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How to Describe a Portal in a Story

By Isobel Coughlan

Do you need some help in writing a magic portal in your novel? Below we explain how to describe a portal in a story.

Something that produces a steady or dull light .

“The gateway seemed to be glowing every time someone passed through it. It was an intriguing sight.”

“You couldn’t ignore how the door was glowing . It caught your attention and made you want to see what was behind it.”

How it Adds Description

The word “glowing” shows that the portal emits a soft light, which can capture the characters’ attention and draw them toward it, but some might feel uneasy around the “glowing” as it’s strange. It can show your readers that the portal is magical or unlike other things in the human world.

Something that’s difficult to find or notice.

“The entrance to the new world was hidden , and it only revealed itself to those worthy of entering.”

“She tumbled through the hidden passageway, and when she steadied herself, she was in a new realm.”

You can use the word “hidden” to show that your portal is obscured to the majority of characters. Therefore, when a character finds the portal, it shows they’re worthy of entering or have a mission to complete there. “Hidden” might also signal that the characters who live on the other side of the portal don’t want to be found.

3. Extraordinary

Something that’s very special or extremely good.

“The wardrobe was extraordinary . Who knew a snowy forest was hiding behind some old fur coats?”

“He looked up at the extraordinary archway. It was decorated with fine details and beautiful materials.”

“Extraordinary” gives the image of a portal that’s awe-inspiring. This is a great adjective to use if you want to show your characters are fascinated by the portal. You can also use it to differentiate the portal’s elaborate design from more normal objects in the story.

4. Peculiar

Something that’s unusual or strange in a negative way.

“The wise old man ushered the group through the peculiar doorway. Though they were unsure, they followed his instructions into the unfamiliar universe.”

“She watched as a group of elves popped out of the peculiar opening. It looked like they’d been on a rough journey.”

If you want to create a sense of uncertainty or strangeness around the portal, “peculiar” can help. This adjective shows that the portal looks odd, which might make characters fearful or apprehensive to go through it. It could also signify that whatever lies through the portal is also negative or strange.

5. Miniature

Something extremely small , and often something that usually appears much larger.

“There’s no way you came through that miniature gateway. It’s too small to fit my foot in!”

“From a distance, the portal looked miniature . But when you were standing right in front of it, you had to strain your neck to see all of it.”

Not all portals are large, and “miniature” can be used to prove this. “Miniature” shows the portal is extremely small, and this may make characters worry about passing through it without getting stuck. It could also show how some characters physically can’t get through, leaving them out of the adventure. This could leave larger characters feeling upset and left out.

6. Enormous

Something that’s very large in amount or size.

“When they arrived, he felt fear rush through him. The entrance was enormous and much more imposing than he imagined.”

“As a child, the wardrobe seemed enormous . But today, it looked like an average piece of furniture you’d find in any store.”

“Enormous” can be used to give more details about the appearance and size of your portal. Since “enormous” shows the portal is large, your characters might be amazed by the sight of it. It could also scare them, as something so big could feel unnatural or formidable to them.

7. Unfamiliar

Something people have not experienced or seen before.

“She gasped at the unfamiliar cluster of lights before her. There was no way that she was meant to go through them.”

“He winced as he stepped towards the portal. Everything about it was strange and unfamiliar .”

Unless characters have prior experience with portals, it will likely feel “unfamiliar” to them. This could cause some characters to feel anxious. However, it could also excite them due to the prospect of a new world and a unique experience. Characters excited at the prospect of going through an “unfamiliar” portal may yearn for more action or change in their lives, implying that their day-to-day schedule is quite dull.

Something that’s dimly lit and quite unpleasant .

“The passage to the new planet was murky , and a simple glance at it sent chills down his spine.”

“Slowly, he approached the murky gateway. It was unpleasant, but he focused on what lay ahead.”

The adjective “murky” can be used to give a negative impression of your portal. This shows that it’s either scary, dark, or dirty, which can further imply that going through it might be an unpleasant experience. Only brave characters might pass through a “murky” portal.

9. Sinister

Something harmful or evil.

“The only thing between him and his true love was the sinister doorway.”

“She held her breath, closed her eyes, and jumped through the sinister window.”

“Sinister” can describe a portal that looks evil or leads to a distressing place. Some characters might avoid it completely and think of it as a bad omen. Others might be drawn to it through morbid curiosity.

10. Ancient

Something that’s from the very distant past .

“The ancient gateway consisted of crumbling columns wrapped in vine leaves.”

“On one side, the door was ancient . But on the other side, it was futuristic.”

To give your portal a sense of age, you can use “ancient.” This adjective is linked to the distant past, and you can use it to show your portal belonged to a specific era. This might make characters curious, especially if they want to visit a particular time period.

