of the fading night lingered around the folds of the curtains. There was that tinge of gathering light that made the darkness somehow, comfortable and cosy. She yawned lazily and rolled over. It was too early to get up. She lay there, not willing to remember the anguish of the night before, wanting only to enjoy the quiet moments of restfulness before the sun awoke the rest of world and demanded that everyone get back into their crazy schedules.

She savoured the quietness, the happy, comfortable silence that afforded her a sort of safety. The taunting, the rejection, the whispers behind her back, the sarcastic grins the others exchanged with each other could not find her here, warmly snuggled down under her downy blanket. Here she could rest, and feel like she fit perfectly. She sighed softly, a sigh that was not solely sadness and longing, but one of settled resignation. She had accepted life as it was. There was nothing to do now, but to face it and live above it.

A quiet smile played gently across her young solemn face, adding a hint of the spirit that sparkled in her character. Even in her sad moments, the natural cheerfulness of personality would not be suppressed for long. Yes, she would live above it. She would show herself and others that she was made of nobler stuff than low back-biting and petty resentment.

The darkness was almost gone now. She lay listlessly, waiting for her alarm to sound to signal the start of another hard day. There it was now. As if on cue, her muscles involuntarily tightened. She slowly sat up.

It was time to give life to the resolutions born in the morning darkness.

Alarm. Jerked rudely out of sleep. Lie for a minute. CAN’T STAND IT. Jump up. Whack snooze button. Collaspe into bed.

-9 minutes later-

Alarm. Repeat above.

Alarm. Think nasty words. Smash snooze. On second thought, turn off altogether and force self to get out of bed. Begin thinking in coherent sentences. Well, mostly.

I cover my eyes against the blinding hallway light and walk to the bathroom. Bathroom door. Slam shut. Put paper on the filthy dorm toilet seat. Begin to nod off while performing bodily functions…

…and remember that there’s something important due in Art History today…

Shit. I flush, wash hands, return to room, gather shower paraphernalia, return to bathroom. Doze off slightly in the shower as well. I use conditioner this morning as an excuse to just stand there for a minute, bare skin reddening under the hot water. Wasting water. Killing the environment. Idly, I contemplate drowning myself in the bath, or just slitting my wrists with the razor. Then I rinse out the conditioner, step out of the shower, towel off.

Wrap towel around self. Feel slightly awkward passing another towel-wrapped person in the other direction. Escape to room. Dither over what to wear. Dress to fit mood: oldest, ugliest jeans; random t-shirt; sneakers. I could stuff a sock down my throat to suffocate, but I should probably just blow-dry my hair. I do that. Don’t bother with makeup.

Books — packed. Homework — done. Breakfast — missed it. Coffee — not enough time to make. I hear taking in too much caffeine can kill you. I wonder if anyone’s ever done it on purpose before. Some poor, overworked secretary or boss, probably. Class in fifteen minutes.

If I leave now I can make it, easy. If I fell down the stairs, I could be dead before my roommate woke up. But there’s that homework due. Eh, I still have five minutes til I absolutely have to leave. There’s a large vein in the neck that’ll leave you dead in two minutes flat.

Too tired to find the razor. Too tired to move. I lie back on the bed. I have slept but I have not rested.

Don’t sleep. Lose all track of time, lost in contemplation of the ceiling cracks. The sun has been up for hours, but my morning is dark with potential.

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Writing In the Morning: How to Create Perfect Routine

Discover the benefits of writing in the morning and how to create the perfect daily routine.

Would you like to wake up early? For years, I was a night owl. I wrote in the evening or late at night. I enjoyed the idea of writing into the wee small hours with only Frank Sinatra, the moon, and the blank page for company.

But, a job and the demands of family life make it difficult to write at the end of the day or late at night. For me, it wasn’t practical to write past midnight and then get up the next day, go to work at my full-time job, and function with a family.

I struggled with rising early and wondered if I’d ever become a morning person. Then, I read about the daily routines of many creatives I admire. I found many of them like waking up early, including the composer Ludwig Van Beethoven, the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard and authors like Haruki Murakami , Ernest Hemingway and Kurt Vonnegut.

Famous Early Morning Writers

1. write down your ideal morning writing routine, 2. prepare your writing the night before, 3. pick a target time for waking up early, 4 . create your sleep schedule, 5. follow a wind-down ritual, 6. use caffeine… sparingly, 7. get into a state of creative flow, 8. track your progress, the final word on early morning writing habit, how can i force myself to wake up early, is it good to wake up early, is writing in the morning good, what should i write every morning.

