creative writing beach ideas

Unleashing Creativity: Inspiring Beach Story Ideas for Every Writer

By: Author Valerie Forgeard

Posted on Published: June 8, 2023  - Last updated: July 1, 2023

Categories Travel

Whether you’re a writer seeking inspiration or an individual looking to create engaging social media content, the beach offers many captivating story ideas.

The ocean’s vast expanse, the rhythmic lull of the waves, and the varied characters that a beach attracts all contribute to an intriguing narrative landscape.

The possibilities are endless, from heartwarming tales of summer romance to thrilling adventures of beachside mysteries.

The beach can also be a transformation, discovery, or conflict setting. It’s a canvas where human experiences intermingle with nature’s drama, offering a rich tapestry of story ideas waiting to be woven.

Sun-Kissed Romance: A Love Story

It’s hard not to fall in love when surrounded by sun-kissed sands and magical sunsets at the beach. The warm salty breeze caresses your skin while the rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore lulls you into blissful relaxation.

You find yourself swept up in a whirlwind romance with another vacationer as if fate has brought you together under this enchanting seaside spell. Star-crossed vacationers, destined to meet on this slice of paradise, embark on a journey neither one ever expected.

As days turn into nights and the full moon casts its silvery glow upon the shimmering waters, your beachside heartbreak seems like a distant memory. You wonder if this newfound love is simply an ephemeral encounter or something meant to last beyond your time spent basking in the golden sun and frolicking in turquoise waves.

Long walks along the shoreline leave footprints that tides will eventually wash away but also mark indelible memories etched into your soul.

The inevitable departure looms closer as the sand slips through your fingers like fleeting moments shared with your summer love interest. As suitcases are packed, and goodbyes linger on tear-streaked faces, you hold onto the hope that serendipity might bring you back together again under different circumstances.

And though there may not be any promises made or grand declarations exchanged, it’s undeniable that what began as a chance meeting on sun-drenched sands has left an indelible impact on both hearts involved – proving that sometimes, even temporary connections can shape our lives forevermore.

Mysterious Treasure Hunt on the Shore

You won’t believe that around 95% of lost treasures remain undiscovered, and our tale takes you on a thrilling treasure hunt adventure along the shore! Picture yourself exploring hidden coves and unearthing coastal folklore tales that hold the key to a long-forgotten bounty. As you venture further, the salty breeze caresses your face and whispers secrets of pirates, shipwrecks, and buried wealth waiting to be uncovered.

The sense of freedom as you navigate through these mystical shores is intoxicating. Each step closer to unearthing the treasure further fuels your desire for adventure. With every clue deciphered and each piece of ancient lore unraveled, you are reminded that life is meant for exploration – both within ourselves and in the world around us. The shoreline morphs from an ordinary stretch of sand into an exhilarating playground where imagination runs wild.

As your journey along this enigmatic coast reaches its climax, you can’t help but feel a deep connection with those who have walked these shores before you – pirates seeking refuge in hidden coves or explorers chasing their dreams across vast oceans. This mysterious treasure hunt on the shore has provided thrills and revealed priceless lessons about freedom, discovery, and embracing life’s boundless possibilities. And who knows? Perhaps one day soon, your own story will inspire others to embark on their own adventures in search of hidden treasures yet to be discovered.

A Family’s Seaside Reunion

There’s nothing quite like a family seaside reunion to create lasting memories and strengthen bonds among loved ones. As you gather with your family on the sun-kissed shores, you can’t help but feel a sense of freedom and joy.

This enchanting setting becomes the perfect backdrop for shared adventures, laughter, and new experiences that will be cherished for years.

• Coastal cuisine exploration : The salty sea air awakens your taste buds as you embark on a culinary journey with your family. From sampling the day’s catch at local seafood shacks to sharing stories over a delicious beach picnic, there is something incredibly satisfying about savoring coastal delicacies while immersed in the shoreline’s natural beauty.
• Beachside wildlife encounters : Nothing brings families closer than exploring nature together, and at the beach, you’re bound to encounter fascinating wildlife. Watch for playful dolphins dancing in the waves or marveling at majestic sea turtles nesting along sandy dunes; these moments will create unforgettable memories.
• Building sandcastles and reminiscing : Working together as a team to build elaborate sandcastles not only sparks creativity but also inspires conversations about past vacations and cherished childhood memories—allowing both young and old to connect on a deeper level.

As you watch another breathtaking sunset paint the sky above your family’s seaside reunion, it becomes evident that this gathering has been more than just an enjoyable vacation—it has been an opportunity for everyone involved to reconnect amidst life’s hectic pace truly.

The combination of coastal cuisine exploration, beachside wildlife encounters, and heartwarming moments spent building sandcastles allows each person present to leave with their souls rejuvenated—and perhaps even feeling freer than when they arrived.

The Secret Beachside Hideaway

Finding a secret beachside hideaway isn’t easy, but once you do, it becomes your paradise that you’re almost reluctant to share with others. The thrill of coastal hideout exploration is the perfect way to satisfy your subconscious desire for freedom. Imagine stumbling upon a secluded cove with pristine sands and crystal-clear waters, hidden from the world by towering cliffs and lush vegetation – this is where you’ll find the most exquisite secluded beach wonders.

As you explore this idyllic sanctuary, take note of its fascinating features:

The exhilarating sense of discovery when uncovering these unique characteristics will make your secret beachside hideaway all the more special and memorable. Allow yourself to be immersed in its tranquil atmosphere, marvel at the vibrant marine life beneath gentle waves, or lay back on silky-soft sands as warm breezes embrace you.

As the sun sets over your private oasis, painting the sky in brilliant hues of orange and pink, pause for a moment to appreciate how rare and precious such an escape truly is.

Cherish each second spent within these hallowed grounds, knowing they offer unparalleled solace amidst life’s chaos. In time, you may even confide in a trusted few about your seaside haven – after all, some secrets are too beautiful not to share.

Oceanfront Adventures: Surfing and Beyond

Imagine yourself standing on a surfboard, riding the crest of a wave with the salty sea spray misting your face and the sun warming your back. The adrenaline pumps through you as you carve along the water’s surface, feeling at one with the ocean’s energy.

However, there is so much more than just surfing to these coastal exploits; from ocean exploration and marine wildlife encounters to beachside bonfires and shoreline strolls, these adventures can soothe your soul, inspire creativity, and ignite your inner explorer.

As you venture beneath the waves during an immersive snorkeling or scuba diving experience, observe firsthand how vast and diverse our underwater world is. Swim alongside schools of vibrant fish that dart playfully around coral reefs teeming with life. Glide above manta rays as they effortlessly cruise across sandy seabeds, or hold your breath in awe while watching dolphins frolic nearby.

This unique opportunity for ocean exploration will allow you to gain a deeper appreciation for our planet’s most incredible ecosystem – all while providing endless inspiration for future stories.

When it comes time to wind down after an action-packed day on (or under) the water, nothing beats relaxing on a soft sandy beach with loved ones. Watch as brilliant hues paint the sky during sunset before giving way to a mesmerizing blanket of stars overhead – perhaps even sparking thoughts about cosmic tales waiting to be told!

As firelight flickers against smiling faces gathered around crackling beach bonfires, let laughter fill the air while sharing tales inspired by your many oceanfront adventures. Allow this experience to fuel your writing and create lifelong memories that spur dreams of boundless freedom and endless possibilities within life and literature.

A Coastal Town’s Secret History

Unraveling a coastal town’s secret history can unveil hidden treasures, where weathered lighthouses stand sentinel over ancient shipwrecks, symbolizing the passage of time and the mysteries beneath the waves.

As you explore this charming seaside locale, dig deeper into its past by seeking out local historians and storytellers who spin tales of coastal folklore and forgotten legends. The salty air whispers about pirate adventures lost civilizations, and untold riches waiting to be discovered.

Listen to captivating stories about mythical creatures said to inhabit the depths or long-lost cities swallowed by the sea. These enchanting tales blend fact with fiction but always contain a grain of truth that sparks your imagination and fuels your desire for freedom.

Venture off the beaten path to discover secret underground passages leading to hidden coves or mysterious grottos carved into towering cliffs. These natural wonders have been sculpted by centuries of relentless waves crashing against the shoreline, their secrets waiting patiently for intrepid explorers like yourself.

Dive beneath the surface to explore sunken vessels from centuries past, each holding clues about life in this coastal town throughout history. These underwater time capsules connect us with our maritime roots while reminding us of nature’s unforgiving power.

As you explore this enigmatic coastal town, remember that every discovery is an opportunity for personal growth and a symbolic reminder of life’s ever-changing tides.

Healing by the Sea: A Journey of Self-Discovery

As you embark on this transformative journey by the sea, let the soothing rhythm of the waves and the salty breeze guide your path toward inner healing and self-discovery. Allow yourself to fully immerse in oceanic meditation as you walk along the shoreline, feeling the sand beneath your toes. The serene landscape before you is a canvas painted with vibrant colors and breathtaking beauty that inspires introspection and personal growth.

The sun sets over this coastal haven, casting a warm glow upon everything it touches. 

As day turns to night, allow yourself to reflect on all you’ve experienced here, recognizing the profound impact of reconnecting with nature through its most powerful element – water. Your heart is lighter, your mind is clearer, and you are one step closer to embracing a newfound sense of freedom that will continue to guide you long after you’ve left these shores behind.

The Lighthouse Keeper’s Tale

In the shadow of the towering lighthouse, you find solace in the keeper’s tale, a poignant juxtaposition of isolation and connection that resonates within your soul.

As waves crash against the rocky shore below, you listen to stories of how the keeper’s solitude was his confidant and tormentor as he watched over this outpost at sea.

The whispers of a lighthouse ghost linger in your thoughts, a specter born from loneliness and longing for human contact – yet also an intriguing reminder that even in seclusion, one is never truly alone.

You’re captivated by the vivid descriptions of sunrises painting the sky with fiery hues and moonlit nights casting silvery reflections on undulating waves.

The beauty in nature’s embrace offers respite from life’s chaos while fueling an insatiable desire for freedom beyond these walls.

The constant rhythm of crashing waves becomes a soothing balm to soothe any lingering unease; their sheer power evoking awe and respect for nature’s unrelenting force.

Through this narrative journey, you understand how living on such a precipice can intensify feelings of insignificance and purpose – each day reminding you that life is fragile but filled with boundless possibilities.

As your time at this remote sanctuary ends, you can’t help but feel changed by your encounter with the lighthouse keeper’s tale.

It’s given voice to your yearning for freedom while illuminating paths toward self-discovery hidden along windswept shores and beneath stormy skies.

You no longer see isolation as merely confinement or detachment; instead, it’s become an opportunity to forge deeper connections with oneself and others around us – like beacons guiding us through the darkness towards our truest selves.

Tropical Island Escapades

You’ll immerse yourself in tropical island escapades, where the vibrant hues of lush foliage and crystal-clear waters invite adventure and discovery. Island wildlife thrives in this haven, allowing you to observe rare species and delicate ecosystems that exist nowhere else on Earth.

The air is filled with the sweet aroma of exotic flowers as you walk along pristine beaches, your senses heightened by the sights and sounds of this idyllic paradise. Underwater exploration opens up a new world beneath the waves, teeming with colorful marine life that will leave you breathless.

Dive into this aquatic playground where schools of the iridescent fish dart through coral reefs like living jewels while sea turtles glide gracefully overhead. Descending deeper into the depths, you encounter mysterious caves and underwater caverns with secrets waiting to be uncovered.

This magical underwater realm invites curiosity and wonders at every turn. As your journey continues, each day offers fresh experiences that awaken your spirit of adventure. Whether navigating winding trails through dense jungles or snorkeling alongside playful dolphins in warm tropical waters, these unforgettable moments instill a sense of freedom deep within your soul.

Secrets Buried Beneath the Sand

It’s impossible not to feel like Indiana Jones when uncovering secrets buried beneath the sand on these tropical islands, where millennia-old treasures and forgotten tales lie hidden just below your sun-kissed toes. As you explore these pristine shores, you’ll stumble upon ancient coastal curses whispered by the locals and marvel at hidden sand sculptures crafted by nature herself.

Each discovery will evoke a sense of wonder and mystery as you delve deeper into the island’s enigmatic past. A mysterious shipwreck emerges from the depths during low tide, telling stories of pirates long gone.

Ancient symbols etched in stone spark your curiosity about the civilization that once thrived here—the skeletal remains of a sea creature fuel legends of mythical beasts that once roamed these waters.

An eerie silence surrounds an abandoned lighthouse, making you wonder what happened to its keepers—a weathered message in a bottle washes ashore, hinting at lost love or adventure from another time.

As you continue to unearth these astonishing finds nestled within the landscape, it becomes clear that this tropical paradise is steeped in history and mystique. Your adventurous spirit drives you to push boundaries further than ever, seeking answers to questions sparked by your discoveries.

A Marine Biologist’s Underwater Discoveries

As a marine biologist, you’re constantly amazed by the underwater discoveries that await beneath the ocean’s surface in this tropical paradise. Each dive immerses you in a world brimming with life and color, teeming with creatures both familiar and alien to your eyes. Your work focuses on coral reef conservation and deep sea exploration, two fields with endless potential for unlocking the secrets of our planet’s oceans.

Your dives take you through vibrant coral reefs where each observation feels like a treasure trove of new information. You witness fascinating symbiotic relationships between organisms, observe rare species in their natural habitats, and document the delicate balance needed to maintain these complex ecosystems. As you venture deeper into the abyss during your deep sea explorations, you encounter otherworldly creatures adapted to an environment devoid of sunlight – bioluminescent beings glowing with an ethereal light that evokes an insatiable curiosity within you.

Through your work as a marine biologist, not only do you uncover hidden wonders beneath the waves but also ignite in others a desire for freedom – freedom from ignorance about our vast oceans’ mysteries and freedom to explore those uncharted depths themselves. By sharing your knowledge about coral reef conservation efforts or shedding light on newly discovered deep-sea creatures, you inspire people to connect with nature at its most enigmatic level. This connection fosters an understanding that we are all part of something much larger than ourselves – a breathtaking blue planet waiting to be explored further.

The Legend of the Lost Shipwreck

As you dive deeper into the world of beaches and ocean mysteries, you can’t help but be captivated by the legend of lost shipwrecks. Maritime legends are filled with tales of sunken treasure, ghost ships, and underwater worlds waiting to be explored. The lore surrounding these lost shipwrecks is often shrouded in mystery, as many have never been found, or their true stories remain untold.

The allure of these maritime legends lies in their sense of adventure, allowing you to imagine yourself embarking on an exciting quest to uncover hidden secrets beneath the waves. Some popular tales from lost shipwreck lore include:

• The Nuestra Señora de Atocha : A Spanish galleon that sank off the coast of Florida in 1622 carrying a fortune in gold, silver, and precious gems.
• The Whydah Gally : An infamous pirate ship that went down during a fierce storm near Cape Cod in 1717.
• The SS Central America : Known as the ‘Ship of Gold,’ this steamship sank during a hurricane while transporting tons of gold from California to New York City in 1857.
• Atlantis : Perhaps less grounded in reality than other maritime legends but no less captivating – this mythical island is said to have sunk beneath the sea after falling out of favor with its gods.

As you immerse yourself further into these enthralling tales and explore more about maritime history, it’s hard not to feel drawn toward discovering your sunken treasures. After all, each story holds a promise of riches and freedom – whether it’s through escaping modern-day constraints or seeking adventure on uncharted waters.

The Beach House: A Haunting Mystery

You’ll find yourself captivated by the haunting mystery of the beach house, where secrets lurk in every shadow and whispers of a ghostly past echo through its halls.

Ghostly encounters become more frequent as you explore each room, unveiling stories that have been hidden for decades.

The salty ocean air doesn’t do much to dispel the chill running down your spine as you delve deeper into this enigmatic home, determined to uncover its dark history.

As you conduct your paranormal investigations, you may stumble upon curious artifacts and unsettling photographs left behind by previous inhabitants.

Discovering these remnants of lives once lived brings a thrilling sense of adventure mingled with growing unease.

The house seems to possess an eerie intelligence, reacting to your presence with unexplained sounds and shifting shadows that make it difficult to distinguish reality from the supernatural.

Despite the unnerving atmosphere, you can’t help but feel drawn toward the freedom offered by unraveling this twisted tale.

Each discovery propels you further into the heart of the mystery – guided by an insatiable curiosity to unearth what lies beneath this otherworldly façade.

As waves crash against sandy shores beyond the walls of this haunted abode, your determination swells like a rising tide – driven forward by both fear and fascination on this unforgettable journey into the unknown.

Sandy Footprints: Stories of Friendship by the Sea

There’s nothing quite like the magic of seaside friendships and the sun-kissed memories they create. Beach bonfires, laughter echoing along the shoreline, and long talks while waves crash at your feet all weave together to form a tapestry of unforgettable moments. Seaside friendships often have a unique quality, as if the salt in the air and sand between your toes somehow bind you together more tightly than any other bond.

As you walk hand-in-hand with your beach friends, exploring hidden coves or building sandcastles fit for royalty, each shared experience strengthens those seaside connections. The sunsets that paint the sky in brilliant hues become a backdrop for dancing barefoot on the shore or simply sitting side by side quietly, sharing dreams and secrets with someone who understands you completely. And when night falls, beach bonfires light up the darkness as friends gather around to roast marshmallows, share stories from days gone by, and sing their hearts out under a canopy of stars.

The beauty of these sandy footprints is not just in how they mark our journey through life but also in how they remind us of true freedom – to be unencumbered by worries and fully present with those we love most.

So whether it’s watching dolphins play in the surf or racing against time to save one last sand dollar before high tide sweeps it away – every moment spent beside our seaside friends is an opportunity to cherish life’s simple joys.

The Seashell Collector’s Magical Finds

Imagine the enchantment of discovering a magical seashell amidst your collection, one that holds within it the secrets and whispers of the ocean’s depths.

Picture yourself strolling along a mystical beach, where each step reveals another enchanted seashell in the sand just waiting to be discovered.

As you collect these unique treasures, you can’t help but feel a connection to the vast, untamed expanse of water before you – as though each shell is trying to impart its tale of life beneath the waves.

