I thought it would be fun to do a post about how to describe a beach in a story,
especially since summer is here! I love doing these “master lists for writers” posts, and I hadn’t done one in a while. Bookmark it or pin it on Pinterest for future reference!
If you’re writing a scene or a story with a beach setting, vivid images and other sensory details can make the reader feel like they’re really there, so use these lists of beach sights, sounds, smells, sensations, and even beach foods! I’ve included a list of beautiful coastal words, too. I hope this helps as you think about how to describe a beach in a story! By the way, if you want some inspiration for a summer story, check out my 50 Summer Writing Prompts.
Beach Sights
white-capped waves
white foam on the shore
footprints in the sand
messages written in the sand
sand dunes
palm trees
seagrass waving in the wind
seagulls
other birds, such as pelicans, sandpipers, and spoonbills
sunrises or sunsets reflecting on the water
moonlight reflecting on the water
wooden boardwalks
wooden piers
wooden lifeguard stands
blackened sand from natural oil seeps
large beach umbrellas
tents
lounge chairs
brightly patterned beach towels
flip-flop sandals
sunglasses
coolers
large beach hats
plastic buckets and pails
beach balls
driftwood
seashells, especially in the wet sand near the shore at low tide
smooth stones—sometimes stacked by beachgoers
sea glass
sea urchins, sea stars, mussels, hermit crabs, and/or small fish in tide pools
clumps of brown seaweed on the sand
large rocks at the shore, crusted with barnacles and shells
bonfires—or the charred remains of them
discarded bottles and cans
sailboats, motorboats, and yachts
buoys
oil tankers far offshore
children building sandcastles
people flying kites
dogs chasing balls and Frisbees
paddleboarders
kayakers
surfers
windsurfers
water skiiers
parasailers
jet skiers
Beach Sounds
I think sounds are such an important part of how to describe a beach, because you hear things there that you don’t hear anywhere else.
lapping or crashing waves
seagull cries
rock, rap, or other music blasting from portable speakers
boat motors
laughing or shouting children
beach volleyball game—the thump of the ball; players calling to one another; players clapping
crunch of a play shovel in the sand
the “thunk” of a coconut dropping to the ground
music from ice cream trucks
Beach Smells
salty air
fishy smells
sunscreen
suntan lotion (coconut scent)
decaying algae and seaweed
marijuana smoke, at some beaches
Beach Sensations
sand between toes
hot sand under bare feet
being knocked over (or almost) by a wave
cold water…or warm water
rough stone outcroppings
breeze in one’s hair
sun heating one’s skin
sunburn
Beach Foods
These are some foods frequently sold at stands and restaurants on boardwalks and near beaches in the U.S.
ice cream
frozen custard
tacos, especially fish tacos
corn dogs
hot dogs
pizza
French fries, straight and curly
soft pretzels
popcorn—butter, cheese, caramel, or “kettle corn” seasoned with sugar and salt
poke bowls
acai bowls
crab cakes
lobster rolls (New England)
funnel cakes
saltwater taffy
fresh lemonade
margaritas
piña coladas
beer
Beautiful Coastal Words
These are some coastal words that I think are just lovely.
anemone
archipelago
aquamarine
azure
bioluminescence
cabana
cerulean
current
dune
ebb tide
estuary (where the river runs into the sea)
greenling (it’s a fish)
jetty
lagoon
Pacific
pelagic
ripple
riptide
riviera
shoal (another word for a school of fish)
spindrift (spray blown off the tops of the waves in a strong wind)
thalassophile (beach lover)
turquoise
waterfront
zephyr
Did you know that “beach reads” are more popular than ever?
A “beach read” is usually a light, fun book with a summer vibe. It doesn’t have to be literally set at the beach…but it doesn’t hurt. A lot of people love being at the beach, and a book can provide a fast, cheap, easy escape to a beautiful place…a virtual vacation.
Books with beach settings aren’t just for summer any more, either. Last December, I saw prominent displays of books with beach settings in more than one Barnes and Noble store…for readers who prefer sand to snow! It’s just another reason to know how to describe a beach.
Do you have any thoughts on how to describe a beach?
Have you ever written a scene set near the ocean—or are you working on one now? Do you have any beach plans this summer—writing-related or not? Let us know all about it in the comments!
And if you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out my book Master Lists for Writers, if you haven’t already!
Thanks so much for reading, and happy writing!
Great list of promts Bryn! Yes, I have written a blog about the beach called “My Favourite Place”. Please check it out at naomiplane.com. At the bottom of each scroll is a click to older posts. You will need to click this three times to see it, from Oct.8th, 2020.
Hi Naomi! Oh, nice—I’ll check it out! Hope things are going well with you!
Great post! Helpful as always—thanks!
Aww thank you friend!
Great observations! Here’s a haunting beach scene from a book I wrote that takes place in a dream:
It was in the cool early morning hours that Hannah found herself drawn to the Santa Monica beach in a dream. It was a place she recognized from movies and TV shows, yet despite having lived in Los Angeles her entire life, she had never been there in person.
A chill mist hung low to the shore as she walked along the water’s edge, feeling the damp sand beneath her bare feet and the cool wash of waves between her toes. The air was moist and held the tangy smell of salt water and seaweed, and from beyond the gray misty veil came the lonely cry of seagulls and distant crash of waves.
Up ahead, the Santa Monica pier slowly emerged as a faint outline against the gloomy sky, its rides and attractions quiet now. And still.
Tom, this is great! I have a lot of memories of the Santa Monica beach. You nailed it!
Thanks Bryn!
Ooooo. Poetic!
Great list Bryn! Here are a few snippets from my sci/fi novel soon to be published.
Rhythmic thunder of the surf permeated their world as a life pulse.
The ocean spread before Leilani till it touched the horizon, mirroring the ever-changing colors of the twilight clouds. Velvet purple water played a counter melody to the lavenders in the heavens.
As they walked down the path, the inland breeze rustled Leilani’s gown. She searched for the sky-creatures native to the scene but saw none. She heard no scream of the silver manu nor did she detect the slightest trill of a scarlet serf diver. Their absence made the scene artificial.
Jessie, I really enjoyed this! 🙂
I’ve been published with three different beach short story romances.
Shoal is also a shallow waterway. Sycamore Shoals, Muscle Shoals, Great Shoals, etc…
Horseshoe crabs are common on the beach in the Mid-Atlantic.
Eating steamed Blue Crabs is common in the Mid-Atlantic.
Fries with malted vinegar.
Fudge.
Oceanside. Bayside.
Pluff mud in the Lowcountry.
denise
Ohhh, these are so good! I love the word “shoal” 🙂
Thiis is how I described a beach in my middle grade novel ‘The Slapstyx’:
They ran on down the slope and round the shoulder of the hill. As the beach was revealed to them in all its glory, they began to think better of their new home; it couldn’t be all bad if it was so near a place like this.
The slope ended in two arms of rock embracing a pillow of shingle and a soft quilt of white sand. Beyond that, the beach opened out in a wide bay beaten into a flat golden sheet by great thundering breakers.
The story features a tribe of dirty and dangerous goblins who are helping a greedy businessman to pollute the sea with his disgusting detergent. For anyone who’s interested, the book is available here: http://myBook.to/TheSlapstyx
Great lists. They are going to be kept.
Bryn, Wonderful list. I wish I had found it sooner. I’ll need to revise my novel and use some of these. Thank you for sharing.