Well-known early morning writers include Ernest Hemingway, Dan Brown and Kurt Vonnegut. A few years ago, I attended an event where Dan Brown spoke about his daily routine. He said he gets up at four am every morning to write his thrillers and fiction because that time of the day is free of distractions. Vonnegut and Hemingway both rose around five to five thirty am most days to work on their novels. Hemingway said about his early morning writing:

“When I am working on a book or a story, I write every morning as soon after first light as possible. There is no one to disturb you and it is cool or cold and you come to your work and warm as you write.”

Julia Cameron famously advocates for rising early to engage in long-form stream of consciousness writing in her book The Miracle of Morning Pages . She writes:

“Each morning, as we face the page, we meet ourselves. The pages give us a place to vent and a place to dream. They are intended for no eyes but our own.”

The American philosopher and psychologist William James was another advocate of a consistent routine. He said:

“The great thing, then, in all education, is to make automatic and habitual, as early as possible, as many useful actions as we can, and to guard against the growing into ways that are likely to be disadvantageous to us, as we should guard against the plague.”

Thinking through an ideal morning on paper will help you visualize your day and increase your chances of avoiding procrastination first thing

Here’s mine: meditate for twenty minutes, brew coffee, engage in a writing session for at least one hour, and record ten ideas. After that, I make breakfast and get the kids up for school.

Although your ideal morning routine may not look like this, it’s useful to consider what you want to accomplish after waking. Do you want to engage in brainstorming, write some early morning pages, edit an article, outline a book chapter or simply engage in writing practice?

The good news is it’s easier to make time for writing at the start of the day as you’re less likely to become distracted by email, social media, the news, work and other distractions. If you need help, consider free writing about your early morning routine.

Before bed, consider what you want to write the next morning. Read through the previous day’s work. Leave your notes, drafts and other writing tools. Open up your writing app and queue the day’s music. I sometimes also like leaving a Post-It note on my keyboard containing a prompt about creative work or what to write first.

When you get up, starting a writing session is much easier if everything is in front of you. Writing down what you will write the next day primes your subconsciousness to work on the idea even when you’re asleep. If you need some inspiration for your morning routine, check out the blog My Morning Routine .

If you set your alarm clock for four AM tomorrow morning, you may get up, but you’ll be exhausted and unlikely to repeat this heroic feat of endurance the following day .

It’s not much fun getting up at dawn and then fumbling through the day with only four or five hours of sleep. Instead, set your alarm clock for half an hour earlier than your normal time. The following day, set your alarm for 45 minutes earlier than your normal rising time. And so on.

Like pennies gradually filling a jar, these small incremental gains will help you reach your desired rising time and become an early riser. 

Pick an ideal time to wake up based on work and family commitments. For example, if you work a nine to five job, rising at five am or six could work. However, if you work shifts, you may need to adapt to this rising time.

My ideal rising time is half five. If I rise any earlier, I’m too exhausted to function during the day. If I wake any later than six AM, I’m running behind, or I don’t have enough time to write before the working day begins. My target rising time enables me to make time for distractions and interruptions.

You set an alarm clock for getting up, so why not one for going to bed? You can easily create the ideal sleep schedule with various apps including the inbuilt clock app on the Apple iPhone and Android phones. They’ll determine what time you should go to bed at to achieve the optimal amount of sleep, based on your target rising time.

I set an alarm clock for 21.30. Once this alarm clock goes off, I stop checking emails, using my computer, drinking caffeine, and doing anything else that will keep me up late. The clock app on Apple iPhone includes a setting that will give an ideal bedtime based on waking up early.

I also recommend using a sleep tracker, like a Garmin Watch, Whoop, or Fitbit, so that you can track your sleep cycle for a few weeks.

It’s hard for night-owls to get into the habit of falling asleep at an earlier time of day than usual. That’s where a good wind-down or nighttime routine can help.

When you receive a notification about going to bed, it’s time to reduce exposure to screens, avoid heavy meals and engage in relaxing activities like meditation or reading.

The blue light glare of a computer screen stimulates the brain and makes it harder to fall asleep. If you must work late in front of a screen, consider investing in a pair of blue light glasses. According to a 2017 study by The University of Houston, they can increase melatonin production by 58%.

I also like leaving an alarm in a different bedroom from where I sleep. When an alarm goes off first thing, I have to get out of bed and go into the other room to turn it off. The act of moving makes it harder to press the snooze button or roll over and go back to sleep. The simple act of moving will mitigate feeling groggy too.

I sometimes set a second quieter alarm clock in the bedroom to avoid waking others up. After a few days, your body will begin to adjust to this new routine and it should become easier to fall asleep and wake up in the morning.