The sun sets on this ethereal shoreline as you continue your quest for more extraordinary finds.

You come across shells with intricate patterns and colors that defy nature’s palette – some shimmering like precious gems while others appear translucent, allowing sunlight to filter through their delicate surfaces.

Each shell seems imbued with an otherworldly essence; perhaps they are remnants from ancient underwater civilizations or gifts bestowed upon us by benevolent sea spirits. Regardless of their origins, these enchanted seashells serve as talismans connecting us to our deepest desires for freedom and exploration.

As night falls on this mystical beach and stars begin to blanket the sky, you realize that your collection has become more than just a hobby – it has become an embodiment of your inner wanderlust and desire for escape from mundanity.

With your pockets brimming with iridescent wonders, you return home feeling transformed by your experience at this magical seaside haven.

And every time you gaze upon these wondrous tokens from your adventure – whether they sit proudly displayed on shelves or rest secretly hidden away in drawers – they will forever remind you of that remarkable journey and inspire dreams of future explorations beyond the horizon’s edge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some basic beach story ideas.

Beach stories range from light-hearted tales of summer romance or family vacations to more intense narratives like beachside mysteries or survival adventures. The beach can serve as a backdrop for self-discovery, friendship, environmental awareness, or supernatural tales.

How can I make my beach story unique?

Think beyond the clichés. Consider focusing on the locals’ perspective instead of tourists’, incorporating beach-specific activities like surfing or beach clean-up, or exploring the off-season life of a beach town. Experiment with various narrative techniques, unique characters, and unexpected plot twists.

Can beach stories be more than romantic tales?

Absolutely! While beach settings are popular for romance, they can also serve as a backdrop for numerous other genres. Think suspense with a beachside thriller, adventure with a deep-sea treasure hunt, or drama with a story of environmental activism.

How can I accurately depict the beach setting in my story?

Immerse yourself in the environment. Take note of the sensory details—the smell of the ocean, the sound of waves, the feeling of sand underfoot. Research the beach’s local flora, fauna, and culture. Make the setting an active part of your narrative.

How can I use the beach setting to enhance my story’s theme?

The beach can symbolize various themes—freedom, transformation, the passage of time, the force of nature, etc. Use these elements to enhance your story’s underlying message. For instance, the cyclic nature of tides can mirror a character’s personal growth, or the shifting sands can symbolize instability or change.

DraftSparks ✨

82+ ‘Beach’ Writing Prompts

Green Refuge

Write about a favorite natural place and how it makes you feel.

Barefoot in the Park

Recount a vivid outdoor experience from your past that deeply impacted you.

Exotic Christmas Adventures

Describe a Christmas holiday spent in a far-off, exotic location.

Sunny Vacation Escapades

Write about your dream holiday in the sunny weather.

Ocean Front Glory

Depict a summer day spent basking in the sun on a lively beach.

The Serenade of Ocean Waves

Describe the journey of a wave from the middle of the ocean to a sandy shore.

Sonic Memories

Write about a sound that reminds you of a specific journey or destination.

Landscapes and Feelings

Write about a particular landscape or location from your travels that have deeply affected you.

Tales of the Sea Turtle

Narrate the life journey of a sea turtle, from its birth on a beach to its adventures in the ocean.

Idyllic Beach Excursion

Describe an ideal summer day at the beach, focusing on the five senses.

Sands of Time

Imagine a beach bonfire that has the mystical power to show the past or future. Write a story revolving around a character who discovers this power.

Bonfire Romance

Craft a romantic story where a beach bonfire plays a crucial role in the romance between two characters.

Kindling Connections

Write about a life-changing conversation or event occurring around a beach bonfire, tracing the dialogue and describing the emotional evolution.

Dance of Flames

Write about a tribal celebration, an ancient rite, or a spiritual journey that utilizes a beach bonfire as a powerful symbol.

Firelight Ghost Stories

Write a creepy ghost story that takes place around a beach bonfire.

Invigorating Summer Adventure

Narrate a daring or thrilling adventure you had during a summer vacation.

The Lifeguard’s Perspective

You’re a lifeguard at the beach, describe one of your shifts from beginning to end.

Beachcomber’s Collection

Create a tale about collecting unique and unusual trinkets along the beach.

Treasure Hunt

Chronicle a day at the beach where you and your friends set out on a treasure hunt.

Sunset Reflections

Describe the transformation of the beach as it transitions from day to night.

Unseen Scenaries

Create a fictitious setting for your family’s Thanksgiving reunion.

Beach Hurdles

Write a humorous account of a family who has never gone to the beach before trying to set up an elaborate beach camp on a busy day.

Epic Summer Adventure

Plan your dream summer adventure without any restrictions. Where would you go and what would you do?

Romance of the Blue Waves

Script a romantic encounter you had or imagined over a summer beach vacation.

Sunset Beach Memories

Describe a sunset you witnessed during a summer vacation and how it influenced your sense of perspective.

Beach Day Memories

Write about your most memorable beach day during a Spring Break.

Sanctuaries in Nature

Choose a quiet place in nature that you find spiritually inspiring and describe it in detail.

Summer Vacation Adventure

Narrate your dream summer vacation and the adventures you would have.

Summer Vacation

Write a story about your ideal summer day.

Mapping New Horizons

Write about a place you’ve always wanted to visit, but have been unable to yet.

Message in a Bottle

Imagine finding a message in a bottle while walking along the beach.

Beachside Reflections

Write about a day at the beach during summer and your reflections while watching the waves.

Secret Of The Seashells

Pen down your childhood mystery of an ordinary visit to a beach that transformed into a quest for hidden secrets.

The Land I Call Home

Describe your personal connection to a particular wilderness area.

Perfect Beach Day

Describe your ideal beach day during spring break.

Sandcastle Kingdom

Depict an elaborate tale about a kingdom based on a picture of a sandcastle on the beach.

Ice Cream on the Beach

Envisage a story about a family from Northern Hemisphere spending Christmas in Australia, swapping snow for sun, presents under the Christmas tree for gifts under the beach umbrella.

Tranquil Terrain

Describe your favorite serene and natural place on earth.

Seasonal Wanderer

Write about the changes you observe in your favorite outdoor spot over different seasons.

Best Season Debate

Write an opinion piece about your favorite season and tell why you think it’s the best.

Imagine you found a message in a bottle on the beach, what does the message say?

Sea-sand & Serenity

Recount your favorite childhood memory of a summer beach vacation.

Sunset on the Season

Write about the last day of summer, detailing your emotions and reflections at the close of this seasonal chapter.

Beachy Blessings

Describe your ideal day at the beach.

Memories of the Endless Blue

Write down your fondest memory associated with the sea or another large body of water during the summer months.

Stress-Free Sanctuary

Describe your ideal or go-to stress-free environment and why it makes you feel at ease.

You found a message in a bottle on a beach. Write about the message and its sender.

Sailing to Serenity

Imagine a peaceful and serene place where you find tranquility and write a story centered around this place.

Starry Beach Night

Write about a starry summer night at a beach where you meet someone special.

Nature’s Refuge

Write about a time when nature provided you with a safe haven or a peaceful retreat.

Gloom-Stricken Beaches

Craft a narrative about a foggy November morning on a beach.

A Day at the Beach

Describe the perfect beach day during summer.

Beachside Rejuvenation

Write about the history of beach vacations and the associated summer rituals.

Destination: Elfland

You win a travel ticket, not to an exotic beach or a serene hill station but to the mystical world of Elfs.

Color Symphony of a Sunrise

Narrate the story of a sunrise as seen from a deserted beach.

Secret Cities

Describe a hidden city you discovered during your travels, real or imaginary.

Nature Exploration

Describe a trip to your favorite place in nature like a forest, beach, or park.

The Message in a Bottle

Imagine that you find a magic bottle on the beach which grants you one wish.

Mother Nature’s Blessings

Describe the first nature scene that left a deep impact on you.

Trip Bartender

Write a recipe for a special drink named after your field trip destination.

Touchstone of Tranquility

Describe a place, real or imaginary, where you find spiritual solace and peace.

The Healing Room

Imagine a space where you go to heal from heartbreak. What does it look like? What happens there?

Starlit Escape

Create a romantic setting on a secluded beach under a blanket of stars.

Vampire Vacation

Write a story about a vampire that decides to take a vacation and chooses the most inappropriate, sunlight-filled destinations.

Endless Wave Chase

Write about your most exciting encounter with the ocean during a summer vacation.

Timeless Terrains of Summer

Describe a summer locale that is special to your heart.

Seaside Seafood Barbecue

Recall or imagine a seafood barbecue at a summer beach, detailing the food preparation, the shared meal, and the sunset view.

Dream Vacation Spot

Describe your dream vacation spot and what you would do if you visited.

Connecting to Nature

Reflect on a time you had a moment of unity with nature while alone, and how this affected your feelings about solitude.

Personal Rosy Bubble

Describe your ideal comforting environment, detailing all five senses.

Imaginary Bridge

Imagine having a bridge that can transport you away from your current emotional pain. What does it look like? Where does it lead you?

Emotional Scenery

Choose an emotion that you’ve been feeling recently and describe it as a physical landscape.

Waves on the Shore

Write a narrative about your mood swings like they were waves washing ashore.

Unfolding of Joy

Document one moment or event today that brought you joy, however simple or momentous it was.

Harmony with Nature

Describe a nature scene that you believe would bring you peace and promote your physical healing.

VIP Vacation

Describe your ideal vacation with a celebrity.

Dream Vacation

Write about your ideal vacation, where you would go, what you would do, and who would be there.

Calm in Nature

Describe a serene outdoor location where you find calmness.

Visualizing Safe Spaces

Visualize a place where you feel safe. Describe it in great detail.

Wind’s Whisper

Create a poem that captures the sentiments of a soft, evening breeze.

The Essence of Aroma

Consider the scent that brings a rush of memories to you. Write a poem about that scent and the attached memories.

Destination Discovery

Describe your first impression of the vacation destination.

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Free Creative Writing Prompts #54: Beach

There is really nothing like the feeling of sand in between your toes as your feet are gently washed by the tide. These free creative writing prompts are focused on the experiences that you've had going to the beach. Some may have lived near the coast and traveled to the beach many times during their lives. Others of you may have only visited once or twice in your lifetimes. Either way, there is a certain way that you feel at the beach that you don't feel anywhere else. Sandy :). Being near a body of water and seeing the cycle of the tide come in and out is extremely cool and leads to many interesting sights and sounds that you can now write about here. Enjoy!  Free  Creative Writing Prompts : Beach

1. You are standing on the edge of the sand right before your feet are hitting the water. You stare out into the ocean. Write a story about the many thoughts going through your head.

2. Write a story about a child building a sand castle and talking through the entire story of the medieval town he is creating. The king, the queen, the knights, and all the people inside are given personalities and backstories. Be as detailed as possible.

3. Imagine that you are a crab walking along on the ocean, trying to avoid all of the people while trying to get a bit of food from every passerby is a complicated job. Talk about a day in the life of Herbert J. Crab (or whatever your name is :)).

4. Talk about a sport that you've played on the beach, whether a simple game of catch or some kind of water football hybrid. Who did you play with and how did the game go? If you've never done this, make up a story about it.

5. A beautiful individual in a swimsuit comes up to you. This person asks you to rub lotion all over his or her back. You strike up a conversation. What do you guys talk about and does anything progress from there?

6. You are somehow inserted into the movie Jaws, and while swimming at Amity Island, a great white shark begins terrorizing the beach. How do you and your "movie family" react to this and does any harm come to any of you?

7. The opportunity has presented itself for you to re-enact the famous scene from the movie From Here to Eternity as you lay on the ocean with a beautiful partner kissing and letting the water wash over you. Describe the situation in great detail. Do you really keep kissing when salt water gets in your face? :)

8. What is the most beautiful beach that you've ever been to? Describe the entire scene thoroughly and explain why the beach was such a pretty sight to behold. If you have never been to an aesthetically pleasing beach, create a story in which you had.

9. Describe a late night walk on the beach with someone. What is it you talk about and what's it like hearing the waves crash on the sand and seeing the lights of the nearby building shining at you?

10. There could be no beach without the nearby boardwalk! What is your favorite boardwalk experience, whether it be the shops and restaurants you went to, the money you spent playing skeeball, or hitting on attractive people? Go into detail and if you don't have such an experience, make it up!  One of my most memorable beach moments has to be that time on the boardwalk where I put twenty bucks into a rigged game on the boardwalk :). That being said, I hope that these free creative writing prompts about the beach can help you to use your past experiences (or beach fantasies) to create some fantastic writing. Feel free to use the space below to enter any of your prompts in if you wish to share them with the Build Creative Writing Ideas community. Happy writing!  Bonus Prompt  - What would be your perfect beach day? Describe the weather and the people you would be going with? Who would you see there and what activities would be occurring during your perfect stay? 

Related Articles to Free Creative Writing Prompts about the Beach Free Creative Writing Prompts from the Heart, Part 1 Free Creative Writing Prompts #2: Love Creative Writing Exercises #2: Relaxation

Done with Beach Writing Prompts? Go back to Creative Writing Prompts . 

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60 Ocean Writing Prompts for Students and Freelancers: Diving into Creativity

ocean writing

The ocean, with its vast expanse and mysterious depths, has long captivated the human imagination. Its rhythmic waves, diverse marine life, and untamed beauty serve as a wellspring of inspiration for writers of all kinds. Whether you’re a student looking to sharpen your writing skills or a freelancer seeking to ignite your creativity, ocean-themed writing prompts can be your ticket to a world of imagination and expression.

Thus, this blog post will deliver 60 ocean writing prompts that will take you on a journey beneath the waves, exploring marine wonders, reflecting on environmental issues, delving into maritime history and mythology, and much more. So, grab your metaphorical scuba gear, and let’s plunge into the depths of creativity! You can also check here for different forms of prompts.

Exploring Ocean Wonders

• The Mystery of the Deep: Imagine embarking on a deep-sea expedition, discovering an ancient underwater civilization that has remained hidden for millennia. Describe the architecture, culture, and interactions with these enigmatic inhabitants.
• A Day in the Life of a Coral Reef : Transport your readers to a vibrant coral reef ecosystem. Detail the interactions between various marine species, from the graceful dance of fish to the patient scavenging of crabs.
• The Whispering Waves: Craft a dialogue between ocean waves and a seasoned sailor. Explore the wisdom the waves offer, their tales of distant lands, and the sailor’s reflections on life at sea.
• Island Adventure: Write a thrilling narrative about being marooned on a deserted island. Explore the challenges faced, the resourcefulness needed for survival, and the emotional journey of the stranded individual.

Environmental Reflections

• The Plight of the Sea Turtles: Compose a persuasive essay advocating for the conservation of sea turtle habitats. Discuss the vital role these creatures play in marine ecosystems and the consequences of their decline.
• Plastic Ocean: Examine the dire consequences of plastic pollution on ocean health. Present innovative solutions to combat this environmental crisis, emphasizing the responsibility of society to protect marine life.
• A Call from the Depths: Capture the eerie beauty of a decaying shipwreck and use it as a symbol to reflect on the impermanence of human endeavors. Explore the emotional impact of encountering such relics beneath the waves.

Maritime History and Mythology

• Pirates’ Tales: Weave an adventurous story involving pirates, buried treasure, and daring escapades on the high seas. Infuse the narrative with historical accuracy and vivid descriptions of maritime life.
• Poseidon’s Wrath: Reimagine a classic myth involving a sea god or goddess, such as Poseidon or Amphitrite, and explore their motivations, emotions, and interactions with mortals.
• Titanic Revisited: Provide a fresh perspective on the tragic sinking of the Titanic. Write a reflective account from the viewpoint of a survivor, delving into their emotions, experiences, and aftermath.

Coastal Escapes

• Sunrise Serenity: Paint a picturesque scene of a tranquil beach at dawn. Engage the reader’s senses with vivid descriptions of the rising sun, the gentle lapping of waves, and the serenity of the moment.
• Beachcomber’s Collection: Chronicle the discoveries of a beachcomber as they wander along the shoreline. Describe the treasures they find, from seashells and driftwood to unexpected items with sentimental value.
• Sandcastle Dreams: Revisit a cherished childhood memory of building sandcastles on the beach. Reflect on the emotions, imagination, and sense of accomplishment that the activity inspired.

Maritime Careers and Adventures

• The Life of a Lighthouse Keeper: Step into the shoes of a lighthouse keeper and narrate their daily routine, challenges, and unique connection to the ocean. Highlight the keeper’s role in guiding sailors to safety.
• Sailing Solo: Compose a journal entry from the perspective of a lone sailor on a long ocean voyage. Explore their thoughts, observations, and the solitude that accompanies their maritime journey.
• Marine Biologist’s Diary: Offer insights into the life of marine biologists as they study ocean ecosystems. Detail their fieldwork, discoveries, and the profound connection they feel to the marine world.

Underwater Fantasy for Ocean Writing

• Mermaid’s Lament: Write a poignant poem or story from the perspective of a mermaid, contemplating the beauty, mysteries, and challenges of life beneath the waves.
• Lost City Atlantis: Embark on an imaginative adventure to the legendary city of Atlantis. Describe its grandeur, inhabitants, and the intrigue surrounding its submerged existence.
• Deep-Sea Encounter: Craft a magical encounter between a human and a mythical sea creature, such as a Kraken or a selkie. Explore the emotions, revelations, and lessons derived from this fantastical meeting.

Reflecting on Nature’s Majesty

• Ocean Symphony: Compose a sensory-rich piece that captures the symphony of sounds within the ocean environment. The soothing rhythm of waves to the chorus of marine life evokes the auditory essence of the sea.
• Moonlit Reflections: Describe the breathtaking spectacle of the moon’s reflection on a calm sea. Explore the emotions and contemplations inspired by this ethereal phenomenon.
• Coastal Storm: Depict the raw power and beauty of a coastal storm from a safe vantage point. Describe the tumultuous waves, lightning flashes, and the juxtaposition of danger and awe.

