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The Room Checklist Here's an approach -- more of a recipe, actually -- to help

 you get started writing those great room descriptions. Answer each of these

 questions about each of the rooms you create and you'll be well on your way to

 writing better.







Size/Scope

How big is the room? In Zork: The Undiscovered Underground, I thought it would

 be amusing to have a broom closet which was huge enough to support weather

 patterns. So, think about the size of the room. To say it's a living room isn't

 enough. Is it small? Cramped and tiny, just big enough for the furniture? Or is

 it immense, the size of a small football field?

Ceilings

 Is there a high ceiling? Is it vaulted? Or low enough to make the room feel

 cramped? Are there skylights? Can you see the cobwebs in the corners? Are there

 footprints up there? What color are the walls?

Floors/Ground

 Is the flooring marble, wood, carpeted? Can you hear your footsteps echo?

 Squish? Is the floor tiled -- and if so, is the tile a black-and-white

 checkerboard pattern or terra cotta? Is the ground a dirt path? If so, are

 there plants along the side of the path? Does the path go straight or does it

 meander? If you're on a lawn, is it neatly mowed or wild? Are there flowers or

 bushes?

Walls

 Are the walls wallpapered? Painted? Natural stone? Do they emit light? Reflect

 light? What's on the walls -- paintings? A mural? Windows?

Lighting

 Is it dark and gloomy or bright and sunny? Are there shadows in the corner? Is

 the place lit by natural lighting? Does the sun stream through the windows? If

 so, can you see dust particles dancing in the rays? Or is the sun glinting off

 the glass coffee table?

Mood

 Well, what's the room's atmosphere like? Gloomy? Somber? Happy? Whoever lives

 or lived here would likely have the room reflect their general mood. A

 depressed person is not likely to have yellow-and-red throw pillows.

Senses

It's always a good idea to work as many of the senses into the room description

 as is reasonable. For example, what does the room smell like? Musty? Sweet from

 incense? Can you smell stale cigarette smoke? What can you hear? The dripping

 of a faucet? The rippling of water that flows by?