A cup of coffee in the morning can jumpstart your day better than any energy drink . It’s tempting to start consuming more coffee when you first start waking early. However, avoid drinking multiple cups of coffee throughout the day, as you’ll find it harder to sleep.

If you drink coffee in the afternoon, trace amounts of caffeine will stay in your system until well into the late night and impact sleep quality. Switch to low-caffeine or caffeine-free drinks after mid-day. If you need to restore energy levels, take a 20-minute nap at lunch, at least until your body adapts.

Investing in a set of noise-cancelling headphones is a fantastic way of enjoying a writing session, particularly one at dawn. You can use it to listen to ambient or lyric-free music, which will help you get into a state of creative flow faster. In that state, all sense of time and effort fades away and it becomes easier to write a difficult first draft . You’re far more likely to do your best writing in this mental state.

For help finding this type of lyric-free music, check out the Flow State Substaack newsletter. Headphones (or earplugs if you’re on a budget) will also block out distractions like other people getting up and going about their day.

It’s easier to create a good habit if you know what works and doesn’t and how close you are to realizing this habit. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day on your new early morning schedule.

For the first few weeks, I recorded when I got up, how long I slept, and when I went to bed. I found out that checking email and social media late at night is bad because I find it hard to sleep afterwards.

I recommend using Jerry Seinfeld’s Don’t Break the Chain system. It’s a good habit formation strategy that anyone can easily apply. Each day you wake up early, mark an X through today’s date. Your job is to build a chain of Xs and avoid breaking this chain. For more, check out our writing productivity guide .

Many writers wake up early because their mornings are usually distraction-free and quiet. These hours are also ideal for working on creative projects like a book, a blog or writing morning pages.

You don’t need to be an early bird to start waking up at dawn. It takes practice and some self-discipline. Maintaining consistent circadian rhythms helps. A circadian rhythm refers to your sleeping and waking cycle. Consistent early morning risers go to bed and rise at the same time every day, including at the weekends.

My morning routine varies. I don’t get up early every day , 365 days a year. I sleep late at least one day at the weekend, and there are times when it’s not possible or practical to get up at six AM because of the demands of the previous day.

I accept these days for what they are (a time to rest or sleep) instead of seeing them as setbacks on my journey towards creating an ideal morning writing routine. It takes a little time to shift a sleep cycle from working and rising late to rising early.

I told a friend once when you find writing time in the morning, “you give the best of yourself to yourself.” He laughed. I know this sounds ridiculous, but it’s harder to work on what matters if you’re feeling physically and mentally exhausted from work or day-to-day life.

But what if you are more creative  at night? If you’re happy with your late-night writing process, stick with what works. Tharp sums this up in her book, The Creative Habit .

“In the end, there is no ideal condition for creativity. What works for one person is useless for another. The only criterion is this: Make it easy on yourself.”

Writing in the Morning FAQs

During the day avoid caffeine. Stop working in front of a screen after your evening meal. If possible, go to bed at a reasonable hour and read for a little bit, ideally a paperback. Lay out your clothes and set an alarm in a different room from where you sleep. The first morning will feel challenging, but rising early will become more natural after a few days.

If you want more time to work, meditate, exercise, write or work on personal projects that cultivate your well-being, waking up early is a good habit to create. You’ll have more free time to work on what matters rather than other people’s priorities. Waking up early also means you’re more likely to feel energised and fresh.

Writing in the morning is good because that time of the day is usually quieter and free of distractions. Prolific early morning writers often say they can get their best work done before lunch as they have more physical and mental energy. It’s also an ideal writing time if you’re balancing the creative process with a full-time job.

Deciding what to write every morning depends on whether you’re a blogger, podcaster, author, or freelance writer. Usually, it’s a good idea to work on your most important creative project and hit a target word count or milestone for the day. That way, you’ll accomplish the hardest task of the day first thing. You could also try writing early morning pages, whereby you engage in long-form stream of consciousness writing by hand.

Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

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18 Awesome Descriptions Using Time To Use In Writing

By describing where the events are about to take place, you can transport your reader into another world. Make use of the five senses – sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste – to evoke the atmosphere of the setting.

The following will give you some examples of how you can describe using time as the main element.

The same place can look and feel very different at different times of the day. Take a park, for example.  At daybreak, it is cool and invigorating, full of songbirds, walkers and joggers. At midday, it is sleepy, hot and still. In the evening, shadows lengthen and coolness returns. But at night, it can be a frightening place, with dangers lurking in the dark shadows of the foliage.