Future of the Oceans

• A Vision for Sustainable Fishing: Propose innovative strategies for sustainable fishing practices that ensure the well-being of marine ecosystems while meeting the needs of communities that rely on fishing.
• Blue Economy Exploration: Examine the concept of the “blue economy” and its potential to drive sustainable economic growth while safeguarding ocean resources. Discuss examples of successful blue economy initiatives.
• Ocean Conservation Heroes: Profile individuals, organizations, or initiatives dedicated to ocean conservation. Highlight their contributions, successes, and the lessons that can be learned from their efforts.

Personal Connections

• Seaside Memories: Share a heartfelt personal story or memory of a significant experience by the ocean. Reflect on the emotions, lessons, or insights derived from that moment.
• Seafood Delights: Craft a mouthwatering food blog that explores unique seafood dishes inspired by coastal cuisines. Pair each recipe with anecdotes or cultural tidbits related to the region.
• Ocean-Inspired Art: Delve into the intersection of visual arts and the ocean as a muse. Showcase and discuss artworks that capture the essence of the sea, whether through paintings, sculptures, or other mediums.

Symbolism and Metapho r for Ocean Writing

• Endless Horizons: Use the vastness of the ocean as a metaphor for life’s boundless opportunities. Reflect on the parallels between navigating the ocean and navigating one’s personal journey.
• Stormy Seas of Emotion: Draw parallels between emotional states and the tumultuous nature of the sea during a storm. Explore how human emotions can mirror the ocean’s fluctuations and intensity.

30 more oceanic writing prompts

• Describe the feeling of standing on a secluded beach at sunrise.
• Write a short story about a deep-sea explorer who discovers an ancient underwater civilization.
• Imagine you are a dolphin – narrate a day in your life exploring the ocean.
• Write a poem that captures the mesmerizing dance of ocean waves.
• Create a dialogue between a lighthouse and a passing ship during a stormy night.
• Describe a shipwreck survivor’s emotional journey as they drift at sea.
• Write a letter from a sailor to their loved ones back home, sharing tales of the open sea.
• Craft a mythological tale involving a powerful sea deity and their interactions with humans.
• Explore the mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle in a suspenseful short story.
• Write an informative piece about the delicate balance of marine ecosystems and human impact.
• Describe a futuristic underwater city where humans live harmoniously with marine life.
• Create a dialogue between a curious child and a wise old seashell they find on the shore.
• Write a narrative from the perspective of a sea turtle embarking on its first migration.
• Describe the sensory experience of snorkeling among a vibrant coral reef.
• Pen a monologue from the viewpoint of a lighthouse keeper reflecting on their solitary life.
• Write a haiku capturing the serenity of a calm ocean at dusk.
• Imagine a world where mermaids exist, and write a day in the life of one of them.
• Describe a thrilling encounter between a marine biologist and a colossal sea creature.
• Write a letter to future generations highlighting the importance of ocean conservation.
• Craft a dialogue between two sailors arguing about the existence of mythical sea monsters.
• Describe the emotional reunion of a sailor and their pet dog after months at sea.
• Write a short story about a lost treasure hidden on a remote island in the Pacific.
• Explore the concept of “selkies” – beings that can transform from seals to humans – in a modern setting.
• Describe the eerie tranquility of a moonlit beach during a nocturnal beach cleanup.
• Write a diary entry from the perspective of a drop of water, chronicling its journey through the ocean and atmosphere.
• Craft a poem inspired by the rhythmic sounds of waves crashing on the shore.
• Imagine a world where humans can communicate with marine animals – tell a tale of cooperation and friendship.
• Write a dialogue between a sailor and a sentient, ancient shipwreck that holds forgotten stories.
• Describe a storm at sea from the perspective of a seagull caught in turmoil.
• Craft a science fiction story set on an ocean planet where underwater colonies face unique challenges.

The ocean’s depths hold a wealth of inspiration for writers and creatives alike. With these 50 ocean writing prompts, you have the tools to embark on a creative voyage that explores marine wonders, addresses environmental concerns, delves into maritime history and mythology, and much more. Whether you’re a student seeking to hone your writing skills or a freelancer in search of fresh ideas, these prompts invite you to dive into the ocean of imagination and uncover the treasures it holds. As you explore the depths of your creativity, remember that just like the ocean, your creative potential knows no bounds. So, grab your pen and let the waves of inspiration guide you to uncharted territories of thought and expression. Happy writing!

50 Diferent Ways of How to Describe Looking at Someone in Writing

How can you balance multiple content distribution goals the winning strategies, na'im yusuf olatunde.

Na'im Olatunde Yusuf is a WebCopy SEO Writer and freelance writing coach. He has ample years of experience writing blog posts, SEO content, and product review. If he's not freelancing, he's scribbling beautiful poetries.

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How to Describe a Beach in Writing (21 Best Tips & Examples)

The gentle ebb and flow of waves, the warmth of golden sands, and the melodies of seagulls overhead – beaches captivate the senses.

I’ve described beaches many times in my own short stories and novels.

Here’s how to describe a beach in writing :

Describe a beach in writing by focusing on its unique size, climate, sand color, and location. Explore sensory details such as the sound of waves, the scent of saltwater, and the feel of the sand. Highlight cultural elements, marine life, vegetation, seasonal shifts, and local activities.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know to describe a beach in writing.

1. Unearth the Sands of Time

Table of Contents

Every beach tells a story.

Some are age-old resting spots for local fishermen, while others have seen shipwrecks, invasions, or have been silent witnesses to lovers’ tales.

Before diving into descriptions, research the history of the beach you’re writing about.

This will not only add depth to your narrative but also connect readers to a bygone era.

Plus, if you love beaches as much as I do, then this will be pure heaven for you.

While some beaches have preserved their old-world charm with untouched landscapes, others boast modern-day beach shacks, surfing schools, or yoga retreats.

Distinguishing between the ancient sands and modernized coasts can set the mood for your description.

2. Palette of the Sands

Not all beaches are golden.

Some have white, powdery sands, while others flaunt a rare black, pink, or even green hue.

The color of the sand can significantly influence the ambiance of the beach.

Dive into the specifics – is the sand fine or coarse? Is it cool to the touch or sun-baked and warm?

Often, the sand isn’t just sand. It’s interspersed with shells, pebbles, seaweed, and sometimes even fragments of corals. Highlight these unique elements as they add character to the beach and provide sensory details for readers.

3. Dance of the Tides

Some beaches are known for their calm, lapping waves, making them ideal for relaxation.

In contrast, others are marked by powerful, crashing waves perfect for adventurous activities like surfing.

Describe the rhythm, sound, and sight of the waves to convey the beach’s spirit.

Understanding the tidal patterns can greatly enhance your description.

Low tides might expose hidden tidal pools, while high tides might bring with them a sense of mystery and anticipation.

This also affects the beach’s width and appearance at different times.

4. Symphony of the Shore

The beach isn’t silent.

From the cries of the seagulls to the whispers of the winds and the rhythmic sound of waves, nature creates a symphony.

Use auditory descriptions to transport readers to the shore.

On popular beaches, the sound of children’s laughter, chatter from nearby cafes, or tunes from a distant radio can add layers to the auditory experience.

Decide whether your beach is serene and untouched or bustling with activity.

5. Coastal Climate Chronicles

Is the beach sun-drenched, making it ideal for sunbathing? Or is it frequently cloaked in mist, giving it a mysterious aura?

The weather plays a crucial role in setting the scene and can influence activities, moods, and narratives.

Beaches transform with seasons.

While summer brings in crowds and vibrant energy, winter might render the beach desolate, with only the bravest souls venturing out.

Describe these shifts to add depth to your narrative.

6. Sunlit Spectacles

The magic of a beach often unfolds during the golden hours.

Narrate the transformation of the horizon as the sun rises, casting a delicate pink and gold hue, or as it sets, engulfing the world in fiery reds and deep purples.

The changing colors reflect not only in the sky but also in the water and sand.

While sunrise and sunset are dramatic, the midday sun brings out the vibrancy of beach activities, and nighttime might unveil a sky full of stars or even bioluminescent waves on certain beaches.

7. Flora’s Flourish

Many beaches are lined with specific vegetation, from towering palm trees to delicate dune flowers.

Describe the flora’s color, shape, and how it dances in the breeze, adding life to the coastal landscape.

Floral aromas mixed with the salty sea air can create a heady combination.

Bring out the varied fragrances one might encounter while taking a leisurely stroll.

8. Fauna Features

Tidal pools might house starfish, crabs, or tiny fishes.

Coral beaches might be teeming with colorful marine life. Delve into the beauty of the creatures that call the beach their home.

From seagulls to pelicans and sandpipers, the avian world adds movement and sound to the beach.

Their behaviors, from hunting for fish to playful chases, can be delightful to describe.

9. Activity Avenues

Be it children building sandcastles, surfers riding waves, or yoga enthusiasts greeting the sun, beaches often become hubs of activities.

Depicting these can give readers a sense of the beach’s energy.

Not all beachgoers seek company.

Some look for solitude – a quiet corner to read, meditate, or just gaze at the horizon.

Highlighting these moments adds depth and contrast.

10. Textures and Touch

Beyond visuals, the feel of the beach is vital.

Is the sand powdery soft, or is it grainy and rough? Does the water feel icy cold or pleasantly warm?

Engaging the sense of touch can make descriptions palpable.

How does the beach make one feel? Tranquil, exhilarated, nostalgic?

Tapping into emotions can resonate deeply with readers.

11. Tastes of the Tides

A trip to the beach is incomplete without the taste of salt on your lips from the sea spray.

For many beaches, nearby stalls serve fresh seafood.

Describing the tantalizing flavors of the ocean’s bounty can make readers’ mouths water.

Beach destinations often have signature beverages – from coconut water to adult drinks.

Highlighting these drinks can set the tone and mood of the beach scene.

12. Auditory Adventures

Every beach has its unique sound of waves – from gentle lapping to roaring surfs.

These sounds are soothing and rhythmic, making them integral to a beach description.

Include the distant laughter of beachgoers, the chirping of coastal birds, or the playful shout of children.

Such sounds breathe life into the scene.

13. Historical Hints

Many beaches have rich histories, from pirate tales to ancient civilizations.

Weaving in some historical elements can give depth to the beach’s narrative.

Statues, forts, or old lighthouses can stand as silent witnesses to the past. Mentioning these can make a beach scene more vivid and layered.

14. Moods of the Sea

The mood of the sea changes with weather and tides.

While a calm sea can be serene and inviting, a stormy sea can be wild and dramatic. Depicting these moods can influence the story’s atmosphere.

Low tide might reveal hidden treasures like shells or ancient shipwrecks, while high tide brings in waves and fresh mysteries.

The ebb and flow of tides can be metaphorical and descriptive.

15. Colorful Canvases

Describing the varying shades of blues, greens, and golds of the sea, sky, and sand can paint a vivid picture.

Sunlight plays a role in these changing hues, so consider the time of day.

Beaches at night transform into a world of silvery moonlight, shadows, and possibly bioluminescent creatures.

Using a palette of darker shades can set a contrasting and mystical scene.

16. Human Imprints

From lone footprints in the sand to majestic sandcastles, human touch is evident on many beaches.

Describing these imprints can suggest recent activity or age-old legacies.

Sadly, not all human imprints are poetic (or positive).

Describing signs of pollution, like plastic waste, can serve as a stark reminder and add an environmental angle to your narrative.

17. Unique Underwater Worlds

Many beaches are gateways to underwater paradises.

Vividly describing the diverse, colorful corals can transport readers into a magical realm.

Each coral formation has its own charm, from brain corals’ intricate patterns to the elegant sway of sea fans.

Beaches often harbor rich marine ecosystems.

Describing encounters with playful dolphins, curious turtles, or schools of shimmering fish can add depth and wonder to your narrative.

18. Local Life and Culture

Many coastal communities have age-old traditions linked to the sea.

Highlighting local festivals, rituals, or even daily activities like fish markets can provide readers with a cultural immersion.

Local handicrafts or special beachside dishes can offer a sensory feast.

Be it a description of intricate seashell jewelry or the tantalizing aroma of grilled seafood, integrating local flavors can enrich your beach description.

19. Dynamic Dunes and Vegetation

Sand dunes, shaped by the wind, can change forms and create mesmerizing patterns.

Describing these dynamic landscapes can add an element of nature’s artistry to your narrative.

Coastal vegetation, from tall palm trees to dense mangroves, not only adds to the beach’s visual appeal but also plays a crucial role in maintaining coastal ecology.

Diving into descriptions of these can add both beauty and educational value.

20. Seasonal Shifts

While summer might bring in sunbathers, winter could wrap the beach in misty allure. Capturing these seasonal nuances can create varied and engaging settings.

Monsoon or hurricane seasons can drastically change beach atmospheres.

Describing the sheer power of nature during such times can infuse drama and tension into your story.

21. Adventure and Activities

From surfing monstrous waves to peaceful kayaking sessions, beaches offer numerous adventure opportunities.

Describing the thrill and challenges of these activities can inject action into your beach scenes.

Leisurely activities like beachcombing can be therapeutic and rewarding.

Detailed descriptions of discovering seashells, driftwood, or even messages in bottles can add mystery and intrigue.

Here is my video that I made about how to describe a beach in writing:

30 Best Words to Describe a Beach in Writing

I’ve collected some of the best words to describe beaches.

Feel free to use these words to bring beaches to life in your own stories:

• Sun-drenched
• Crystal-clear
• Picturesque

30 Best Phrases to Describe a Beach in Writing

Consider using these phrases to describe the beaches in your stories:

• Waves lapping at the shore
• Blanket of golden sands
• Palm trees swaying gently
• Horizon stretching endlessly
• Colors of the setting sun
• Children building sandcastles
• Echo of distant seagulls
• Soft whisper of the ocean breeze
• Shells scattered like treasures
• Footprints washed away
• Secrets of the deep blue
• Calm before the storm
• A dance of playful dolphins
• Reflection of a crimson sky
• Nature’s perfect canvas
• Dunes shaped by the wind
• Taste of salt on the lips
• Shadows growing longer
• Aromas of beachside grills
• Moonlit silver waters
• Mystery of tidal patterns
• Laughter and beach games
• Sway of coastal grasses
• Rhythms of the coastal life
• Stories the tide brings in
• Gentle embrace of the sea
• Paradise found and lost
• Hideaway for dreamers
• Dance of light on waves
• Sands of time standing still

3 Examples of How to Describe a Beach

Let’s look at three imaginative depictions of beaches, each resonating with the unique essence of its respective genre.

• Romance : The serene beach under the moon’s embrace seemed to whisper tales of ageless romances. The moonlight cast a silvery glow on the quiet beach, where waves serenaded the shores. The sands, cool beneath their feet, became their dance floor. Their hearts resonated with the rhythm of the waves, as they lost themselves in each other’s embrace, amidst the vastness of the ocean.
• Mystery/Thriller : A heavy atmosphere weighed down on the beach, with secrets buried as deep as its oceanic abyss. The beach was eerily silent, save for the relentless pounding of the waves. A thick fog hung low, concealing much of the shore. As Detective Adams approached, the beam from his flashlight revealed a set of footprints, leading into the mysterious abyss of the night.
• Fantasy : To the common eye, it’s a beach. But for those with the sight, The Golden Sands of Elaria were gateways to otherworldly adventures. As dawn broke, the sands sparkled with magic. Mermaids emerged from the turquoise depths, dragons soared above the azure skies, and ancient runes appeared, guiding brave adventurers to hidden realms beneath.

Final Thoughts: How to Describe a Beach in Writing

Describing beaches is truly an ocean of opportunities.

Dive into more treasures by exploring other articles on our site – you never know what pearls of wisdom you’ll unearth!

Read This Next:

• How to Describe a Bed in Writing (10+ Tips and Examples)
• How to Describe a Train in Writing (30+ Words & Examples)
• How to Describe Flying in Writing (21 Best Tips + Examples)
• How to Write Traveling Scenes Readers Love (21 Best Tips)

6 beach-themed writing prompts

by Kim Kautzer | Apr 11, 2018 | Writing & Journal Prompts

Whether you live near the coast or far inland, nothing says “summertime” like the beach! Gather your kids around the table for some summer writing fun, using these beach themed writing prompts as a jumping-off point. They’ll love creating imaginative stories, planning menus for a doll’s tea party, or choosing a new home for a crab.

1. The House that Herb Built

Herb the Hermit Crab has outgrown his shell. In his search for a new place to live, he comes across a plastic cup, a tin can, and a large, empty snail shell. Which one will he choose for his new home? Explain your answer.

2. On the Morning Tide

On a morning beach stroll, you stumble upon an unusual item that has washed ashore. Write a paragraph telling what is it, where it came from, and whether you will keep it or throw it back into the ocean.

3. Ocean Overtures

Describe the ocean using all five senses. What color is the water? How does it move? What sounds do you hear? How does ocean spray feel and taste? If you have never been to the ocean, use your imagination! Or, with a parent, you can watch some of these ocean video clips:

Waves Crashing on the Beach

Noisy Seagulls Flying over the Shor e

Thailand Sea

Giant Waves on the Oregon Coast

Foggy, Rocky Beach

Tropical Beach with Lapping Water

Beach Sunset and Clouds

4. Digging Deeper

Write a short story  beginning with this line: My jaw dropped when a tiny voice at the edge of my shovel said, “Don’t hurt me!”

5. Genie of the Shell

At a beachside souvenir shop, you buy a beautiful golden shell. As you polish the shell to remove some crusted sand, a genie suddenly pops out to grant you three wishes! His only condition is that each wish must bless someone other than you. Who will benefit from your wishes? Explain what you will wish for, and why.

6. I’ll Have a Sand-wich

You are a restaurant owner who has been hired to cater a doll’s tea party. Create a beach-themed summer menu for the party guests using only items you might find at the seashore. Give each dish a descriptive name, such as “Mixed Seaweed Salad in Clam Shells.” Include each of the following on your menu: Appetizer, Soup, Salad, Main Course, Dessert, and Beverage.

Did you enjoy these writing ideas? If so, check out more of our  Writing and Journal Prompts !