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alittlehumbugcalledShe Active Member

Is there a way of describing a door opening that isn't mind-numbingly boring.

Discussion in ' Word Mechanics ' started by alittlehumbugcalledShe , Feb 3, 2021 .

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_8e134078bf38d7cb091398d928b47049'); }); As above. It's important in the scene that the door does open, but all I can think of is stuff that makes my eyes roll out of my head. You know what I mean: "The door to the library swung/fell open...", etc. It's not exactly groundbreaking stuff, I admit. It's also not the worst out there, either, but the thing is that I've read this kind of sentence so many times that my eyes just skip over it if I come across it. I'm just trying to find if there's a new way of doing such things. Has anyone found an example by an author where they've used a more interesting, NOT mind-numbingly boring way of describing such mundane things (even like 'she boiled the kettle', she closed the door', etc.)? I've been trying to find examples in the books I've got, but they all seem to do it the same way. Perhaps the mundanity of it IS the right choice to make, after all, but I'd love a second or third opinion from you guys!  

Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_8e134078bf38d7cb091398d928b47049'); }); What's wrong with just saying the door opened? It's not a spectacular event that demands creative description.  

Bruce Johnson Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2023

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_8e134078bf38d7cb091398d928b47049'); }); New here, so take it with a grain of salt. I'd say the act of opening or closing a door is fairly mundane and just describing it (the sound, vibrations, etc.) should be enough IF it is just part of natural action. But, if opening it immediately (or even early in the ensuing scene) reveals something shocking or leads to something significant, perhaps describing it metaphorically to fit the scene MAY be something to consider.  

peachalulu Member Reviewer Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_8e134078bf38d7cb091398d928b47049'); }); Unless it's opening to another dimension or revealing a shadowy maniac or a long lost love I wouldn't put too much oomph into it. Some sentences are meant to be bricks and mortar.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_8e134078bf38d7cb091398d928b47049'); }); Thanks everyone! Yeah, I think you might be right - sometimes it is better to just keep it simple, after all. If I'm still not happy with it, I can maybe mark it in red and come back to it. Thanks again!  

Xoic Prognosticator of Arcana Ridiculosum Contributor Blogerator

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_8e134078bf38d7cb091398d928b47049'); }); Yep, this goes back to the conversation we had a while ago about Hemingway and his (apparent) disdain for fancy ways of describing things (though he was guilty of that sin himself in some early works). We sort of landed on the idea that, if it's important enough, go all out (within limits) otherwise just write it. No guarantees, but I'll see if I can dig it up.  

Friedrich Kugelschreiber marshmallow Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_8e134078bf38d7cb091398d928b47049'); }); I tend to prefer that descriptions of doors opening be mind-numbingly boring.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_8e134078bf38d7cb091398d928b47049'); }); Xoic said: ↑ the conversation we had a while ago about Hemingway Click to expand...

• Smoothest Flow Possible
• How do I make my writing less wordy?
• What are some examples of the "simple but vivid" description that Chekhov talks about below?

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_8e134078bf38d7cb091398d928b47049'); }); To use an example from that last thread (my 1st post on it): "The wind blew." Personally that feels really flat and lifeless to me. I prefer something like "The wind swept across the field of head-high grass, stirring it gently." But it all depends on why your door opens, and what it means, especially to the POV character (the one the story is being told through). What kind of mood are they in? What does the opening of the door mean to them in this moment? Are they expecting a jealous boyfriend to step in with a butcher knife? Or maybe Ed McMahon with a giant check? Or maybe he thought he was the last person left alive on Earth? The situation you've set up creates the meaning of the opening of the door. Should it creak ominously (hopefully in less stereotypical terms)? Should it open silently and smoothly? Is there light behind it, and darkness in the room? Or the other way around? Is it symbolic of something emotional, something powerful? If it's just another inhabitant of the house or apartment stepping in for no special reason, you probably don't even need to say the door opened. There's a thing in movies called coverage, where the director (usually an underpaid and overworked second unit director) shoots a lot of people walking down corridors, doors opening and closing, people getting in and out of cars, etc, just in case it's needed for the edit, though much of it lies unused. In a good movie anyway. In a bad movie it might all get used.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_8e134078bf38d7cb091398d928b47049'); }); Xoic said: ↑ Haven't found it yet, but here are 2 threads that came up in the search exploring very similar ideas: Smoothest Flow Possible How do I make my writing less wordy? Bingo! Here's the one I was thinking of: What are some examples of the "simple but vivid" description that Chekhov talks about below? Click to expand...