• The day dawned crisp and clear.
• The sun poured through my window. Another day had dawned, bringing with it new hopes and aspirations.
• The light of dawn seeped into my room. I rubbed my bleary eyes and walked to the window. There was a pearly glow in the sky.
• The first rays of sunlight lit up my room. The dawn chorus of melodic birdsong drifted in.
• The rising sun cast a rosy hue across the morning sky. Golden fingers of sunlight lit up the scene.
• The just-risen sun shone softly on the city streets, bringing with it a flurry of early-morning activity.
• Dappled sun shone through the trees, creating mysterious shadows.
• The blue sky was dotted with fluffy white clouds that drifted lazily in the gentle breeze.
• The blazing midday sun shone relentlessly on the hikers.
• The roads shimmered in the heat of the midday sun. The sunlit skyscrapers pierced the hot, blue sky.
• The afternoon sun bathed the buildings in its warm light.
• Tiny specks of dust seemed to dance in the shaft of afternoon sunlight that slanted through the window.

EVENING AND NIGHT

• The evening sun cast long shadows on the ground. The slanting rays of the setting sun gave a warm orange tinge to the sky.
• The sky was ablaze with the fire of the setting sun.
• The night sky was aglow with bright city lights.
• The pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw in the night sky.
• We looked up at the blanket of stars that stretched to infinity.
• The occasional barking of faraway dogs broke the silence of the night.

Encourage your child to use these descriptions in the tests and examinations. Help them familiarise with these phrases through simple activities by writing short introductory paragraphs with one or two of the descriptions, or give them short dictation quizzes!

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How to Describe a Winter Morning in a Story

By Brittany Kuhn

Is the main plot in your novel set in the winter? Scroll down to get some tips on how to describe a winter morning in a story.

Undisturbed by motion or noise.

“She awoke to a quiet winter morning as the overnight snow had dulled even the softest sound.”

“The quiet winter mornings were his favorite; he could wrap himself in a robe, sip from a warm cup of coffee, and ponder the day ahead in silent contemplation.”

How it Adds Description

Because winter mornings are often still dark, there isn’t a lot of activity as everybody is still forcing themselves to wake up and start the day. Snow also softens sound, so if a winter morning has snowfall, then the morning will be quiet because of the snow.

• Without movement .
• Free from disruptions or interference; composed.

“He opened his curtain to a complete still winter morning, not even a leaf rustled outside.”

“Winter morning training runs were made better by how still the rest of the world was around her.”

Still adds to the description in the same way using quiet does but with more of a focus on the lack of motion as opposed to the lack of sound. Using still emphasizes that the rest of the world is struggling to wake up and start moving because the cold, dark morning makes them want to stay in bed where it’s warm.

• Having a biting chill to the air.
• Covered with ice.

“Today’s winter morning was just as frosty as yesterday’s.”

“She hated waking up to frosty winter mornings; it made her want to curl back in bed and hibernate until spring came.”

Frost is different from snow: it’s icier, colder, wetter. Where a snowy winter morning might be exciting and playful, a frosty one suggests it’s so cold you can’t escape from it as it seeps into the clothes and bones.

• Completely relaxed and at peace .
• Clear skies with no storms and possibly the sun shining.

“We stopped at the top of the hill and took in the serene winter morning scene laid out in front of us.”

“The sun reflecting off the snow-filled fields and crystal-lined tree branches made the winter morning feel more serene than cold.”

Describing the winter morning as serene evokes images of waking up in a cabin in the woods with a soft snowfall outside. So long as there isn’t a blizzard outside, winter mornings can be serene in their quiet and stillness, even if the character is taking a walk in nature among the hibernating animals.

• Cold in a stimulating, refreshing way.
• Easily broken.
• Given to a crunchy sound when tread upon.

“She opened her door to a crisp winter morning and wrapped her scarf a bit tighter around her neck.”

“The crisp winter morning caused the leaves to crunch beneath the children’s steps as they ran and played.”

Crisp is one of those sensory words that activate the senses of touch and sound. It is so cold that the leaves and tree branches have practically been frozen solid, crunchy whenever stepped on, but it’s not a bitter-feeling cold. Instead, a crisp winter morning invites you to wrap up warm and come outside to be a part of it. It is a rejuvenating cold.

Having or covered in a lot of snow .

“Watching out the window as the snow feel on this snowy winter morning made me smile; the softness of it all was comforting to watch.”

“We set out to enjoy the winter morning in spite of its snowiness .”