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Coastal Inspirations: Describe Seashells Creative Writing

My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

The Beauty of Seashells: A Coastal Inspiration for Creative Writing

Exploring the diversity of seashells: a world at your feet, uncovering the stories within seashells: the secrets they hold, seashells as symbols of resilience and adaptation: lessons from the coast, seashells: resilience and adaptation in the coastal realm, harnessing the ethereal magic of seashells: fueling your creative imagination, uncovering the beauty of seashell poetry, creating seashell art: embracing nature’s canvas for unique expressions, unlocking the mysteries of seashells: scientific fascination for writers, frequently asked questions, concluding remarks.

Step onto the beach and dive into the mesmerizing world of seashells – nature’s intricate masterpieces that tell stories of the vast ocean depths. These mesmerizing treasures offer not only visual delight but also endless inspiration for creative writing. Their delicate shapes, vibrant colors, and unique patterns evoke a sense of wonder and mystery, inviting us to explore our imaginations and unleash the power of the written word.

Immerse yourself in the coastal charm of seashells, and watch as your creative writing takes flight. Let the enchanting spirals of conch shells transport you to mystical realms where seafaring adventures and mermaid tales come to life. Feel the rhythmic grooves of scallop shells under your fingertips, as they whisper tales of hidden treasures and long-lost pirate escapades. Explore the delicate intricacies of sea stars, and unravel the secrets of a cloistered underwater world through poetic descriptions and vivid storytelling. With seashells as your muse, your writing will be imbued with the ethereal beauty and enchantment of the coast.

The world of seashells is a fascinating one, brimming with a diverse array of shapes, sizes, and colors. Each shell has its own story to tell, showcasing the wonders of nature and the beauty of the deep blue sea. There is an infinite number of seashell varieties scattered across our beaches, waiting to be discovered and admired.

Seashells come in a vast range of shapes, from the iconic spiral of the nautilus to the delicate lace-like patterns of the wentletrap. Some shells have jagged edges, while others are smooth and glossy. They can be massive like the giant clamshell or so tiny that they can fit in the palm of your hand. Imagine the thrill of stumbling upon a rare pink conch or a perfectly intact sand dollar during your coastal adventures.

Hidden beneath their beautiful exteriors , seashells possess an intriguing world of history and secrets. These delicate wonders serve as reminders of the vast oceans they come from and the fascinating creatures that once inhabited them. Each shell tells a unique story, a testament to the natural wonders of our planet. From the shores of distant islands to the depths of the ocean floor, seashells hold a wealth of information waiting to be uncovered.

Seashells as time capsules transport us to ancient eras, allowing us to catch a glimpse of the past. The intricate patterns etched on their surfaces reveal not only the evolution of these mollusks but also the environmental changes that occurred throughout time. These seemingly fragile shells are, in fact, the remarkable result of a complex process that imprints the life story of each individual organism. Whether it’s the vibrant colors of a seashell or the delicate ridges that symbolize its growth rings, each characteristic has a tale to tell.

Seashells have mesmerized humans for centuries, not only for their remarkable beauty but also as enduring symbols of resilience and adaptation. As we stroll along sandy shores, it becomes evident that these small treasures hold valuable lessons that transcend their delicate appearance.

Seashells, like tiny time capsules, bear witness to the countless challenges faced by marine life. They serve as a powerful reminder that life finds a way to thrive even in the harshest of environments. Just as seashells endure the relentless crashing of waves, constant weather changes, and the ever-shifting tides, they embody the spirit of resilience.

• Strength in Fragility: Seashells may seem fragile, but their ability to withstand the unforgiving forces of nature is astonishing. Their carefully honed shapes and composition allow them to absorb and distribute incoming waves efficiently, preventing damage. In the face of adversity, seashells teach us that even the most delicate beings possess inner strength and resilience.
• Adapting to Change: The variety of seashells that flourish across coastlines worldwide reflects their remarkable adaptability. Each unique species has evolved over time to survive and thrive in specific ecological niches. By adapting their shape, color, and behavior, seashells demonstrate how embracing change and accommodating new circumstances can lead to prosperity.
• Building Solid Foundations: Just as seashells meticulously layer mineral compounds to create their hardened exteriors, we, too, can learn the importance of building strong foundations . Seashells symbolize the resilience that stems from a solid base. By nurturing our physical, mental, and emotional well-being, we enable ourselves to weather the storms of life with grace and fortitude.

The coastal realm is an ever-changing landscape, and seashells stand as timeless beacons of adaptability and resilience. Let these reminders from the coast inspire us to face life’s challenges head-on, embracing change, and finding strength within ourselves.

Seashells, adorned with their intricate designs and captivating hues, have long been revered as more than just natural treasures. They possess an ethereal magic that can ignite and elevate our creative imagination to new heights. By tapping into the enchantment of seashells, we can unlock a world of inspiration and unleash the full force of our artistic potential.

1. Connecting with Nature’s Artistry: Seashells are nature’s very own masterpieces, crafted with meticulous precision. By immersing ourselves in their beautiful shapes, patterns, and textures, we can immerse our minds in the essence of art itself. Take a moment to observe how the delicate swirls mimic the strokes of a paintbrush or the symmetrical lines mirror the architectural wonders of our world. Let the artwork of seashells transport you to realms where imagination and creativity have no boundaries.

2. Channeling the Energy of the Ocean: Seashells are infused with the power of the mighty ocean, and by bringing them into our creative process, we can harness that untamed energy. Feel the tides of inspiration wash over you as you hold a seashell in your hand, connecting you to the vast expanse of the sea. Let the rhythmic sounds of waves crashing against the shore guide your artistic flow. Like an ocean breeze, seashells can invigorate your imagination, allowing ideas to flow freely and effortlessly.

Seashell Poetry: Capturing the Whispers of the Sea

Seashells hold within them a magical allure that has captivated humans for centuries. They serve as vessels of inspiration, containing the elusive whispers of the sea. Like hidden treasures washed ashore, seashells invite us to embark on a poetic journey, where we can uncover the enchanting stories whispered by the ocean waves.

When we hold a seashell to our ear, we are transported to a world untouched by time. The gentle roar of the waves seems to resonate from within, awakening our sense of wonder. With each delicate curve and intricate pattern, seashells come alive, inviting us to explore the mysteries of the deep blue.

Diving deeper into the world of seashell poetry, we discover an array of captivating themes and imagery:

• Mermaid’s Lullaby: Immerse yourself in the magic of the sea through verses that evoke the soothing songs of mythical mermaids.
• Whispering Secrets: Explore the hidden wisdom concealed within seashells, as they reveal the secrets of the depths only to those who truly listen.
• Dancing with Sunbeams: Dive into the shimmering world of seashells, where sunlight dances upon their iridescent surfaces, illuminating poetic verses.

Seashell poetry allows us to unlock our imagination, blending the beauty of nature with the power of words. It invites us to become storytellers, capturing the essence of the whispering sea within our lines. So next time you stroll along the sandy shore, take a moment to pick up a seashell and let its poetry guide your creative spirit.

Seashells retain an alluring charm, each carrying its own story of the ocean. They provide a remarkable medium for artistic expression, as their unique shapes, patterns, and colors effortlessly enhance any artistic creation. When creating seashell art, the possibilities are boundless, allowing you to unleash your creativity and embrace nature’s intricate canvas.

To begin your seashell art journey, start by collecting a diverse array of shells. Explore sandy beaches or visit local shell shops to discover an assortment of shapes, sizes, and textures. Remember, each shell has its own character, and the combinations you choose will define the overall aesthetic of your artwork. Once you have gathered your shells, separate them by type and size to easily visualize the design possibilities.

Next, consider the various art forms you can explore with seashells. From simple crafts to intricate mosaics, there is something for everyone. Experiment with the following techniques to create captivating seashell masterpieces:

– **Shell Collages**: Arrange shells on a canvas or a piece of wood, playing with composition and color to create an eye-catching collage. You can glue them directly onto the surface or use a strong adhesive to ensure they stay in place.

– **Shell Jewelry**: Transform shells into stunning accessories by drilling holes or using wire to attach them to earring hooks, necklaces, or bracelets. You can add other elements like beads or pearls to further personalize your designs.

– **Shell Mosaics**: Arrange shells in intricate patterns or pictures to create stunning mosaics. Apply a layer of adhesive onto a surface, such as a tabletop or a mirror frame, then carefully arrange the shells to form your desired design. Seal the mosaic with a protective varnish to ensure its longevity.

These are just a few artistic pathways to embark on when embracing seashell art. Allow the beauty of nature’s canvas to inspire your creations, as you bring seashells to life in unique and captivating ways. So go ahead, let your imagination run wild , and create breathtaking artworks that capture the essence of the ocean.

Seashells have captivated the human imagination for centuries, leaving us in awe of their intricate beauty and fascinating patterns. Yet, beyond their aesthetic appeal lies a world of scientific wonder waiting to be explored. For writers seeking inspiration, delving into the secrets held within seashells offers an endless source of creativity and knowledge.

Embark on a journey alongside scientists who have dedicated their lives to unraveling the enigmatic nature of seashells. From the vibrant hues of the rare conus gloriamaris to the spiral perfection of the nautilus, these seemingly unassuming treasures are a testament to the awe-inspiring intricacies of nature. Discover how each shell tells a unique story, shaped by ancient oceans and evolutionary processes that span millions of years. Delve into the deep-rooted symbolism associated with seashells across various cultures and uncover their significance in folklore, art, and literature.

• Explore the diverse classification of seashells and the fascinating names bestowed upon them.
• Unravel the biological mysteries behind the formation and growth of shells.
• Learn about the extraordinary adaptations that enable mollusks to create and utilize their protective exoskeletons.
• Discover how seashells have been intertwined with human history, from ancient trade routes to modern scientific advancements.

The world of seashells offers an unparalleled opportunity for writers to immerse themselves in scientific intrigue while weaving compelling narratives. Whether you wish to explore the realm of marine biology, develop colorful characters with symbolic ties to these exquisite wonders, or simply find inspiration in the interplay between science and creativity, unlocking the mysteries of seashells will undoubtedly fuel your literary imagination.

Q: What is “Coastal Inspirations: Describe Seashells Creative Writing” all about? A: “Coastal Inspirations: Describe Seashells Creative Writing” is an article that explores the beauty and creativity of seashells through the art of descriptive writing.

Q: Why are seashells considered to be coastal inspirations? A: Seashells are often found along the coastlines, washed ashore by the tides. Their intricate patterns, vibrant colors, and unique shapes make them a captivating inspiration for creative writing.

Q: How can seashells be described creatively? A: Creative writing about seashells involves using vivid and poetic language to describe their physical characteristics, such as the texture, color, and shape. Additionally, writers may delve into the emotions or memories that these shells evoke, creating a more profound and personal narrative.

Q: What are some examples of descriptive language that can be used to describe seashells? A: Descriptive language can bring seashells to life, allowing readers to visualize their beauty. Words like “iridescent,” “glistening,” “pearlescent,” “curved,” “mottled,” and “petal-like” are just a few examples that can enhance the description of seashells.

Q: Can writing about seashells be a therapeutic and calming experience? A: Absolutely! Writing about seashells can provide a peaceful and therapeutic experience. The act of connecting with nature and expressing oneself through creative writing can foster a sense of calm and tranquility, promoting mindfulness and self-reflection.

Q: Is previous experience in creative writing necessary to describe seashells effectively? A: Not at all. Creative writing is accessible to everyone, regardless of their previous experience. All it takes is a willingness to observe, reflect, and express oneself. Everyone’s unique perspective will bring something new to their description of seashells.

Q: Can children also partake in this creative writing exercise ? A: Absolutely! In fact, children often have a vivid imagination, making them perfect candidates for exploring creative writing about seashells. This activity can enhance their observation skills and encourage them to express their thoughts and emotions through writing.

Q: Are there any benefits to practicing creative writing about seashells? A: Yes, there are several benefits to practicing creative writing about seashells. Aside from promoting mindfulness and tranquility, it can enhance one’s descriptive writing skills , foster creativity and imagination, as well as enable personal reflection and self-expression.

Q: How can one get started with creative writing about seashells? A: To start writing creatively about seashells, one can begin by finding a quiet and inspirational spot, preferably near the coastline. Take time to observe the shells, paying attention to their details. Then, let the imagination flow and start writing descriptions, feelings, or narratives inspired by these beautiful coastal treasures.

Q: Are there any writing prompts or exercises that can further enhance creative writing about seashells? A: Yes, there are many exercises one could try! For instance, you could imagine yourself as a shell, describing your surroundings and your purpose in a poetic manner. Another exercise could involve writing a short story or a poem inspired by a specific seashell you find particularly captivating. These prompts can ignite creativity and reveal new perspectives.

In conclusion, exploring the coastal seashells through creative writing offers a unique outlet for personal expression and inspiration.

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The Beach [writing prompt]

by Joe Bunting | 103 comments

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Write about the beach.

Write for fifteen minutes. When you're finished, post your practice in the comments section.

And if you post, please comment on a few pieces by other writers.

Photo by Vince Alongi

Here's my practice:

On Friday evening, he arrived at the house and immediately got Amber on her leash and went out to the beach. It was a cool summer evening, as only Santa Barbara can be. The tide was out and as he sauntered along the hard, wet sand with his jeans rolled to his shins, the cold waves came up over his toes and ankles. The sun warmed his cheeks and when the light summer wind stirred about him he caught the scent of the seaweed and the more delicate perfume of the saltsand. Amber trotted beside him, and when the wave came close, splashed in, tugging at her leash until the wave went back out.

When he got to the point he let Amber off her leash. She sprung into the waves, her head up and her mouth wide like a smile. He took a deep breath. He thought about what it would feel like to run in after her. He would launch himself over the waves. Foam would spray around him and the water would fill the space between his skin and clothes. It would be cold. When he got in far enough he would dive under the first big wave and his hair would flatten against his eyes. He might laugh. He might try to catch the dog and wrestle her. But that was for children and he didn’t have time for it. He called Amber and turned back toward the white house and walked away.

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

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103 Comments

Each wave crashed closer and closer to our camp on the warm sand. We embraced the Costa Rican lifestyle and arrived hours before the tourists even considered rolling out of their beds.

The sand. The thieving monkeys. The warm Pacific Ocean. All exclusively ours to enjoy.

The last one all too close to enjoy as we watched the waves invade our camp, threatening our peaceful, quiet morning. Surely the water would recede before it reached us.

At the same moment–too late to do much about it–we all realized that was faulty logic. As the swimmers ran in behind the tsunami, those of us on the this-moment-dry land began frantically groping for our belongings and throwing them further up the hot morning sand. Electronics first, flip flops last.

The wave crashed somewhere between the pitching of the electronics and the pulling up of the towels. the towels would dry long before we’d be done in the salty bathwater. The flip flops were easy to recover.

The greatest casualty was my brown journal, grabbed by the vicious water and rushed out to sea. I dove after it, scooping it back into the safety of my arms after the damage had been done.

Tucked beneath the words and prayers were flowers, leaves, and now sand. The pages holding the nearly-flat items were now crinkled with some added character from the sea adventure. The saltwater submission only added to the story.

 Gorgeous writing.  I love the journal.  Love the journal!

Thanks, Marla!

 Whew that was a close one!  I couldn’t imagine losing all my writing. This reminded me of a saying.  “The tidal wave is coming and you’re picking up seashells.” Nice work, Katie.

Thanks, Karl

I felt like I was right there.  Great writing Katie.  I don’t understand the section that says “the towels would dry long before we were done in the salty bathwater” .  I love the description of the journal in the last paragraph.  

Thanks, Marianne. I was trying to say that it was hot so the towels would dry quickly and the water felt good so we didn’t want to get out.

Duh, I get it now.  I should have known that.  

I like this. I cringed when she lost the journal, yet you turned what could have been a hopeless situation into something postive.

Thanks, Joan

This makes me want to read more, and that is always a good thing. 

I’m so glad!

That vividly reminded me of a crazy time with a rogue wave that my husband had just recently.

I didn’t want to go skinny dipping that evening.  I had no intention of taking my clothes off.  It didn’t matter that they were my best friends.

The half-sun loomed over the liquid horizon.  I stood barefoot in the sand as my friends jumped off the pier.  Josh dropped his trunks to the ground and flung his shirt at me.  He darted past toward the water, shouting “Woohoo!” as he canon-balled into the ocean.  James went right after him.  I rolled my eyes.  I didn’t understand how they could run around, frolicking about with their bits and pieces dangling in front of God and everybody.

Jen came up behind me.  “Come on, John!  I’m gonna do it, too.  We’ll do it together.”

I eyed her quizzically.  “You can’t be serious.  You’re gonna just run around with your tits hanging out, in front of Josh and James?  You’re just gonna swim around with your hoo-ha on display for all the fish?  What if a worm or something swims right on in there?”

“You are so funny.  Come on, it’ll be fun!”  She slipped her shirt off and let it fall to the ground.  I had to admit, of the four of us, I didn’t mind that Jen was stripping down.  She shook her shoulders at me.

“Ok, ok.  I’ll do it.  After you.”  She wrinkled her nose and kissed me on the cheek.  She ran off down the peer and jumped in the water.

I took my shirt off.  Sighing, I dropped my trunks.  I immediately covered my shame with both hands (I would have you believe that I did need both hands for the task).

I called out to my friends, “Don’t look!”

“Nothin’ to look at!”

“No one wants to look at your crusty butt, John!” They called back.

“Run, John!” I heard Jen call out.

I took a deep breath and ran down the pier.  The wind hit the front of my body and made my nipples hard.

I jumped off the pier and brought my knees up to my chest.  I made a splash in the cool water.  I tasted the salt on my lips, felt the water in every pore on my skin.  I treaded water with my chin just resting on the surface of the ocean.  Josh and James were splashing water at each other.  Rachel was floating on her back, her chest facing the sky like two teepees at sunset.

I wanted to swim to her, but something stopped me.  I felt a sharp pain… down there.  Right on the willy.  It burned something fierce.  My hand tried to cover it and I felt something slimy in the way.  My palm started burning immediately.  Right in front of my face I saw a little clear blob swimming with me.

