Introduction
The desert is a place that is usually associated with an unfilled desire for adventure and excitement. Having spent many years in the Middle East, I can confidently say that this is far from the truth. The reality is that the desert offers some of the most breathtaking and fascinating sights that anyone could ever hope to see. It’s just that, somehow, this fantastic beauty gets lost in the description.
When it comes to fiction, you have a golden opportunity to paint a picture that will stay with the reader for the rest of their life. As a writer, you have the ability to describe the scenery and the sense of awe that the desert evokes in such a way that it will be etched in their minds long after the book has been closed.
With that in mind, I have compiled a list of tips on how to write the perfect desert story.
The Four Primary Senses
To truly capture the spirit of the desert, you must attempt to simulate all of the senses that the audience might experience walking or staying in the wilderness for a night. If you want to paint a vivid mental image in their heads, you have to give it to them in all of its glory. The first thing to do is to make them feel a sense of awe, tinged with a little fear. The next is to evoke the sense of smell.
If you want to scare the reader, you must do your best to create a feeling of dread that stems from both the sense of sight and sound. Lastly, you need to make sure that they get a taste of both the beauty and the strangeness of the desert. With these four primary senses, you will undoubtedly be able to create an immersive experience that is both exciting and believable.
The Colors Of The Desert
When writing a story that takes place in a desert, you need to remember that the scenery will be defined by the colors that are showcased in the sun and the sand. This is particularly important if you have chosen a desert that is far from a city, because there is a lot of life in terms of color that you might not have seen before. During the day, the sun will be the central point of attraction, bathing everything in its brilliant light. As the sun lowers in the sky, the temperature will drop sharply, giving you the perfect excuse to pull up your winter clothes. This is also the ideal time for you to stop and take a break from your busy day, gazing at the glorious sunset. Your eye will be drawn to the rich colors that saturate the sky, making it look like a painting.
However, at night, all of this changes completely. The temperature remains constant, meaning that your body heat will keep you warm and cozy even in the dead of night. This is the best time for you to venture out, exploring the wonder that the desert has to offer. You will see the scenery in a whole new light, thanks to the subtle colors that are showcased in the darkness. It is at night that you will notice how the white sands look like they are lit up from within, radiating an ethereal glow against the black backdrop of space. As you explore the desert at night, you will feel as though you have stepped into a dream, finding yourself in a land that is at once both familiar and strange. Of course, the perfect sunset that you experienced during the day is something that you will want to capture in words as well. The choice of whether or not to include this in your narrative will depend on the pace of your story, but there is no question that this is an ideal way to end your writing session.
The Atmosphere Of The Desert
Once you have made your reader feel as though they are actually in the middle of a desert, the next step is to give them a true sense of its atmosphere. In the morning, you will feel the heat rising as you start your day, and this will help you establish the right mood for your story. As the heat begins to take its toll, you will start to feel drowsy, wondering whether or not you should sleep under the open sky or inside a cooler environment. When the sun is at its peak, you can start to feel uncomfortable, even though the temperature might not actually reach these extremes. This, again, is a perfect synthesis of both temperature and atmosphere, leading you to wonder whether or not you should wear shorts or a long-sleeved top. In the afternoon, as the sun starts to settle, you can start to cool off, slowly leaving this hot atmosphere behind you and heading towards the relative tranquility of the night. This, too, is something that you can use to your advantage, as you will have the opportunity to go back to that glorious sunset that you experienced earlier in the day. As night approaches, you will start to feel cold, in a way that is both natural and a little spooky, as you are suddenly aware that you are in a different, and perhaps even hostile, environment. In a way, this is a perfect metaphor for life – you are constantly in a state of change, as both the people and the place around you evolve as you progress through your day.
A great way to end this article is to suggest the following. When planning a trip to a desert, whether it is real or virtual, it is important to remember that the weather and the atmosphere are entirely different to what you are used to back home. Make sure that you are prepared for incredible heat during the day, only to find that the temperature drops sharply at night. You will not be able to describe this transition accurately unless you have been there yourself, and you must allow your readers to experience this strange yet mesmerizing change themselves.