A snowy morning is a morning with the perfect type of snow: not too much, not too wet. Kids can get out and play in it without feeling too uncomfortable. Because snow reduces sound, a snowy winter morning will often be a quieter one, which will cause less feelings of anxiety and pressure to rush around and get moving.

7. Glistening

Sparkling , often from reflecting another light like the sun.

“The sun glistened off the snowy fields this winter morning.”

“The snowflakes were glistening as they fell in the winter morning sun.”

Glistening shows that the sun is finally out even in the cold and snow. Describing a winter morning as glistening suggests that it will be a beautiful winter day, regardless of what the weather was like the night before or how low the temperature might be throughout the day.

8. Blanketed

Completely covered , as if by a blanket.

“Driving to work this winter morning showed fields blanketed in snow.”

“The winter morning was blanketed in darkness still; it wasn’t quite late enough for the sun to be up yet.”

Blanketed often immediately calls to mind images of fields and houses completely covered in snow. It can also mean that the darkness of those long winter nights is hard to shake off in the mornings.

• Not having a lot of light
• With little sun, overcast.
• Indistinct or unclear.

“The dim winter morning made it even harder to get ready to go to work.”

“She could see the dim light of the day peeking out over the horizon this winter morning.”

Winter is known for the long nights, with the sun starting to rise around 8am in some places. Describing the morning as dim not only shows the reader a more precise time the story is taking place, but also highlights how dark the morning is in spite of the sun rising.

10. Enchanted

• As if by magic .
• Completely happy or captivated.

“It was an enchanted winter morning with an effervescence in the air.”

“Whenever the snow fell, it made the winter mornings feel more enchanted and storybook-like.”

Because snow can sparkle in the sunlight, winter mornings after a soft snowfall can look like it’s created by magic. Using enchanted to describe a winter morning like this helps the reader get that feeling of charm and contentment waking up to such a scene.

The Top 10 Descriptive Paragraphs About Mountains

Written by Dan

Last updated February 15, 2024

As a teacher, when you’re looking for examples of descriptive paragraphs for your class to study and explore, there’s no better subject than the majesty of mountains. Mountains offer a different type of beauty—one that can be both awe-inspiring and peaceful simultaneously.

To help give your students an idea of what mountain descriptions look like, we’ve created a list with some of the top 10 most evocative passages about mountains—all written by some beloved authors over the years!

In this post, we’ll examine each with insightful quotes from each passage so that teachers can use material in their classroom activity instructions to further illustrate how expansive and captivating a description about mountains can truly be.

Related : For more, check out our article on  Descriptive Paragraphs About King Charles  here.

Table of Contents

1. The Majestic Mountains

The mountains, like the ancient sentinels of a forgotten realm, stand tall and proud, their peaks scraping the soft belly of the cerulean sky. They rise like majestic titans, their silhouettes etched defiantly against the backdrop of the heavens.

These mountains are an epitome of grandeur and resilience, a living testament to the earth’s might and its relentless endurance. Their formidable stature is a constant reminder of the planet’s ageless strength and timeless persistence.

Their rugged surfaces, etched with the countless stories of time, are a complex tapestry of shadows and light. These surfaces, worn by the ceaseless march of seasons, bear the imprints of centuries, their crinkles and folds narrating tales of eras gone by.

This intricate mosaic of crevices and ridges, illuminated and concealed by the shifting sun, is a testament to the relentless passage of time and the enduring spirit of nature.

The sun, a celestial artist, paints the mountains with a precision that is nothing short of poetic. As it embarks on its daily journey across the expansive horizon, it bathes the mountains in a kaleidoscope of colors, from the soft pastels of dawn to the fiery hues of dusk.

The play of light and shadow over the mountains’ rugged terrain creates a dynamic landscape that changes with every passing hour, offering an ever-evolving spectacle of natural beauty.

The craggy faces of these mountainous giants, speckled with the vibrant greens of hardy vegetation and the pristine white of winter snow, hold a raw, natural beauty that is both awe-inspiring and humbling.

The contrast between the harsh, unyielding rock and the delicate, fleeting snowflakes or the resilient, tenacious greenery serves as a stark reminder of nature’s paradoxical character — its capacity for both ruthlessness and gentleness.

This juxtaposition, this symphony of extremes, contributes to the mountains’ mesmerizing allure, making them a sight that is as humbling as it is breathtaking.

Related : For more, check out our article on  Descriptive Paragraphs About The Queen  here.

2. A Symphony of Silence

Listen closely! The mountains speak in a symphony of silence, a language so profound that it transcends words. This silence is punctuated only by the crisp crunch of snow underfoot or the distant echo of a lone bird’s call.