“JELLYFISH!”  I cried out.  Everything was blurry.  Josh, or James, somebody pulled me out of the water.  I heard someone say take him to the hospital.  I yelled at them to put my clothes on.  Somebody said no, we don’t have time for that.  Don’t look down, they said.  I looked down, and I wept.  My bits and pieces were red and furious, almost twice the size of what they were supposed to be.  I never imagined a day when that would be a bad thing, until now.

It will be a cold day in hell when I go back to the beach.

 Wonderful!  I love the line about covering his shame.  Perfect.

 Karl I love your story!  Your opening definitely captured the spirit of skinny dipping… too bad about the jellyfish (I wasn’t expecting that at all!  Now I’m kinda scared to go in the water… lol)

My intention was to really play on his fear of being naked.  The journey to the hospital, into the lobby, everyone staring the whole time.  But the timer went off.  🙁  Oh well.  I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂

I couldn’t figure out if I was supposed to laugh or cry, Karl. Well done.

 😀 Thank you.  I’d prefer you laugh.

Oh good because that’s what I wanted to do. 😉

oh man. ha. it would be a long time before i went back to the beach too!!

Great twist. Wasn’t expecting that at all. A fun read, good job.

That was hilarious!  The best part is when he  is sell asking for his clothes when they take him off to the hospital.   

I love the tone of this piece.  I could read pages and pages. “Covered my shame with both hands,” “chest facing the sky like two teepees at sunset,” “my bits and pieces were red and furious,” all BRILLIANT.  Terrific voice, terrific piece.  Thanks for sharing.

Very evocative. The outcome after having to build up the courage seemed so cruel!

I have never seen the ocean, but already I don’t like it.  We are driving on this back road in California, Dave at the wheel and me clutching the passenger door handle.  It is night, the sky is navy blue, the stars like warning lights in the sky.

I still can’t see the ocean, but I can hear it because Dave has the windows down and the radio off.  The sea has gnashing teeth, that’s what the sound is like.  There are animals in it as big as my house.  The waves crash.  People always say the waves crash, and now I know what they mean.  They sound hateful against the shore.

Dave touches my cheek.  “Smell that?” he says.  “That’s the smell of life.  Of the beginning of everything.”

What I smell is fish and old socks and something like wet firewood.

We are too new to be here together.  I met Dave three weeks ago.  At a party. When I was with my boyfriend.  My boyfriend left the next day, and I called Dave, who’d given me his number on a scrap of paper, slipped it into my hand at the end of the night, right before I walked out the door.  My boyfriend is out of the country now, gone for a month.  Drumming up business for his boss, who sells used American clothing to people who still think the USA is a mystery to be solved through mimicry and soft denim.  When he comes back I’ll tell him it’s over.  Because it is over.  That is why I’m here.

Dave pulls off the road, and we bump along onto land that feels uncertain under the wide tires of the SUV.  His headlights catch the sea, the waves, the endless line that seems to dip past the horizon.

I pry my fingers loose from the door handle.

Dave has a flashlight, and he’s guiding me through brush and hills of sand, right onto the beach.

“The ocean,” he says, like he’s unveiling a painting.

“The ocean,” I repeat, and lace my finger through his.

The moon is a tambourine in the sky, clouds covering and uncovering it, now you see it, now you don’t.

Far away is a campfire and laughter, and we step across beer cans and shells the shape of guitar picks.  I bend to take one and hold it tight in my hand.

“I almost drowned once,” I say.  The ocean is so loud Dave asked me to repeat it and I can’t.

“It’s beautiful, right?” he says.  He wants me to love it.  I see in him everything I’m not.  With my boyfriend, it’s not the same.  We are too much alike.  I’d say I was afraid of the ocean and he’d say, Well, of course you are.  It’s a deathtrap.

But Dave sees only beauty.  He used to surf, he told me on our way here.  He’s seen a shark.  Got so close he noticed a nick in the fish’s fin.  I felt a chill then, that ran to my toes, and back up again until it clutched my heart.

I reach in my pocket for a cigarette, and pull it out to light it.  Dave stops beside me.  “I thought you were quitting,” he says.

Here, at the edge of everything, I need a smoke. I need a Xanax, but nicotine will have to do.

Dave cups his hands over mine, and I give the cigarette up, and he holds me.  I am shaking.

“It’s all right,” he says, and offers the cigarette back, but I don’t take it.  The sea is rumbling, the spray so close now it hits my face.  If I walk out three steps I will be ankle deep in the ocean.  If I turn and run I can be back to the car in three minutes, tops.  I look at Dave.  I wonder what he sees in me.  You never really know.  I think, if I stay, that he will break my heart open and it will either die or fill up with light so bright I will shine on nights like this.

I think I’m ready to shine.

 What an interesting story Marla, I like how you treat the beach almost as its own character (versus a setting).  I can see how if you didn’t grow up near the water it would certainly be a strange adjustment with the noises and smells!  (I’ve never thought about it because I grew up near water but the sea sounding like the “gnashing of teeth” is a great description!!)

 Thanks KP.  I grew up in a landlocked state.  The ocean looks like a million ways to die to me.  Although, I can’t deny its beauty!

 I love how she starts out pessimistic and turns out optimistic at the end.  Nice work.

 Thank you!

“people who still think the USA is a mystery to be solved through mimicry and soft denim.” – – awesome.  many lines of awesome here 🙂

 Thank you so much.

I like all the description. I can easily picture the scene in my head. Especially like the metaphor with the moon as a tambourine.

You show the personality of these characters so well, the pessimist and the optimist (or I guess he’s just not a pessimist maybe).  I also see her as someone who is going to make a decision that could alter their life if the relationship is of any duration. I wonder what it would look like to her twenty years down the road.  Very interesting and of course very well written as always.  Thanks Marla!

 I love it when you read my work.  Such insight. I think you make me better.

I love the last two paragraphs. She’s so scared and she’s choosing hope. Lovely!

 Thank you.  You’re always so encouraging.

I love this, Marla! I love the juxtaposition of their reactions to the ocean and the protagonist’s attempt to find reconciliation but instead she only finds fear. Great description.

 Thank you Katie!

 Another one for the anthology…  Keep it up Marla.

This is very compelling. The character sounds torn up until the very end where it seems she’s willing take to a leap of faith with Dave. I love it.

Wow – the imagery is really beautiful and strong, and totally supports the emotional energy of the characters. Lovely writing!

He awoke early, before the sun had even begun to think of arching through the sky.  The alarm bleated at him from somewhere in the darkness and he rolled out of bed groggily, begrudgingly.  Pulling on an old pair of jeans, a grey hooded sweatshirt and his worn out sneakers he left the unmade bed and took only a moment to fish his keys out of the clay dish by the door before slipping out.  This morning was particularly cold, and he shoved his hands in his pockets and missed his gloves.  She had said it in passing a few days ago, just a thought that she’d never had before and would probably never have again, but as soon as she said it he knew he had to find one.

“These are so pretty!  I’ve never been able to find one on the beach, though,” she cupped the sand dollar in the gift shop gently, then set it back down on the shelf.

“They are nice,” he’d said this gruffly, because he was already thinking, I would find a million sand dollars for you.  They went to dinner afterwards, and she did not mention the sand dollars again, but they burned in the back of his mind as a small ember, slowly growing to flame.

Pushing through the dunes, the waist high grass soon fell away and gave way to smooth sand.  Huge, gnarled tree trunks dotted the beachscape, serving as a makeshift breadcrumb trail.  He made a beeline for the water’s edge, knowing if he was to find a whole sand dollar he would have to be further up the shore, away from the seagulls.

During the day, the beach was a flurry of activity: kite flying, dogs chasing frisbees, people walking along the surf and splashing each other.  A few brave souls would even swim in the icy green-blue water, often diving in and coming back up a moment later, exclaiming at the frigidity.  There were families, teenagers, old men trying to meet the exercise quota set by their doctors.

Right now, though, it was all his.  Smooth sand, seaweed and the quiet wssshhh of the tide lapping at his feet.  He paused to enjoy the scenery only a moment, then started his search.  Most were broken, chipped or otherwise flawed.  He’d been searching for what felt like forever – he wasn’t sure if he’d ever regain feeling in his face at this point – but then he saw it sticking out of the sand at a ninety degree angle.  A small marker, so easy to miss.  Squatting, he carefully brushed away the sand and seaweed to reveal a small sand dollar, so small it fit easily in the palm of his hand.  Whole.  Perfect.

He cupped it in his hand gently, lovingly.  He rinsed it off carefully in the tide, then carefully placed it in his pocket.  He would give it to her later this morning, when he brought her coffee in bed.  The perfect sand dollar for the perfect girl.

 What a sweetheart, that guy.  She’s lucky!

love the feel of this.  the cold and the search, overpowered by love.

Great description and a touching story.  Well done.  

Audrey stood with her heels in her left hand.  Her toes dug deep into the sun touched sand.  The wind wrapped around her pulling her hair forward across her face, her skirt tight to the back of her long legs. The wind seemed to be pulling thought from her mind, too.  Pulling at it until it broke free, dancing high in the draft and soaring over the ocean’s edge. This place felt so unfamiliar to her. Her, who was raised in the Smokey Mountains, her, who was used to the sharp and jagged rocks of the mountainside under her feet, whose lungs had grown accustomed to the red clay dirt being kicked up along the roads of her childhood. The smooth granules under her feet now seemed so foreign.  The ocean air moist and salty made it hard for her to breath; but more than all that, it seemed unfamiliar to face this unknown terrain without him. She looked down at her right hand, held in a fist at her side; marked now with age and she realized… even her own body had become unfamiliar. The hands at her side were no longer the hands that had held his under the moonlight.  No longer were they the tentative hands of a young mother learning their first child. These unfamiliar hands had reached out for the folded flag they had presented her; these hands had clutched the airplane ticket and crumpled it with her first-time flier’s nerves. And now, she took in the vastness of the water before her.  She took in the gravity of his last wish- “We always had such grand adventures, kid.  Scatter my ashes someplace we’ve never been.  Scatter them where it will remind you to keep exploring. Keep loving. Keep finding this world anew.” She raised her right hand holding the last tangible piece of him deep in her fist.  Conscious, as she always would be now, she supposed; of the similarity of weight and texture she held in her hand, and the sand between her toes. And she released him into that wind that held her.  She released herself into the unknown.

 Ohhh that was a good one.  A sense of wonder followed by closure, is what I got from reading this.  One small thing: the critic in me wants to cringe at your use of the semicolon.  But I have learned to ignore him unless he is wanted or needed. 🙂

no! I appreciate it.  In these practice pieces I don’t spend a ton of time going over the piece for edits so I appreciate that.

I enjoyed the images created with the wind.  I especially liked, “The wind seemed to be pulling thought from her mind”  I could see her.  Nice descriptions.

 So, so beautiful.  The one line of dialogue is gorgeous.  I love this.

I like the idea that the ashes in her hand are similar to the sand.   I think most of us who have thrown ashes into the sea think about that.  It’s like when they say “ashes to ashes, dust to dust” at a funeral.  The entire piece is well written.  I like the detail. I like that the one line of dialogue is meaningful.  Thanks!

Every year my brother and I looked forward to July 4th with great excitement and anticipation. After chasing each other around the yard with streaming sparklers, we would watch magical snakes unfold and coil from a tiny pellet lit responsibly by our father. Then, we would climb a ladder to the flat roof of our house and, turning toward the bay, watch the fire works explode and sparkle over the water. Then one year our parents decided to join several other families for a beach party on the Fourth of July. Going to the beach itself wasn’t anything special; we lived in a seaside town and going to the beach was a regular outing for us (especially when my mother needed a break). But going to the beach on July 4th was something we had never been allowed to do. Soon the day arrived and we packed our shovels, beach toys, food and fireworks into the car and set off. It was early afternoon when we parked but already the beach was crowded. The dads immediately grabbed shovels and began to dig a gigantic whole, large enough for twelve people to sit in. I was told that once the fireworks began, the hole would shelter us from the smoke. As my brother and I frolicked in the waves, we could see the dads, torsos glistening with sweat digging while the moms lounged on beach chairs smoking and drinking cans of beer. After a dinner of hot dogs, potato chips and cupcakes, we started to hear the popping of firecrackers and the whistling of Piccolo Pete’s. We lit our sparklers and chased the other kids we knew, the darkness thickening as the air filled with smoke. Soon my brother and I found ourselves separated from our parents who, at the onslaught of the festivities, had retreated to their giant hole. A new sound tore across the beach: the whirring of sirens as ambulances began to arrive. Frightened, we ran for what seemed like hours trying to find anything that looked familiar. Eventually we found our parents and didn’t venture away from our temporary compound after that. The next day we heard that a firework had blown up in the hand of boy my age and he had lost three fingers. We never again went to the beach on the Fourth of July.

 Ouch!  You really packed a punch with this one.  Good work.

So many memories of childhood come flooding back when reading this. Well written.

How quickly this turns from a wonderful beach party to a disaster.  I don’t understand what happens though. What is the giant hole for, and what happened that called the ambulances.  

It was the most beautiful beach he had ever seen. But this was no tropical paradise. The wind whipped at his body with its icy fingers. The tiny grains of sand stung his raw, exposed cheeks as they pummeled his face. He was forced to climb down 100 feet of steep, jagged rocks on a narrow and rut-filled pathway just to reach this sandy wonderland. Between the rocks grew windswept trees with all of their branches and leaves growing on one side of the trunk, like bonsai trees with one side completely removed. The air smelled of salt and dead sea creatures. Despite all of this he found it to be one of the most remarkable places he had ever seen. The scenery was breathtaking with a horizon that dropped of the edge of the world. The compacted sand was the color of a perfectly cooked pancake. There were tide pools with hundreds of tiny crustaceans meandering about. It was a place that had yet to be stained by the intrusion that is the mass of humanity. It was nature, a piece of earth that still was as it was meant to be. It made him feel at one with the world, at peace at last.

 Perfect!  Sadly, virtually no such place exists that has not been tainted by mankind in one way or another. 🙁 Your descriptions brought a smile to my face, great job!

That is gorgeous!  The details are great.  I can picture it quite clearly.  It sounds amazing and worth climbing down to see.  

“the color of a perfectly cooked pancake” – I love that description. 

The beach at Ocean View isn’t as impressive as the one at Virginia Beach.  It’s narrower, dirtier, and the jelly fish are thicker there in the summer, but when it’s warm and the sun shines any beach can seem like paradise. 

They didn’t have any life guards at Ocean View and when we were kids out mother’s would be so busy smoking, talking, and drinking iced tea out of thermoses, that is was surprising that none of us drowned.  They did stand up and yell when we drifted down a block toward the storm drain pipes.  The storm drain pipes spit out some interesting things sometimes like once a series of TV dinners were spit out, once a life sized baby doll with no eyes, and once a bottle with a note and a cork but the cork had gone down inside the bottle and the note fell apart when we got it out.  Roger Dunchee, who I was not supposed to play with because his parents were divorced told me that a head and two hands came out once and that they belonged to a girl that looked just like me.  I think that was after I told him I couldn’t talk to him anymore because his mother was a divorcee.  

The worst thing about the Ocean View beach though was there were no leash laws and people let dogs run.  I’m not afraid of dogs except for Doberman Pinschers.  I think I watched too much of the TV show, Matlock. On what seemed like just about every single episode it showed Apollo and Zeus, two Doberman’s who were guard dogs baring their teeth and snarling, while being held back on their leashes or while jumping at a chain link fence.  Or maybe the problem with me and Doberman Pinscher’s is the way they are big dogs but they wiggle and bark like the little dogs, and everyone knows little dogs are nippy.  Anyway I’m terrified of them. 

When we were about twenty or so, a group of five or six of us were lying in the sun on beach recliners when I saw a pinscher bounding toward us.  

“Oh a doberman is coming,” I said. “It’s coming this way.  It’s going to bite us.”

“It won’t bother you,” said Joyce. 

“I hate them,” 

“Well don’t start screaming. Be quiet and it will go on past,” said Bonnie.  She lit a cigarette and gave me a dirty look like I was being annoying or something.  

I tried to be calm. I was in the middle so it would have to tear through someone else to get to me.  I remember thinking that.  I kept my eye on it.  It’s owner was throwing a piece of driftwood for it and it would retrieve it and run back.  I was gleaming black with tan feet and big shiny teeth.  I knew that driftwood had to be full of holes. Driftwood being soft like human muscles.  

They kept coming down the beach. The owner was young with  a tattoo of an anchor on his chest.  The other girls thought he was good looking. He  threw the driftwood and it landed about ten feet away from us at the edge of the water.  The dog surged forward toward the wood, but passed it.  He came straight toward us. I couldn’t believe it.  I buried my head in my arms.  I held my breath. 

“Hey boy,” I heard Joyce say.  “He won’t hurt you Marianne.  Just look at him, pet him.” 

I didn’t move, and then I felt it. I felt a wet, cold nose in the center of my back.  Then one quick lick with a huge tongue.  Worse than watching a horror movie it was.  

“He’s gone said,” said Joyce.  

I looked up then and sure enough he was bouncing down the beach in the other direction.  He did look back and met my gaze.  His mouth was open like he was laughing.  

 So much to love here but my favorite has to be the boy with the divorced parents.  I love the way your story unfolds, the rhythm to it, and the gorgeous detail.  The end is perfect.

Thank Marla.  I appreciate the time you take to go over my stuff.  

I will never swim in these waters. Even love can’t make me. They’re not the seas I grew up with, seas warm like bath-water, the waves lapping so soft you can sleep in them.

This water here bites. And the waves are hungry.  If I were to even try… If I were to strip off this jacket, these socks, these gloves, and run into the churning white like my children are doing, like you, and gran and gramps. 

It’s a thought. I stop there. I can’t.

Returning your hello that day, looking into your strange green eyes, that was the hoodie coming off. Saying yes those many months later, after I’d learnt to touch those bleached out eyebrows, that tangle of animal hair on your chest, that was the gloves. And flying over here, learning to live with your people, in your country, that’s as far as I can wade.

I’m drowning in it already. This life. Our life … Don’t ask me for more.

 I love how this wraps around from the water to an entire life.  I love this line, especially.  “They’re not the seas I grew up with, seas warm like bath-water, the waves lapping so soft you can sleep in them.”  Beautiful.

