The sun sets! Slowly at first, then with increasing speed, as the sky turns a hazy orange. Soon the last thin sliver of sunlight disappears, leaving only the comforting glow of the twilight. The temperature drops and you can feel the bite of the cold wind as it whips around you. It’s time to pack up and head for home unless you enjoy the occasional winter chill.
And so it is with a heavy heart that we bid adieu to spring and the bright, burning days of sunshine. The snow that began to fall earlier this week will stick around for a while, but who cares about a little snow when the sun still shines and the days are so beautiful? To capture that beautiful sunset and draw it into words is the goal of this article. We will teach you how.
The Setting
The setting is one of the most important aspects of any scene. It will impact the way you want the reader to perceive and feel the story. You want to include details that will paint the setting in the most vivid, realistic way possible. One of the most effective ways of doing this is through dialogue. If you are writing in first person present tense, you will be able to directly immerse the reader into the scene through the use of appropriate speech patterns. Of course, you don’t always need to use exactly the same phrases that the characters are using, but you should keep in mind the language, the atmosphere, and the overall feeling you wish to convey.
For example, if you want to write about an isolated island in the middle of nowhere, you might use specific words and phrases to evoke the feeling of being marooned. You could say something like this:
“The clouds parted in the sky and the sun shone brightly, lighting up the entire island. I walked towards the shore, drawn by the light and sounds of the crashing waves. The sand felt warm under my feet as I stepped out of the water, drying my feet and feeling the sand harden as I stamped it.”
The Lighting
Another important aspect to consider when describing the sunset is the lighting. Since the sun is going down, there is a good chance that it will be lighting up the scene. You might want to include a slight shimmering effect in your prose to give the impression that the light is breaking through the haze and the air is becoming a bit more transparent. If the scene takes place at night, try to avoid using the words ‘bright’ and ‘shiny’ to describe the lighting; these words can also be applied to something that is overly illuminated, which could lead to the reader becoming disoriented. Instead, you could say things like this:
“The sky is painted a vibrant orange, turning the entire canvas a gorgeous shade of rustic red as the sun sinks low in the sky. The lighting is warm, almost glowing, and creates an ethereal ambience, making it easy to forget that you’re surrounded by solid buildings and concrete roads.”
The Colors
Another part of the sunset that you might want to consider is the colors. The more varied and creative the better, as long as they don’t conflict with each other. It’s best to go for a combination of red, orange, and yellow to create a sense of completeness. White and blue paint can light up the sky but it will make the sunset look sickly, so stay away from these two colors if you want your painting to look realistic! Keep in mind that in summertime, the colors can appear different due to heat waves and climate, so if this is the case, make sure you capture the essence of what you are seeing rather than what you think is ‘common knowledge’.
The Atmosphere
Atmosphere is a key element in any story. It will affect the mood of the piece, setting the tone and pace. You might want to consider using ‘windy’ as a descriptor, as the atmosphere will make the sound of the blowing of the wind very audible. You could say things like this:
“The wind whips up the sand, making a hissing sound as it rushes past. I can feel the chill as it snatches my coat and whisks it away, threatening to take off with me in its wake. It feels good to be standing in the wind, embracing the thrill of the long, cold winter nights.”
Now, it would be remiss of us to forget the details regarding the time of day and year. For instance, if you want to write about a winter sunset, you might want to indicate that it is a winter sunset by adding more snow to your description. If it is not indicated that it is a specific time of day, then your description could end up being ambiguous. Adding more time-related details will help the reader visualize the scene more accurately. You should include information on the season and time of day if you want your description to pop.
For example, you could say this:
“The sun sets in an orange sky, painting the landscape in warm tones of orange and red. The air is cold, thin, and carries with it a sting that makes me want to throw my scarf around my neck. As the twilight descends, making the world seem darker, I can already feel my teeth chattering, eager for some warmth.”
There! Much better, isn’t it? By taking the time to consider each aspect of the sunset individually, you can make sure that each element is woven into a beautiful, cohesive story. And while we’re at it, why not throw in a few swoon-worthy adjectives for good measure? It always helps to increase the odds of your work being chosen for publishing. Now, go out there and paint—we’ve got words to keep typing!