It is a sound that reverberates deep within the soul, a profound hush that drowns out the clamor of the world below, offering a sanctuary where one can hear the whisper of their own thoughts. This silence is not empty but full of a stillness that sings a song of tranquility and peace.

The mountains, silent sentinels of a bygone era, are soothing balms for the soul. They offer refuge from the bustle and anxiety of daily life, allowing one to connect with a peacefulness that is eons old.

For those in need of solace, these quiet giants are beacons of hope, providing a place where one can rest and replenish their reserves of energy and strength.

The mountains beckon us to their untamed peak, inviting us to explore and discover the lessons that lay hidden within their depths. Beyond the chilly winds and steep slopes are secrets that remain untouched and unspoken, waiting for those who will brave its heights.

Those courageous enough to venture into the mountains will be rewarded with a serenity so profound it seems almost sacred, an experience they are unlikely to forget.

The mountains are powerful and mysterious, a place of awe and reverence. They are a reminder that in the vastness of our world lies something greater than ourselves, an ancient wisdom that can only be found in the silent depths of their peaks.

The majestic beauty of these silent giants stands as a testament to our fragile planet and its enduring spirit—a spirit that will continue to speak in its own language, a language of silence.

Related : For more, check out our article on  Descriptive Paragraphs About Macbeth  here.

3. The Beauty of Solitude

In the heart of the mountains, solitude is not a state of loneliness, but a tranquil companionship with nature. Here, one can commune with the wind that rustles through the pines, the snow that blankets the slopes, and the rocks that have stood the test of time.

Each element is a friend, offering comfort in its constant, unchanging presence. This solitude nurtures the spirit, providing a space for reflection and introspection, a chance to connect with oneself amidst the majesty of the natural world.

The mountains are a place of calm and repose, where one can be surrounded by beauty while still remaining in control. Here, the elements are at peace, and one is free to explore the depths of their own inner world.

The harshness of the terrain encourages self-reliance and teaches resilience, while its serenity facilitates contemplation and growth. The mountains offer a unique opportunity to experience the joy of being alone, far away from the clamor and chaos of everyday life.

The beauty of the mountains is that they offer something for everyone. For some, it’s an escape from the hustle and bustle; for others, an adventure in a wild and untamed world.

But no matter what the purpose, in the mountains one is never truly alone. The company of nature’s elements provides an unspoken companionship—a presence that remains steady and true no matter how far one ventures into the unknown.

The mountains are a place of solace, with their majestic beauty and ancient secrets luring us to explore its depths. Here, amidst the stillness and peace of its peaks, we can find refuge from the chaos of life. The mountains are a reminder that no matter how isolated we may feel, there is always something greater than ourselves that surrounds and sustains us.

They offer a glimpse into an ancient wisdom beyond our understanding, serving as both an inspiration and a protector. In these silent giants lies the promise of solace and serenity, a reminder that beauty and power are intertwined in the timeless embrace of nature.

Related : For more, check out our article on  Descriptive Paragraphs About The Wind  here.

4. The Dance of Light and Shadow

At dawn, the mountains are cloaked in ethereal hues of pink and gold, their jagged silhouettes sharp against the awakening sky. As the day progresses, they transform into an ever-changing tableau of light and shadow, each hour revealing a new facet of their beauty.

The sun, in its celestial dance, plays with the mountains, casting shadows that creep and retreat, highlighting ridges and illuminating valleys. At dusk, they are bathed in the fiery glow of the setting sun, their peaks aflame with a riot of colors, as if bidding a spectacular farewell to the day.

The mountains are a living, breathing canvas, their faces ever-changing. The subtle hues of morning mist, the play of light and shadow at noon and twilight’s golden curtain; each is a unique symphony that speaks to the soul.

They evoke emotions ranging from awe and wonder to reverence and serenity, inspiring feelings that can only be found in the embrace of nature.

The mountains are more than just a beautiful sight, they are portals to an alternate reality filled with possibility and potential. They remind us that there is beauty even in moments of darkness, if we take the time to look for it.

By exploring their depths, we can discover our own inner strength and courage—strengths that can be found only in the depths of their majestic passes.

The beauty of the mountains is timeless, and as the sun sets each day they remind us that the world is constantly changing, even if it appears otherwise. They invite us to step into a realm where dreams are made and infinite potential awaits.

No matter how daunting it may seem, these silent sentinels are a reminder that the journey is worth taking—for in the depths of their peaks lies an enchantment beyond our wildest imaginings.