Great writing here Oddznns.  I like it all but I particularly like how she starts to think the ‘what if” about running into the waves but then can’t even complete the thought.  I feel her alienation.  I think she would be a great character for a book, or story, but you images here are like poetry to me.  I really  like this piece.  

Yumi had been drawn back to the beach. Inside her trembling frame her soul screamed in agony, her weakened legs barely held her up. It had been one year and eight months to the hour since hell rose up and sucked away her reason to live. On that frigid silent morning the black putrid ocean came over them and then forever kept coming. The shrieking banshee cry of the tsunami alarm vibrated through her bones as she ran with baby Akiko in her grasp. The impact of the wave smashed her legs and the baby tumbled from her tender grasp. The tiny bundle in the white shawl was pulled under the evil darkness, and was gone. Yumi waded into the Pacific Ocean her eyes on the horizon her heart broken. Soon the mother would again see the baby.    

This is horrifying but the writing is good. 

I agree, Marianne. It captures that primal fear and devastation so brilliantly. Nice job.

The image of this  ‘ Beach Post’ was so vivid that I could smell the beach. Many thanks!

Along the White Sands… April slipped off her sandals, enjoying the feel of the warm white sand between her toes. The beach was nearly empty, except for a few neighbors enjoying the last rays of evening sun. She smiled and waved at the Herrings—the retired couple who lived next door. In the opposite direction, Mike and Janet Parsons sat holding hands as they watched their four-year-old twins playing in the sand. April acknowledged them, but hurried by—haunted by painful memories of Brad and of the children that never were. She and Brad once walked together along this beach—arm-in-arm, sharing their hopes and dreams.  Then, life happened—three pregnancies, three miscarriages. It put a strain on their marriage and Brad moved out. “We both need some space,” he had said, “and time to think this through.” Whatever happened to ‘until death do us part?’ Had he truly loved her, or was the love conditional on her bearing his children? She walked to a secluded spot and sat down in the sand, allowing the waves wash over her feet. She gazed at the endless panorama of the azure blue ocean, wishing she could forget her problems. Yet she knew the time had come to face her situation. Either Brad loved her and wanted to remain together or he didn’t. It was time for him to decide—enough of him stringing her along. He had been gone for six months—long enough. She would call him tomorrow. “It’s now or never,” she would say. “I need to get on with my life—with you or without you.” With a newfound resolve, she rose and began walking back to the beach house. Twilight had settled in. The Parsons were gathering their things and calling to the twins to follow them inside. The Herrings had already retired to their deck, as they did most evenings. A man walked along the white sands toward her.  A stranger? Maybe someone new to the neighborhood? No, there was something familiar… Could it be? Dare she hope? The person came nearer. What was he doing here? Had he come home? Home to stay? She walked closer and Brad held out his arms…

This is so good Joan.  I am really happy when it’s Brad coming along the beach.  You explain her situation so well that I feel like I know her.  

Thank you, Marianne. I appreciate your encouragement.

I had the dream again, the one at the beach.  It’s a cold gray Washington beach, not the pretty blue-skied California kind.  I can’t see her face, but I’m pretty sure it’s me.  She’s naked and alone.  The waves are heavy and many.  It seems like the beginning of an independent movie with swirling camera angles and avant-garde cinematography.   She stands there for a long time.  I notice her toenails are not painted, her thighs are dimpled with cellulite, and her hair curtains most of her back.  She begins walking deliberately and rhythmically paced toward the water.  The rhythm never changes, not even when her feet, legs, or waist meet the cold water.  She walks until she is gone.  There is no struggle, no sound, no pain, just gone.  I can taste salt water in my mouth, but there is something not sea about it.  Then I realize it is not seawater, but blood.  I am not in the ocean.  I am face down in a bathtub tasting my own blood.  I can see myself from above myself.  I scream.  No sound comes out. Nobody knows I am in there.  Nobody knows but me. 

 So powerful!  I love this line.  “There is no struggle, no sound, no pain, just gone.”

Wow.  That was a surprise at the end.  The way you move from the image in her mind to “I can taste salt water in my mouth” is great.  The pacing is also good especially when she is walking without pause toward the sea.  

Sand Castles

I have a photo of you, squinting in bright sundown next to the big sand castle we built on Clearwater Beach. That castle took hours. It took bucketsfull of wet white sand, and we poured itand shaped it into minarets and towers, arches and battlementson wide round walls, until our hands were raw, our necks burned red and then the sun went down. I took a photo of you with our castle, a snapshot to record our sweat and work and as the last light sunk into the gulf, we packed up our things and you kicked our castle down.

Damn. It didn’t preserve my line breaks.

Fixed it…. ish. Beautiful, Gabriel. Did you just write that now? 

Love that last line: “and you kicked our castle down.”

So poignant.

Thanks Joe. I wrote it in a few minutes after reading the prompt.

Reading like this is like taking in a painting- lovely!

What a good description of both a sand castle and I assume a relationship.  I particularly like that you put “kicked it down” and not “knocked it down”.  I like the rhythm of the writing here too. 

Thank you, Marianne!

Water doesn’t crash upon the sand here. When it reaches the sand it arrives a smooth hand upon a loved one’s cheek. At times, though, when boaters push the limits of the buoy signatures, it slaps upon the perpetually wet grains of sand, void of the relief of tides receded. No, the waters here more often than not rest quietly against the shores, a lover nestled beside it’s mate.Ashore, and in the shallows, in spite of the absence of surf, the activity is no less vibrant than on coastal cousins. Holes are scraped into grains, and forms of moistened sand take the shape of turrets and walls. Moats are crafted, and channels forged to the clear lake water mere meters away. at the water’s edge, floaties flop up an down as feet slowly submerge themselves into cold northern waters. Waist-deep, beside the docks, bread balls torn from a slice, drop atop the surface, a summons to the fish; nets clutched in elementary hands move futiley after the darting bluegills, their hunger sated, and their survival instinct piqued.Atop the aluminum tread of the adjacent dock bare feet thunder toward the terminus. Toward the depths, they launch their bearers skyward, out above the still clear pool, and downward, producing squeals of pleasure and refreshment, and wide-spreading splashes just shy of the swimming boundary.The scene is repeated, for sure, some in the majority of the 10,000 other places up here where fresh water collects itself as a lake. No, the beach is not just a foundation of coastal life. Here, in the land of lakes, the beach is woven into the fabric of lives from youth to the sunset years.In Minnesota you grow up near water. And, you make good use of it, year-round. It is the summers, though where the water is not only imbibed, but embraced, And nowhere is this more true than the municipal, association, and even hidden, private beaches marking the bodies dotting the state north from Austin to International Falls, east from Moorhead to Hastings, and throughout the entirety of what we call the Northland.

You have some great ideas here.  I like the line about the beach being woven into the fabric of lives and the water not having a strong tide but cuddling with the shore.  I think you need some action, some dialogue and some characters to bring it to life more.  It sounds like a very different kind of water than the other beaches described here. 

                                We spent the summer bare-shoulder, skin kissed pink by the midday sun, freckles blooming across our backs like constellations. Our chests blossomed in air thick with humidity as we wrestled each other to the ground in a tangled mess of limbs still slightly tinged with the awkwardness of growing up. Seagulls littered the sky like bits of old newspaper as we crashed through the waves gulping against the shores of Lake Michigan. Sometimes, we would stand still and let the water creep up around our ankles and recede from our toes, watching the sand squelch between them. The world was filled with vague possibilities, an echo of adventure we felt deep in the marrow of our bones.

But now we reveled in the promise of our new found freedom as the inevitable decline of summer forced its way into our consciousness. W e were leaving behind the fear and embarrassment of high school for something that was much more feral. It was tradition for the newly graduated to camp out at the state park and various other campgrounds, setting up little shanty towns and spending the nights dancing around bonfires with red solo cups filled with various concoctions while trying to avoid the stern gaze of the deputy sheriff. It was a time when you lived as if these were your last moments. When you tried to hook-up with that girl from your chemistry class you’d been meaning to ask to prom or smoked a joint with that kid who always pushed you into your locker in the fourth grade. For once in our lives, we were equals. The hierarchy of high school was broken open as we all embarked on our new journeys, unsure of where life would lead us, and not really caring. But I missed the days when Jackson and I spent scouring the beach for seashells or digging in creek beds for arrowheads, when we were fireflies and our bodies hummed electric. These would be the moments that we would look back on during our distant reunions and say, remember when, those meetings of comparison and competition fueled by alcohol and more failed attempts at scoring with that girl from your second period chemistry class.

But even as those days fade into distant memory, things remain the same. The moonlight rippling on the water’s surface like piano keys, the trees weathered grey lining the dunes scraping the sky with their topmost branches or the way storm clouds rumbled low across the sky like wild horses, manes streaked by lightning, as the beacon at the end of the pier blinked knowingly in the night. The only record of the passage of time being the layers of graffiti covering its base, of lovers come and gone making their history known. It’s a wonder that in a town consumed by cleanliness and the conservation of tradition, this bastion for vandalism and rebellion remained blemished and unsightly. But perhaps it was this conservation of tradition that allowed these acts of declaration to survive throughout the years, as if it were expected, a rite of passage as you entered into the world of the unknown. But even then, we still cling to home. Most of my classmates never left this place. I sometimes think about them and I wonder if they’re happy, if they wished they had escaped.  In the time I’ve been away, the solitude of this place still fills the deep places of my body and anchors me home.

 We spent the summer bare-shoulder, skin kissed pink by the midday sun, freckles blooming across our backs like constellations. Our chests blossomed in air thick with humidity as we wrestled each other to the ground in a tangled mess of limbs still slightly tinged with the awkwardness of growing up. Seagulls littered the sky like bits of old newspaper as we crashed through the waves gulping against the shores of Lake Michigan. Sometimes, we would stand still and let the water creep up around our ankles and recede from our toes, watching the sand squelch between them. The world was filled with vague possibilities, an echo of adventure we felt deep in the marrow of our bones. But now we reveled in the promise of our new found freedom as the inevitable decline of summer forced its way into our consciousness. W e were leaving behind the fear and embarrassment of high school for something that was much more feral. It was tradition for the newly graduated to camp out at the state park and various other campgrounds, setting up little shanty towns and spending the nights dancing around bonfires with red solo cups filled with various concoctions while trying to avoid the stern gaze of the deputy sheriff. It was a time when you lived as if these were your last moments. When you tried to hook-up with that girl from your chemistry class you’d been meaning to ask to prom or smoked a joint with that kid who always pushed you into your locker in the fourth grade. For once in our lives, we were equals. The hierarchy of high school was broken open as we all embarked on our new journeys, unsure of where life would lead us, and not really caring. But I missed the days when Jackson and I spent scouring the beach for seashells or digging in creek beds for arrowheads, when we were fireflies and our bodies hummed electric. These would be the moments that we would look back on during our distant reunions and say, remember when, those meetings of comparison and competition fueled by alcohol and more failed attempts at scoring with that girl from your second period chemistry class.

We spent the summer bare-shoulder, skin kissed pink by the midday sun, freckles blooming across our backs like constellations. Our chests blossomed in air thick with humidity as we wrestled each other to the ground in a tangled mess of limbs still slightly tinged with the awkwardness of growing up. Seagulls littered the sky like bits of old newspaper as we crashed through the waves gulping against the shores of Lake Michigan. Sometimes, we would stand still and let the water creep up around our ankles and recede from our toes, watching the sand squelch between them. The world was filled with vague possibilities, an echo of adventure we felt deep in the marrow of our bones. But now we reveled in the promise of our new found freedom as the inevitable decline of summer forced its way into our consciousness. W e were leaving behind the fear and embarrassment of high school for something that was much more feral. It was tradition for the newly graduated to camp out at the state park and various other campgrounds, setting up little shanty towns and spending the nights dancing around bonfires with red solo cups filled with various concoctions while trying to avoid the stern gaze of the deputy sheriff. It was a time when you lived as if these were your last moments. When you tried to hook-up with that girl from your chemistry class you’d been meaning to ask to prom or smoked a joint with that kid who always pushed you into your locker in the fourth grade. For once in our lives, we were equals. The hierarchy of high school was broken open as we all embarked on our new journeys, unsure of where life would lead us, and not really caring. But I missed the days when Jackson and I spent scouring the beach for seashells or digging in creek beds for arrowheads, when we were fireflies and our bodies hummed electric. These would be the moments that we would look back on during our distant reunions and say, remember when, those meetings of comparison and competition fueled by alcohol and more failed attempts at scoring with that girl from your second period chemistry class.

But even as those days fade into distant memory, things remain the same. The moonlight rippling on the water’s surface like piano keys, the trees weathered grey lining the dunes scraping the sky with their topmost branches or the way storm clouds rumbled low across the sky like wild horses, manes streaked by lightning, as the beacon at the end of the pier blinked knowingly in the night. The only record of the passage of time being the layers of graffiti covering its base, of lovers come and gone making their history known. It’s a wonder that in a town consumed by cleanliness and the conservation of tradition, this bastion for vandalism and rebellion remained blemished and unsightly. But perhaps it was this conservation of tradition that allowed these acts of declaration to survive throughout the years, as if it were expected, a rite of passage as you entered into the world of the unknown. But even then, we still cling to home. Most of my classmates never left this place. I sometimes think about them and I wonder if they’re happy, if they wished they had escaped. In the time I’ve been away, the solitude of this place still fills the deep places of my body and anchors me home.

The beach is home. Surrounded by waves I feel uneasy, but right at the shore, where the breakers hit the sand, I’m at peace. Here the waves are capricious—soaring wintertime gale-driven breakers, or the smooth early-autumn laps more reminiscent of an inland pond.  The waves hit the sand like exhalations-sometimes panting, sometimes the quiet puffs of a sleepy giant.

I know this beach. I’ve met other beaches and even become friends with them, but I know this one like a brother. Even the irritating squeak of the sand becomes comforting in its familiarity. I once walked a beach where the sand was like mud. We didn’t get along. Here it’s so fine the grains rush over each other in their frenzy to flee the path of your feet—bringing to mind childhood chalkboard nail dragging. But it’s a small price to pay for a perfect hammock, and a free exfoliation to boot.

Water here is clear and cool, or warm and silty. But it never stings your eyes with salt. The breezes that come in off the lake are invigorating in their freshness. It’s almost as if someone wished for paradise: soft sand, azure waves, and no bite of brine to mar the Eden.

For many people, sea and beach are synonymous, but no matter how many calendars try to convince me otherwise, I’ll always think first of the shores of Lake Michigan.

“My” beach is the Chesapeake Bay but you and many others on this blog make me want to see Lake Michigan.  It sounds lovely.  The writing here is very descriptive and the setting would be good fro something longer.  

This is a great story, full of the joy and adventure of youth.  I think it might be better if you broke it up with some dialogue or action.  

In the middle of piles of pillows, waking up to the sound of my alarm buzzing continuously. After hitting the snooze multiple times, I finally wake up and first thing I do is check my notifications on my phone. After I finish looking at my friends posts, I get up to open the window only to find the beach right in front of my eyes. My mom comes into my room to tell my that my dads flight was canceled, so he won’t be back until the following morning. I ask why his flight was canceled, and my mom tells me it was because of a blizzard that was happening. My dad is a business man, so he travels a ton. Usually Americans are known to love snow, well let me tell you something, snow isn’t my thing at all. In fact the one time it snows, I dread going outside, so I just end up staying in bed or being a couch potato. My dad doesn’t really mind snow, but I’m sure he minds the fact that he won’t be home for another day. My mom leaves the room, and closes the door behind her. I turn back to the window and open it to hear the sounds of waves, and light winds from the world outside of our beach house. No need to worry about what clothes to wear on what day, because the forecast is always in for a sunny day. All you think to do in the morning is wake up, eat breakfast, and put your swimsuit, and have fun at the beach with your friends. All you can think of is having beach party’s with friends and coming home from a long day at the beach, tan as a peach. I wash off, eat my dinner, and snuggle into bed. “dan da da dan da dan da” “dan da da dan da dan da” my alarm continues going off in my ear. No need to hit snooze because I knew I was going to wake up to the life of my dreams. I wake up and check the window to see if it was actually real, and all I see is the fall leaves and cars passing by rushing to work. I go back into bed disappointed to see the real world.

A soft buzz begins faint, then with the focus it gains from me, the beeping all of a sudden becomes immensely irritating. With a sweep of a condemning hand, the alarm is terminated, a red glow burning against my turtle shell turquoise eyes, adjusted to the shadows of night.

My analog clock reads five thirty, the sky a florescent yet dark navy, specked with select bits of sugar, gleaming against Earth’s closest star about to rise against the salted sea. After a few minutes of lingering around my bedroom, articles of clothing strewn about the carpeted floor like piles of sand, I realize how close the sun is to peaking above the Atlantic.

This will not be unseen.

I’d throw on some replaceable sweats and rush out of the door, hopping onto my bike and peddling with all my might. The cool, salty air would lash against my face as lush green forests slowly morph into houses, shops, and soon a sleepy town, just now barely awakening from it’s slumber. Soon, the harbor takes shape out of the commercial center of town, a mist lifting off of the sea. The pungent scent of cod forever stained into the docks and boathouses relieves me, unlike any tourists who might turn their nose up at it’s unique scent. I welcome it, when I can notice it, as it is like the familiar scent of home to me.

Then all of a sudden, like a wave upon the shore, I see it.

The sandy shores beckon me towards it’s hypnotic visage. I have no will. My legs and the bay are in control. And just as I reach the sandy soaked shores, icy morning waves crashing against my bare feet, I see it.

The sun peaks up above the ocean, my cloudless sky searing from navy to a bright orange and pink that slowly creeps upon my little hamlet. The ships that dot the harbor take a over burnt color, followed by lighthouses in the immeasurable distance, flashing the last of their light for the night. Soon, the forested hills are slammed with the all consuming light of the rising sun, hills reflecting a glossy verdant tint.

The sun’s furthest reaches grasp at the town, it’s chipped and worn pastel paints glowing in the sun’s light. Yet it still grows far beyond my own sight.

All while the icy waves crash against me and my beach. My wonderfully sandy, rocky, boat catching beach. My town. My county.