5. The Mountains’ Might

The mountains, with their towering peaks and deep, mysterious valleys, are a testament to the earth’s raw power. They are sculpted by the relentless forces of wind and water, carved by the slow crawl of glaciers and the ceaseless march of time.

Their strength is palpable, radiating a quiet assurance that they will endure long after we have returned to the dust. Their might serves as a reminder of our own insignificance in the face of nature’s grandeur, a humbling experience that puts our fleeting existence into perspective.

The mountains are a source of strength and inspiration, pushing us to the limits of our physical and mental abilities. They challenge us in ways that other environments cannot, teaching resilience and perseverance in the face of hardship.

The sheer magnitude of their slopes teach us humility, while their rugged beauty elicits feelings of awe and wonderment. In the presence of these silent sentinels, we can’t help but feel small.

The mountains are a source of solace and strength—a reminder that beauty and power are intertwined in the timeless embrace of nature. Here, amidst the stillness and peace of its peaks, we can find refuge from the chaos of life. The mountains beckon us to explore beyond our comfort zone, reminding us that there is always something greater than ourselves that we can strive for.

They offer a glimpse into an ancient wisdom beyond our understanding, a reminder that the journey is worth taking—for in the depths of their peaks lies an enchantment beyond our wildest imaginings.

6. The Call of the Wild

In the heart of the mountains, the wild calls with a primal lure, awakening a deep-seated yearning for exploration and adventure. Here, amidst the rugged terrain, the untamed beauty, one can feel truly alive, their senses sharpened by the crisp mountain air and the stunning vistas that unfold at every turn.

The mountains call to the adventurer within us, beckoning us to lose ourselves in their wilderness, to breathe in their purity, to become one with their untamed spirit.

The mountains are a playground for the soul, an escape from the mundane and everyday. They invite us to explore their secrets, to discover forgotten trails hidden in their folds, to marvel at their natural wonders.

Here we can find true freedom, where danger is ever-present and adventure abounds. The wild beckons to us—to take risks, face our fears, and test the limits of ourselves.

The mountains are a reminder that life should be lived to its fullest. They invite us to break free from the chains of everyday life and take a leap into the unknown. Here we can find solace in nature’s embrace, discover hidden treasures, and embark on a journey of self-discovery and adventure.

The mountains are a call to the wild, an invitation to explore their depths and discover our true potential. They offer us a glimpse into an ancient wisdom beyond our understanding, reminding us that beauty and power are intertwined in the timeless embrace of nature. Adventure awaits—all we have to do is heed its call. Take the plunge, embrace the risk, and find strength in the wild.

7. A Sanctuary of Serenity

The mountains offer a sanctuary of serenity, a haven from the hustle and bustle of life. Their timeless beauty and tranquil silence provide a balm for the weary soul, healing the wounds inflicted by the frenetic pace of modern existence.

Here, one can find peace, solitude, and a profound connection with nature. The mountains teach us to slow down, to appreciate the simple beauty of a sunrise or the quiet majesty of a snow-capped peak, to find joy in the journey rather than the destination.

The mountains have a magnetic quality, an otherworldly aura that draws us in. They offer a respite from the noise and chaos of life—a place to reflect, rejuvenate, and find clarity. In their embrace we can reconnect with our true selves, discover our innermost passions and dreams, and begin anew.

The mountains are a reminder of the power of nature and its ability to heal. They are a source of strength, courage, and peace—a sanctuary for the weary traveler. Each peak is an invitation to explore, to climb higher than ever before and bask in the awe-inspiring beauty that lies beyond.

The mountains provide a refuge from our daily lives, offering us solace in their stillness and serenity. Let us take a deep breath and be filled with the peace that only nature can provide.

8. The Seasons’ Canvas

The mountains are the canvas upon which the seasons paint their masterpieces. Winter swathes them in a blanket of pristine snow, transforming their rough terrain into a shimmering wonderland of white.

Spring adorns them with a burst of color as flowers bloom and trees bud, breathing life into their slopes. Summer bathes them in warmth and light, revealing their full splendor in the long, golden days. Autumn, the grand artist, sets them ablaze with fiery hues of red and orange, making a spectacle of their descent into winter.

The canvas of the mountains is ever-changing, a stark reminder that nothing in life is constant. The rocky terrain is both relentless and resilient, weathering centuries of storms, floods, snowstorms, and droughts. It stands as a silent witness to the passing of time—to the ebbs and flows of nature’s cycle—reminding us of our own mortality.

The mountains are a reminder that life is fleeting, but also ever-renewing. They offer us a glimpse into the renewal of life through the changing seasons, reminding us to take pleasure in the little moments and savor each experience with all our senses. Let us be still and marvel at the beauty of nature’s canvas, for here lies a never-ending source of inspiration.

The mountains are more than just a backdrop to life’s ups and downs—they are our teachers, guides, and companions. In their embrace we can find strength and solace in times of struggle, and joy and peace in times of ease.

Let us take the time to listen to their silent voices, and find the courage to embrace their call. The mountains await—all we have to do is heed its call. Take the plunge, embrace the risk, and explore the wilds of life’s eternal canvas.

9. The Mountains’ Majesty

There is an undeniable majesty to the mountains. They rise from the earth like colossal sculptures, their contours shaped by the hand of nature. Their peaks, wreathed in clouds, seem to touch the heavens, reaching for the stars in their silent, stoic way.

Their valleys, cloaked in mist, hold a mystical allure, hiding secrets in their depths. In their towering grandeur, the mountains command respect and awe, inspiring poets and artists, dreamers and adventurers alike.

The mountains challenge us, calling us to re-examine our place in the natural world. They remind us of our insignificance and mortality, but also of the strength and resilience that lies within all of us.

Here we can find courage to take risks, explore new possibilities, and live life to its fullest. The mountains beckon—to stand in their glory, to marvel at their timeless beauty, and to be moved by the awesomeness of nature.

The mountains offer us a chance to reconnect with the wildness within ourselves—a part of our true selves that has been forgotten in today’s modern world. To climb a mountain is to break free from the mundane routine of life, to escape from the confines of comfort and be filled with a sense of freedom.

Let us take a moment to marvel at the majesty of the mountains, for here lies an inexhaustible source of inspiration and strength.

The mountains have been witnesses to our struggles and triumphs throughout history—they are part of our collective memory, a reminder that we can overcome any obstacle and find joy in the journey.

Let us embrace their call and take a plunge into the unknown, for here lies a chance to explore uncharted terrain and discover our true potential. The mountains await—all we have to do is heed its call. Take the plunge, embrace the risk, and find strength in the wilds of life’s ever-changing landscape.

10. The Mountains’ Song

The mountains sing a song as old as time itself. It is a melody woven from the rustle of leaves, the babble of brooks, the whistle of the wind, and the call of the wild. It is a symphony that resonates in the heart, a tune that speaks of peace, strength, beauty, and the eternal rhythm of nature.

This song, once heard, stays with you, a haunting melody that calls you back to the mountains, to their majesty, their solitude, and their wild, untamed beauty.

The mountains’ song is a reminder to take pleasure in the little moments and savor each experience with all our senses. Let us pause to listen and be filled with the serenity that only nature can provide.

The mountains may be silent, but their song speaks of life and its mysteries—of adventure, courage, hope, and renewal. In its embrace we can find the strength to take risks, explore new possibilities, and live life to its fullest.

The mountains are alive with their song—a never-ending source of inspiration and courage. Let us take a moment to listen, and find the resolve to heed their call.

Take the plunge, embrace the risk, and explore the wilds of life’s eternal song. The mountains await—all we have to do is listen. So take a deep breath and be filled with the peace that only nature can provide, for here lies an adventure unlike any other.

In conclusion, these top 10 descriptive paragraphs about mountains serve as perfect examples of the power of evocative language. Each passage offers a unique perspective on the majesty and beauty of mountains, highlighting their grandeur, tranquility, and the awe they inspire.

The various descriptions illustrate how the same subject can be depicted in numerous ways, depending on the author’s choice of words and imagery.

These passages serve not only as a tool for teaching descriptive writing but also as an invitation for students to explore their own experiences and emotions, encouraging them to convey their thoughts and feelings with similar depth and vividness. By studying these examples, students can learn to appreciate the richness of descriptive language and the endless possibilities it offers for expressing their perceptions and experiences.

Furthermore, these passages remind us that nature, particularly the magnificence of mountains, provides an abundant source of inspiration for writers. By learning to observe and describe the natural world around them, students can cultivate their observational skills, expand their vocabulary, and develop their ability to create compelling, immersive descriptions.

In essence, these masterfully crafted passages about mountains are more than just examples of descriptive writing; they are a testament to the beauty of language and its power to bring the world to life in the reader’s mind.

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About The Author

I'm Dan Higgins, one of the faces behind The Teaching Couple. With 15 years in the education sector and a decade as a teacher, I've witnessed the highs and lows of school life. Over the years, my passion for supporting fellow teachers and making school more bearable has grown. The Teaching Couple is my platform to share strategies, tips, and insights from my journey. Together, we can shape a better school experience for all.

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