I like the passive language and the images you paint are really beautiful and intriguing. I got swept up in the other-worldliness of your writing! There are a few lines that felt awkward – the description of the narrator’s eyes, the phrase “this will not be unseen.” I wish the ending stopped at “…boat catching beach.” But otherwise really magical!

I hate the beach. Let me just say that first. Sunburn. Sand. Waves. Noise. People. What’s so bad about that you ask? Do I really have to repeat myself? Anyway, look, my mom thought it would be good for me to get outside and get some “fresh air.” She told me on Monday, “Virginia, we’re going to take a trip on Saturday!” I hate it when she calls me by my full name. “A trip? Cool.” “Oh, come on,” she scolded, “You don’t even know what I’m going to say!” “Somehow not very reassuring, mom.” I reached for a yogurt in the fridge. I could feel her stare boring into the back of my neck. “Come on, Ginger,” she whined, “we’re going to the beach.” Oh boy. Now she uses my nickname. That means this is serious. “Can’t we do something like go to Great Escape? I could really stand to be turned upside down on some weird contraption that passes for a roller coaster…” I joked. “Or, god, even to the mall. I could use some new sneakers!”

I’m guessing she really needs to get out of the house, but the beach? Shit. She’s already stressed out about the new job, so there is no way in hell I’m going to give her shit about it. OK, I know I already did, but, you know what I mean. Anyway, she started two weeks ago, and there’s this thing called a “lag” that’s been freaking her out. “What the hell’s a lag, mom?” “Ginger, could you please not swear? You know I hate that.” I shrugged a little and waited. “OK, so a lag is where you start the job, and you’ll be getting paid every other week, but they don’t pay you for four weeks the first time. You just have to wait, and hope you have enough money to get through.” Her face was a little flushed and she looked down. I waited. She sighed. Oh… “So, you mean we need to watch our spending for two more weeks?” I said. She nodded, slowly looking up at me, pleading with her eyes. Fortunately for her, I think I can live on greek yogurt and the store brand is on sale ten for five dollars. I don’t really need a lot of stuff, and I can usually make do with what I have. I can live without new sneakers. Oh god. Now I think I might be a total jerk.

So, mom. And the beach. “Well, look mom. The beach is free! It’s cool.” She looked up, smiled. I continued, “We can hang out like we used to before all the crazy…” No, her eyes said, NO! Do NOT say it! I stopped. Silence hung between us like a wet blanket. I held my breath. She looked down again, struggling to sound cheerful, “Yeah, hang out like we used to…” her voice trailed off. I stood, my hip against the counter, awkward and trying to find something to do with my arms. I’m tall for sixteen – six feet tall. I suppose I should say tall for a girl. Well, thing is, I’m trans. Have been ever since I can remember, but I haven’t been out for very long, really.

I’m six feet tall, with shoulder length auburn hair. (Yeah, Ginger. Get it?) I’m not a big fan of the beach because I don’t like to be that exposed, although I can wear a bikini just fine – I have one I really like, but I sunburn kind of easy. I guess mom is trying to heal us – this trip to the beach is maybe an olive branch, if that’s the right term. I don’t think it is. What do I mean to say? She’s trying to make herself feel about me the way she did before I came out. And dad left. Two years ago. I guess maybe dad left because I came out, or was it the other way around? It all kind of happened around the same time, so I’m not really sure which happened first. It’s a blur. I have my memories of things, but not in real chronological order.

Verasalt Beach was teeming with life that hot, cloudless afternoon in August. From volleyball to makeshift water polo on the ocean to castle-building by the shoreline, the densely packed beach was buzzing with activity — and inactivity, as many of the guests were content to bask in the sun and work on their tans. The sound of the crashing waves was met with the cries of laughter and jubilation, the squawking of seagulls and the occasional warning calls blasting through the speakerphones of lifeguards. Leo Palminsky, the Beach’s lone MD, or “Metal Detective,” was standing with the belly of his frail and wrinkled forearm resting on top of his detector’s handle while observing what was transpiring around him. The best part of his job, which he held for 20 years following his early retirement from the US army as an explosives specialist, was not finding and extracting metal objects but witnessing what he called the “good life” on this picturesque beach. For Leo, his 20-year tenure at this job served as much-need therapy from the horrors he had faced as a 21-year-old during the second World War, in particular the dreadful day on Normandy Beach, aka “D Day”, when he took three bullets — two to his torso and one to his hind leg —and witnessed the death of many of his fellow officers, some of them friends. It was June 6, 1944, but that day was still fresh in his mind. But he wasn’t going to let the dark memories of the past seep into the present, however difficult that was going to be. Leo reached into the right pocket of his pants and pulled out a brittle, yellow-stained note that read: “Look around you my friend… observe and absorb the energies of the people and places that surround you, and claim THIS day on behalf of all of us.” This was written by his then best friend, Sheldon, who died from his injuries a few days following D-Day. This had been part of Leo’s routine every day for the past 20 years while he worked on the beach: roam the sandy shores with his detector, pause after an hour or so, and read the note, over which he started to express concern since it was falling part — badly. It was ripped on all sides and the ink was fading. At this point, Leo was paralyzed with indecision; he didn’t want to exacerbate the note’s already poor condition by folding it. While thinking of a solution, Leo felt two sharp tugs of his right pant leg; he looked down to find a stout round-faced boy not older than four or five holding up an empty Ziploc bag. Flanking the boy was his father, who, after letting out a short chuckle, instructed his son, “Alex, don’t give the mister that; it’s garbage!” “Far from garbage my friend,” Leo defended. Funny, nothing could have prepared Leo for that awful day in 1944. Neither could have this moment.

Verasalt Beach was teeming with life that hot, cloudless afternoon in August. From volleyball to makeshift water polo on the ocean to castle-building by the shoreline, the densely packed beach was buzzing with activity — and inactivity, as many of the guests were content to bask in the sun and work on their tans. The sound of the crashing waves was met with cries of laughter and jubilation, the squawking of seagulls and the occasional warning calls blasting through the speakerphones of lifeguards. Leo Palminsky, the Beach’s lone MD, or “Metal Detective,” was standing with the belly of his frail and wrinkled forearm resting on top of his detector’s handle while observing what was transpiring around him. The best part of his job, which he held for 20 years following his early retirement from the US army as an explosives specialist, was not finding and extracting metal objects but witnessing what he called the “good life” on this picturesque beach. For Leo, his 20-year tenure at this job served as much-need therapy from the horrors he had faced as a 21-year-old during the second World War, in particular the dreadful day on Normandy Beach, aka “D Day”, when he took three bullets — two to his torso and one to his hind leg —and witnessed the death of many of his fellow officers, some of them friends. It was June 6, 1944, but that day was still fresh in his mind. But he wasn’t going to let the dark memories of the past seep into the present, however difficult that was going to be. Leo reached into the right pocket of his pants and pulled out a brittle, yellow-stained note that read: “Look around you my friend… observe and absorb the energies of the people and places that surround you, and claim THIS day on behalf of all of us.” This was written by his then best friend, Sheldon, who died from his injuries a few days following D-Day. This had been part of Leo’s routine every day for the past 20 years while he worked on the beach: roam the sandy shores with his detector, pause after an hour or so, and read the note, over which he started to express concern since it was falling part — badly. It was ripped on all sides and the ink was fading. At this point, Leo was paralyzed with indecision; he didn’t want to exacerbate the note’s already poor condition by folding it. While thinking of a solution, Leo felt two sharp tugs of his right pant leg; he looked down to find a stout round-faced boy not older than four or five holding up an empty Ziploc bag. Flanking the boy was his father, who, after letting out a short chuckle, instructed his son, “Alex, don’t give the mister that; it’s garbage!” “Far from garbage my friend,” Leo defended. Funny, nothing could have prepared Leo for that awful day in 1944. Neither could have this moment.

As I tread down the beach, the silver sands bask in the light like pixie dust in this fairyland. The lofty coconut palms oscillate as a warm, tropical gust whistles. As the sun drifts down the horizon, it hides behind the clouds shyly with the sky’s cheeks blushing a pink hue. As I sit on a rock and am sprayed with cool brine, I gaze at the fathomless ocean churn. As I return home, I ponder over the years that have gone by and the things that have changed. As I live, the one thing that is constant is the beach.

The Beach Cool and calm would how the ocean would be described by her best friend. Jade stared at the waves as they pushed in and out. She was sitting on the sandy shore, wishing that it were dawn already. The stillness welcomed unwanted thoughts and disturbed her peaceful surroundings. How could she think of anything else at a time like this? The ocean personified, that’s ridiculous. If it were a person it would be irrational and angry. The ocean continuously stirred, in a ceaseless rhythm that warranted disruption. She wiggled her toes a little in the sand. Feeling its cool, grainy texture reminded her of how much she hated the beach. The ocean, the waves and its cool salty air. Too overwhelming for the senses she thought. How could anyone escape when there was just as much noise here than anything else in her head. So why did she come then? It was not anyplace she wanted to go, yet she still arrived. Waiting, for own thoughts to be interrupted by an expected visitor. Pulling her knees in closer, she looked over her left shoulder. Seeing nothing but endless beach and her parked car. She turned to face the water again, not bothering to look over her right. She would hear whoever was coming.

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Write that Scene

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How to Write a Beach Scene

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• At first, focus on the overall atmosphere.

» A. To start your story, describe the weather, the crowd and their activities.

I.      Begin with the weather but ease your way into describing what the five senses are experiencing. Describe the feel of the sand between the character’s toes, the brightness of the sun in their eyes, the sounds of the waves, the sounds of children playing in the sand, the taste of the ocean water. Here are some words you can use:

  C. Smell: Seaweed/saltwater Feel: Humid sea air Gritty sand Cool water

II.      Use metaphors, similes and color to breathe life into your scene. The ocean is an aqua blue, the sand is pale yellow, and the sun is a fierce, hot yellow. The sky is a gorgeous light blue with big, fluffy white clouds. Here are some phrases you can use:

  C. Long golden sands with the waves lapping on the shore.

  D. First thing that hit him/her was the salty air.

Jonah hadn’t been to the beach since his first semester of college started. It had been a long couple of months but he survived nonetheless. And, instead of going to a frat party to drink himself silly, he wanted to revisit the place where he first fell in love with life. Could it have been the dazzling sand that sparked in the golden sunlight, or the hungry seagulls beating their wings against the ambush of wind.

Listening with both an open heart and ear, Jonah heard the waves crashing against a nearby rock. This rock had been the go-to place for him as a kid. He used to jump off of it and into the water, or sit on it and read his favorite book.

As the memories poured in, Jonah headed over to the rock where he knew a flood of happiness would follow him. The best stress relief wasn’t popping pills or smoking a joint with his buds, nah… it was the peaceful serenity of the beach. The smell of saltwater traveling up his nostrils, releasing a spell-like hypnotic trance on him. Yes, it was the gritty sand against his bare feet, the tall, hard rock positioned appropriately against his butt as he read a book.

But it didn’t end there. The one thing that made Jonah always returned to the beach wasn’t only because of those reasons. It also had to do with the feel— the emotion he got whenever he looked out far into the ocean. He would forget all forms of agony, pain, regret and frustration. A strong since of peace and calm resided over him always. Only the beach made him feel such things.

With the infinite blue sky above promising sunshine, and the big, fluffy white clouds adding a touch of ecstasy.

Though, all of this fantasizing buildup went out his mind the moment he saw Carolyn, the life guard. She was ten years older than him, but ever since Jonah could remember he had a major crush on her. Watching her sexy body climb up in her high chair with the binoculars in one hand and a whistle around her neck, gave Jonah an idea. A devious idea. The other beach goers meant nothing to him; he wanted her to notice him one way or another…. even if it meant fake drowning.

• Something interesting should happen, no doubt.

» A. A bit of mystery and action is always a good thing.

I.       Maybe the character moved to another part of the beach and it’s a lot louder or quieter? Or maybe there’s music, dance and a party.

Example 2:   

Then it happened. Just like that! No thinking, no pauses: Jonah jumped into the water, screaming. Carolyn looked his way immediately. Running quickly to save him, she blew her whistle for back up and used her binocular to find the fallen body. Jonah saw her every move through his squinted eyes, however he knew in order to make it look realistic, he had to go under water. So he did and in the water below, he pictured Carolyn rescuing him and kissing him…. uh, I mean… doing CPR.

» B. How does the environment affect your character and what’s happening to them? Use the background to emphasize the character’s emotions rather than describing them.

I.     Be sure to give vivid imagery. Allow your reader to continue to see what is going on, in order for the scene to have a realistic feel. What I mean by that is, while you’re talking about the drama, mystery or action events that unfold, every so often add in the “normal stuff” that happens around the character. These can easily become a symbolic meaning. Here are a few “normal, symbolic meaning stuff” to give you an idea:

  C. Playful seal take a ride in a wave = happiness, childlike mindset, freedom, endless joy

  D. A whale surfacing to get a breath can be seen. = revelation, secrets unfold, epic adventure lying ahead

  E. Fishermen’s lines hanging off the pier into the water in hopes of catching dinner. = a new start, overwhelming beginnings, hope for the future, determination to improve one’s circumstances

  F. The sunlight starting to fade = dreams are lost, stuck in darkness, forbidden love

  G. Surfers exit the sea, and build bonfires in the pits and you smell marshmallows burning in the fire. = treasuring the here and now, aspiration ideals about life and upcoming events, finding happiness in the simplest of things

In other words, relate it back to what is going in the story. If your character is talking to a guy she likes, insert a part in your scene about a seal talking a ride in a wave. If your character is feeling miserable and is walking on the beach feeling lonely, insert a part in your scene about them seeing the left overs of children’s sand castles. Come up with your own if you like. Example 3:   

Jonah had been knocked out — he really drowned himself without realizing it. The hot and heavy daydream about Carolyn saving him made him forget to come up for air. By the time Jonah work up, he saw seaweed piled in heaps in various spots on the beach. There were no children and broken shells lined the water line which was filled with debris.

“What, where am I?” Jonah said. Carolyn hovered over him. “Did I go to hell?” Jonah stood up. “There’s no way because you’re here. Tell me, what happened, Carolyn?”

• Identify the main purpose of this scene. Don’t let it linger on without meaning.

» A. Connect all that you can in this scene with your plot. Enhance the characters, bring in new revelations, and/or establish a long-lasting setting that will take place throughout the entire novel.

I.        What significant thing happens during this scene? Is it someone that your character meets? Something they find? What important event unfolds and how does your character handle it?   II.     What is the next step? If the scene’s purpose was for your character to meet someone, then are they going to leave the beach and go somewhere else to have a more serious, maybe private conversation? If not, the beach can be their go to area where they meet in secret, far, far away from the rest of the world.   III.      Does the ocean or animals on the beach have any relevance? Or does this scene on pertain around human beings and their behaviors toward one another? Animals can potentially save your character if they are about to drown. Animals can be in danger and your character tries to help them, and, in the process, they meet the love of their life or a true friend that wants to help this animal too. Hint: it could be the lifeguard.  

Example 4:   

Carolyn spoke with such elegance. This was the first time Jonah heard her speak. “Your heart stopped beating and I had to do CPR on you. The ambulance is on its way so hang in there, okay.”

“Wait, Carolyn,” Jonah tried to speak as best as he could, “before they take me away, I want to say I love you so very much.”

» B. Exit the scene in style, and leave hints about if the character will return or not.

I.      One of the best ways to finish a beach scene is to show how the scenery, setting and/or environment took effect on your character. For instance, did your character have more peace after visiting the beach or feel anger. Then, connect it back to your plot. Whatever trials and tribulations your character faced throughout the book, take from your simple beach scene and incorporate into the story.

Let’s say at the beach your character finally learned how to swim. Then maybe later on in your book have the character save someone who is about to drown, or join a swimming competition. Another example is if your character met someone. Maybe that special someone can later be of importance to your protagonist

II.      What is the most important image/memory that both the character and reader should take from this scene? It could be as small as the walk on the beach to as big as learning how to swim, finally. You decide. And, with that image/memory, have your character reminisce about their time on the way back home. Give them a short dialogue or monologue, saying how their time was well spent. (Unless, of course, they had a miserable time at the beach).

Example 5:   

Carolyn giggled. “I know,” she said, “before you woke up you were mumbling to yourself. I know everything. All about your crush, all about your fake drowning attempt.”

“And you’re not mad at me?”

Carolyn shrugged. “I was. But I guess I forgave you.”

Jonah closed his eyes and smiled. “See, this is why I love you. I don’t know you very well but your awesome personality shines through.”

“Don’t be corny,” Carolyn said.

“No, I’m being serious. When the ambulance comes to take me away, will I be able to see you again?”

Carolyn nodded. “Of course. You can always find me here.”

“Right, I almost forgot. Silly me. You’re a life guard.”

Carolyn turned red. “Um,” she said softly, “not just a life guard.” She pointed down. “I’m also a mermaid. The ocean is my home.”

Jonah looked down at the large, purple fin he had been resting on. Surprised to see that it was real and in no way a trick, he fainted once again. This time, he had a very vivid dream that only he will ever know about.

  ** !You might have to scroll down the textbox with your mouse!

   Jonah hadn’t been to the beach since his first semester of college started. It had been a long couple of months but he survived nonetheless. And, instead of going to a frat party to drink himself silly, he wanted to revisit the place where he first fell in love with life. Could it have been the dazzling sand that sparked in the golden sunlight, or the hungry seagulls beating their wings against the ambush of wind. Listening with both an open heart and ear, Jonah heard the waves crashing against a nearby rock. This rock had been the go-to place for him as a kid. He used to jump off of it and into the water, or sit on it and read his favorite book. 

      As the memories poured in, Jonah headed over to the rock where he knew a flood of happiness would follow him. The best stress relief wasn’t popping pills or smoking a joint with his buds, nah… it was the peaceful serenity of the beach. The smell of saltwater traveling up his nostrils, releasing a spell-like hypnotic trance on him. Yes, it was the gritty sand against his bare feet, the tall, hard rock positioned appropriately against his butt as he read a book. But it didn’t end there. The one thing that made Jonah always returned to the beach wasn’t only because of those reasons. It also had to do with the feel— the emotion he got whenever he looked out far into the ocean. He would forget all forms of agony, pain, regret and frustration. A strong since of peace and calm resided over him always. Only the beach made him feel such things.  With the infinite blue sky above promising sunshine, and the big, fluffy white clouds adding a touch of ecstasy. 

      Though, all of this fantasizing buildup went out his mind the moment he saw Carolyn, the life guard. She was ten years older than him, but ever since Jonah could remember he had a major crush on her. Watching her sexy body climb up in her high chair with the binoculars in one hand and a whistle around her neck, gave Jonah an idea. A devious idea. The other beach goers meant nothing to him; he wanted her to notice him one way or another…. even if it meant fake drowning. Then it happened. Just like that! No thinking, no pauses: Jonah jumped into the water, screaming. Carolyn looked his way immediately. Running quickly to save him, she blew her whistle for back up and used her binocular to find the fallen body. Jonah saw her every move through his squinted eyes, however he knew in order to make it look realistic, he had to go under water. So he did and in the water below, he pictured Carolyn rescuing him and kissing him…. uh, I mean… doing CPR. Jonah had been knocked out — he really drowned himself without realizing it. The hot and heavy daydream about Carolyn saving him made him forget to come up for air. By the time Jonah work up, he saw seaweed piled in heaps in various spots on the beach. There were no children and broken shells lined the water line which was filled with debris.

      Carolyn spoke with such elegance. This was the first time Jonah heard her speak. “Your heart stopped beating and I had to do CPR on you.The ambulance is on its way so hang in there, okay.”

        Carolyn giggled. “I know,” she said, “before you woke up you were mumbling to yourself. I know everything. All about your crush, all about your fake drowning attempt.”

Jonah looked down at the large, purple fin he had been resting on. Surprised to see that it was real and in no way a trick, he fainted once again. This time, he had a very vivid dream that only he will ever should know about.

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7 thoughts on “ How to Write a Beach Scene ”

this really helped my grades thank’s

You’re welcome Claudia. Spread the word, fellow writer! 🙂

This is good but sadly not what I need rn

Hello :P, can you give us an idea of what you were looking for?

This helped me a lot . Thank you . can you help me with the picture description please

i love this website it helped me so much

This is a really good website, thank you!

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Beyond creative writing prompts: how to build a writing routine

While writing prompts are a great tactic to spark your creative sessions, a writer generally needs a couple more tools in their toolbelt when it comes to developing a rock-solid writing routine . To that end, here are a few more additional tips for incorporating your craft into your everyday life.

• NNWT. Or, as book coach Kevin Johns calls it , “Non-Negotiable Writing Time.” This time should be scheduled into your routine, whether that’s once a day or once a week. Treat it as a serious commitment, and don’t schedule anything else during your NNWT unless it’s absolutely necessary.
• Set word count goals. And make them realistic! Don’t start out with lofty goals you’re unlikely to achieve. Give some thought to how many words you think you can write a week, and start there. If you find you’re hitting your weekly or daily goals easily, keep upping the stakes as your craft time becomes more ingrained in your routine.
• Talk to friends and family about the project you’re working on. Doing so means that those close to you are likely to check in about the status of your piece — which in turn keeps you more accountable.

Arm yourself against writer’s block. Writer’s block will inevitably come, no matter how much story ideas initially inspire you. So it’s best to be prepared with tips and tricks you can use to keep yourself on track before the block hits. You can find 20 solid tips here — including how to establish a relationship with your inner critic and apps that can help you defeat procrastination or lack of motivation.

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

Beach - quotes and descriptions to inspire creative writing

• beach grass
• beachcombing
• Caribbean Island
• ice cream van
• ideas to write a story
• ocean shore
• sea pebbles
• tanned skin

Rocks of barnacle crown and seaweed garland adorn the beach as titan crowd.

A chorus of sun-warmed grains sings the melody of the beaches right into my core.

As the seabed swaps the salty brine for oceanic air, we see the beach rise from lacy waves.

Upon the sunny beach, upon the rising gold, my eyes listen to the light as it plays upon seawater.

When these boats of nature's tide, these free sailing sun-kissed branches, come to rest upon either pebbles or golden sands, they sit as kings adoring the seawater view.

There is a soft song of the marram grasses, the green lullaby that speaks so well to the soul without even a whispered word.

The softened hues of the beach at eventide are the colours of my ever-dreams.

The sand is the most gentle hue of gold, almost earthen and muted, the humble star of the scene. I love this beach. I love the driftwood that comes upon the buoyant waves as tiny rescue boats. Then there is the seaweed, that flora of those salty waves, as deeply green as any high summer foliage. My favourite though, of everything that is here upon the softly rolling dunes, is the tall, tall grass that whispers so sweetly into the gusting breeze.

The beach stretched out alongside the water, these constant friends chattering as the water comes in her reassuring way, as if her joy is to soothe the sand. And in her wake she gives the chance for life, for the rock pools to refill. Those briny waves come as rain to a dessert, a gift never repaid, as it always is with nature... the strong give, life thrives... and so it goes on.

Upon this primrose sand, the hue as gentle on the eye as a vintage photograph, there is a steady warmth from the grains. Already the stars glow as if they have kept a pocket of the daytime to shine all through the night sky. Sometimes I think the earth and the moon choose to give of their borrowed warmth and light until the return of the sun, the brilliance forever promised at dawn. Until then, here I remain, breathing deeply of ocean carried air, listening to the percussion of waves that has been my lullaby since before I was a consciousness wrapped in human form.

Jerry sat on the beach, his eyes moving from sand to stone, from rock pools to breaking waves. In the gentle spring sunshine he felt as if he were swimming in the briny aroma, as if the new rays of the day brought a frisson of energy to his finger tips. It was a day for letting his eyes stay open, as he were an old fashioned camera, remaining still while the image developed. The gulls brought their hight notes to the percussion of pebbles at the shoreline. It was a day for dreaming, for allowing time to move fast and slow.

The rain gives of herself unto the ocean, each fragment becoming apart of the body of brine, of the waves and sea-lace. I hear each watery gift, softer than the patter on a rooftop, moving in subtle waves of its own according to the wind. I wonder if this is how music began, how mankind thought to conjure song and dance, by hearing the natural rhythms of nature. Upon the sand, the rain is almost silent, enriching the hue from cream to ears of summer maize.

The sand is softly golden with just the right comforting warmth. To rest on the beach feels like a cosy hug, one only matched by the sunshine filled sky. Tom stretches out both arms and legs to look like a boy-starfish, his grin growing slowly into a broad smile. The only marker of time today is the sun above, the moments savoured by the waves that wash the sands in white lace.

With browning legs curled under, dusted with sand like flour on bread, I sit close to the lapping waves. They feel warm and cool, like tea that's been forgotten and returned to. My fingers wiggle in the water, in these lips of the ocean as she sings. In this place I will remain until the tide is lower, scooping the sand that runs like cold lava through my star-fish fingers and onto the dry beach. With each handful I twist my body as if dancing in a chair, gazing at the falling sand. Below it rises a drip-castle, a sandcastle that looks for all the world like a melted candle. By sunset there will be a long skinny line of them following the ocean as she chases the moon.

In twilight the beach was tinted sepia, the sand more orange, the water darker, our skin soft to the eye. We sat there, Tara to my left, Leon to my right, just taking in the evening and chatting in our characteristic pattern, the laughs and the serious intermingled.

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70 Picture Prompts for Creative Writing (with Free Slides)

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Visual writing prompts help young writers generate new ideas and overcome writer’s block. We’ve put together 70 picture prompts for creative writing that you can use in your writing centers or lesson plans to get your students’ creative juices flowing.

Picture Writing Prompts for All Ages

Writers of all ages and experience levels can get stuck thinking about what to write. Writer’s block is not just a challenge for reluctant writers. Even professional writers have days when they feel less than inspired.

Visual prompts can result in a vast array of story ideas. A single image viewed by ten writers will result in ten completely different stories. Even if you use verbal cues to get students thinking about the picture, each student will still write a unique response to the image.

Visual creative writing prompts are fantastic for elementary school because younger students often relate more to a pictorial prompt than a written one, but don’t shy away from using these with high school and middle school students as well. Pictures make a fun alternative to your typical writing prompts and story starters and can help shake up your regular routine.

How to Use Picture Prompts for Creative Writing

There’s no limit to the ways you can use writing prompts. Here are some of our favorite ways to incorporate image prompts into your weekly lesson plans .

• Writing Center. Print cards or writing pages with these images on them and put them in a writing center for your students to discover at their own pace.
• Specific Skills. Use story picture prompts to help kids work on specific writing skills. For example, you could work on descriptive writing by having them describe the setting of the picture in detail. Or you could work on character development by having them make up a history for a person in a picture.
• Warm-up Activity: You could pop the pictures into Google slides and project an image on a screen or whiteboard for the first fifteen minutes of class and have students work on a short story as soon as they enter the class.

No matter how you decide to use them—whether at home or in the classroom—photographic writing prompts are a great way to cultivate a daily writing habit and encourage kids to explore new topics.

70 Pictures for Writing Prompts

We’ve selected 70 of the most interesting pictures we could find for this exercise. When choosing photos for writing prompts, we look for high-quality photos with intriguing subject matter, but we try to go beyond that. We want to share images that suggest a story, that make the viewer ask questions and wonder why things are the way they are.

We want to feel propelled to explore questions like, What happened before the photo that led to this moment? What are we witnessing in this photo? What’s about to happen?

A photo doesn’t make much of a story starter if it doesn’t suggest that there might be a bigger picture lurking beneath the surface.

We hope you and your students love these picture prompts for creative writing as much as we do. If you love them, go ahead and scroll to the bottom to grab your own copy.

We’ve included a couple of questions with each picture that you could use to spark pre-writing conversations in your classroom, which can be helpful when working with younger students who might need a little more direction.

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Whose cat is this? What is he looking at? Where is he?

What is the owl thinking about? Is he alone? What does he hope to eat for dinner?

Who are these frogs? What is their relationship with each other? Why are they taking photos?

How did the dog get a phone? Why is he taking selfies? What is he doing with the pictures he takes?

This cat doesn’t look too happy. What’s bugging him? Did he get too many phone calls or is he waiting on an important call that’s taking too long to come?

What do these chicks think of the dog? What does the dog think of the chicks? Do you think they can communicate with each other? If so, what would they say?

Where do these lemurs live? What are they looking at? What is something unusual that might happen to them?

What is this fox doing? Is he yawning and stretching or is he trying to scare someone away? What kind of mischief does he like to get up to?

Is this wolf alone? If not, who is with him? What is he planning to do? Does he have a family to feed or protect?

What is this child doing on the laptop? Can he actually read and type or is he just playing? If he can read and type, how did he learn that at such a young age? What other cool things can he do?

Where is this woman? Is she lost? How did she get to this street? What interesting things might she discover as she explores this new city?

Why is the dog wearing glasses? Can he see through them? What are he and the girl doing? How does he feel about it?

Who are these two little boys? What is their relationship with each other? What is the teddy bear’s story?

Who are these children? Why are they running? Is it a race or are they playing a game? Who’s going to win?

Whose horse is this? Does the little boy own it or does he just visit it? Can the horse talk? How does the boy feel when he’s with the horse?

What is this boy reading? Does the book have magical powers? Does the boy? Do the stories in the book become real or does something else special happen?

Where is this man? How did he get there? What is he looking for?

Who is walking over the bridge? What’s on the other side? Is it worth the risk?

What are these people doing on the elephant? Where are they? Are they tourists or is the elephant their pet? What would life with an elephant be like?

Who made this map? It looks old. Has it been hidden away for a long time? Who discovered it and how? What does it lead to?

Whose typewriter is this? What important or secretive thing might they be working on? What could happen if the wrong person finds their work?

Who are these three stuffed animals? Are they living? What is their story?

Whose ukulele is this? Why did they leave it here? Who might find it?

Where is the owner of the bike? Where does this path lead? What if the bike’s not there when the owner returns?

Whose shoes are these? Why did they leave them here? Why are they so dirty?

Who was reading the newspaper? What was the most interesting thing they read? Where have they disappeared to?

Who put this sign on the old truck? What do you think of it? How did the truck end up in its current condition and location?

Who set the table? Who are they expecting? What special occasion are they celebrating? What could go wrong?

Whose birthday cake is this? Are they having a party? Who is there? Who did they want to have there that didn’t show up?

Who lives here? How do they access their home? What is their life like?

Who built the igloo? Where is it? How does it feel to spend the night inside it?

What is the history of this castle? Who lives in it now? Does it have any special or magical features?

Is this barn abandoned or do people live on the property? What kind of animals might live here? How do they keep themselves entertained?

What is it like living on a houseboat? What kind of community do you think forms among the neighbors? Imagine you live on one of these boats and think about how your daily life might change. What interesting things could you do if you lived here? What would you miss the most?

Where is this hut? Who lives here? What mystery might unfold if a stranger came knocking at their door?

What is this lighthouse called? Who runs it? How often do they leave? What is the most memorable experience they’ve had as a lighthouse operator?

How did this house get here? Does anyone live in it? What would life be like here?

Where is this festive street? Are the people there celebrating something? Where is everybody?

Who lives here? How did they build this house? Are they hiding from something? What does it look like inside?

Whose notebook is this? Why did they leave it here? What’s written in it and how might it change the life of the person who finds it?

What are these women doing? What are they supposed to be doing? Will they be in trouble if they get caught?

Who might be represented in this statue? Why is she being pulled by lions? What amazing things might she have done to deserve a statue in this prominent place?

Where is this? Who is riding in the hot air balloons? Where are they going and why?

How old is this tree? Where is it? What are some of the most fascinating stories it could tell?

Where is this carousel? Who is riding it? Can you think of a special or strange story about how it came to exist in this particular place?

What are these people thinking about? What’s at stake for them? What happens if one of them sneezes?

Where are these penguins? What are they talking about? Which one of them is the leader?

What is this place? Was it designed to be open like this or was it once part of someone’s home or a public building? How have people’s opinions of this place changed over time?

Who are these kids? Is this what they’re supposed to be doing? What happens when their teacher sees them?

Who is supposed to ride in this boat? Where are they going? Will they make it there?

Is this plane special to someone? What did they have to do to get it/build it? Where will they fly to in it?

Who decorated this train car? Which passengers will fill it up? What will they talk about?

Whose skis are these? Why are they sticking out of the snow? How did their owner get down the mountain without them?

Where does this gondola go? Who rides it? How does it feel to ride it?

Who’s driving the monster truck? Why is it at the beach? What is it going to crush? Who is watching?

Where is the boat going? Who is on it? What is their mission?

What city is the helicopter flying over? Why? Is the driver looking for something specific or do they have a special delivery?

What’s the little boy doing in the boat? Is he alone or is someone with him? Where is he trying to go?

Who is in the sub? What’s it like inside? What are they doing?

Whose book is this? What’s it about? What’s happening to it?

How did that piece of land with the house on it break off from the rest of the world? Why? Where is it going? Is anyone in the house?

Who is this girl? Where is she? Who is she shooting at?

Where does this scene take place? Is the lizard/dragon good or bad? What is its relationship with the girl?

What do these books represent? What kind of world is this? What (or who) is inside the books?

What are these dinosaurs discussing? Where are they? What do they do for fun?

Whose cottage is this? Do they still live there? If not, where have they gone? If so, what do they do there?

What is the moth thinking about? Is it alone? What’s the biggest challenge it faces in this moment?

Who is the owl looking at? Has it read these books? What is its greatest talent?

Where are these trees? Why are they pink? Do they have any special powers or features?

What do you think? Which kind of pictures do you like best for creative writing prompts ? Let us know in the comments.

Tuesday 5th of March 2024

I LOVE these! My daughter has always struggled with written story prompts and an internet search this week convinced me of the value of picture prompts for reluctant readers/writers (https://youcanjournal.com/journal-picture-prompts/ if you're interested!). I'll definitely be using these to help improve her writing skills. Thanks so much!

Tuesday 26th of December 2023

I think the idea of using picture prompts is a great idea. It initiates oral language thus building vocabulary. It allows lends itself to students working in small groups to stimulate new ideas. The prompts engage the students and gives the teacher the opportunity to focus on specific writing skills.

luke elford

Wednesday 13th of December 2023

cloey mckay

Tuesday 17th of October 2023

I tried this with myself and my 6th-grade students, and they love it. it gives room for so much creativity.

Nayyar Abbas

Tuesday 30th of May 2023

This is very good idea and it really works, viewing these one try to think one's own way that what these pictures are telling or asking? I also recommend that this idea should also be given to the students for building their creative instinct.

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Beach Writing Prompt

Longing for a sunny day at the beach? I bet your students are, too!  Add some summer fun to your writing stations with this fun beach writing prompt . It’s perfect for kindergarten and first-grade kids.

With helpful vocabulary cards to help brainstorm ideas PLUS writing templates that make it easy to differentiate, this activity will shore-ly  be a hit!

Scroll down to grab your freebie and jump over and snag our Writing Center Starter Kit for some more writing practice!

Getting Ready

Prep for this beach writing prompt was a breeze.

I printed the writing templates on plain white copy paper and the vocabulary cards on cardstock so that they could be used again and again.

Then, I cut up the vocabulary words along the black lines to separate them.

Viola! We were ready for some creative writing fun!

In my small group, I laid out all of the vocabulary words on the table.

The first student grabbed the mini sand shovel, pointed to a word and said the word out loud:   dolphin.

To get some creativity flowing, I then encouraged all the students to tell me everything they knew about dolphins.

They came up with some wonderful facts and fiction!

Once all the vocabulary words had been discussed, I put all the words in a pile and had each student draw two words to use in their story.

I let students choose the paper they liked best – providing multi-lined paper for my beginning writers and single lined paper for my more advanced students.

As they wrote, I worked my way around the small group and helped kids correct their punctuation, capitalization and spelling.

It was so fun to see the creative beach stories that students created.

It will definitely be on our classroom bucket list again next year.

Snag Your Copy

Scroll down to grab your free writing prompt!  Then, jump over to our shop and check out our Writing Center Starter Kit   to set up your very own writing center!

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