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Fantasy Castle: Gallery, Blueprints And Ideas

When we come across a fantasy castle in a story, it sparks our imaginations. We imagine the stonework, the parapets, the swallowtail flags flapping in the breeze, and the soldiers lined up along the walls. And some of the battle scenes involving fantasy castles are quite simply mind-blowing.

These structures are unmistakable—looming, stone fortresses that dominate landscapes, and which dominate so many of our favourite fantasy stories. 

But how do we come up with ideas for such castles and keeps? How do we find inspiration for that beautiful fantasy castle that lives long in our memories? And how do we describe a castle in a story that blows readers away?

What Is A Fantasy Castle?

Fantasy castle art gallery, fantasy castle layout and blueprints, fantasy castle designs and ideas, beautiful fantasy castles, what fantasy castles are inspired by real castles, how do you describe a castle in writing, how do you come up with ideas for a fantasy castle, more guides on fantasy castles.

When we think back to some of our favourite fantasy books, there will undoubtedly be some that feature a castle or two.

For me, the one that springs to mind is Legend by David Gemmell. If you’re unfamiliar with the story, it’s basically about the greatest army of all time besieging the greatest fantasy castle ever built. Well worth checking out, especially given Gemmell’s symbology—he wrote the tale when he was suffering from cancer. The army represents the cancerous cells within him, and the fortress is him, resisting. 

Another famous fantasy castle can be found in Lord of the Rings. In fact, two decisive battles in the books are sieges—Helms Deep and Minas Tirith.

If you’re trying to visualize the interior of your fantasy castle, floor plans, layouts and blueprints can come in handy. Firstly, by using them you can ensure that you’ve included all of the essential rooms. You don’t want to spend an age making something and then realise you’ve not included any privies (toilets).

Secondly, in laying out our blueprint you can properly understand where all of your characters may be positioned at any given time. You’ve probably read a scene in a fantasy book involving a castle under attack. Characters are split up and have to find each other before making their escape. If you’ve laid out your castle using a floor plan, you can follow their every movement and work out which parts could be ripe for problematic obstacles. 

To help give you more of an idea of how to approach creating a fantasy caslte layout, let’s take a look at some examples:

Now you have some examples, try sketching out your own. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

If you’re not sure what features to add, why not check out my guide to medieval castles here. You can learn about all the different structures and rooms that were found in a castle and what their purpose was.

We’ve spoken much about the medieval castle, but not much about the fantasy castle. So in this section, we’re going to look at some awesome fantasy castle designs which may give you some ideas and inspiration for your own writing. For even more ideas and inspiration for fantasy castle designs, including images and examples, head over to my Pinterest page . 

This one here would be very fitting in a dark fantasy story!

For more fantasy castle art, head to Pinterest. You can also check out Deviantart for more. Deviantart is the world’s largest online social media platform for artists and a hub for amazing sci-fi and fantasy art.

As well as the wonderful concept art above, I’ve also included some great images that capture what the essence of truly beautiful fantasy castles. And that is, that it should take the breath away. inspire intrigue and curiosity. Make you want to explore, or to fear.

Here are some fantastic examples of a beautiful fantasy castle.

When we encounter a fantasy castle in fiction, there is undoubtedly some kind of real-world influence. From the shape of parapets to conical towers, many fantasy writers draw their inspiration from fortifications that existed in the past.

In this section, I wanted to show you some real-life examples of fantasy castles to give you an idea of how writers can delve into the past to create their own fictional fortresses.

Petra, Jordan

While not a medieval castle as such, the structures carved into the rocky cliffs of Petra inspired my own fantasy castle in Pariah’s Lament .

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Petra dates back to 312 BC and here it is, still standing in 2021. Its structures include tombs, temples, a treasury and an amphitheatre.

Imagine the ways that you could adapt something like this to your creations.

Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire

Arguably the inspiration for that famous school of witchcraft and wizardry, Hogwarts in Harry Potter is said to have been based on Kenilworth Castle, found in Warwickshire, England.

Like Hogwarts, Kenilworth Castle has a sprawling lake, known as a mere, which provided much-needed defence from attacks. Curiously, this moat was man-made by damming two streams.

Maiden Castle, Dorset

Maiden Castle is said to be part of the inspiration behind the iconic Minas Tirith in JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series, namely featuring in the Return Of The King.

Minas Tirith was known for its layered rings which rose gradually as it climbed the peak of the hillside.

Maiden Castle is of a similar design. First occupied around 6,000 years ago, it was developed heavily in the Iron Age into a vast settlement, heavily fortified with earthwork ramparts and ditches.

Just imagine such a feature for your own fantasy castle. Defenders could fall back in stages if overran, bleeding the attackers out as they progress through the defensive fortifications.

Dover Castle

One of the strangest fantasy castles, and one that often gets queried by fantasy writers and readers, is the Eyrie from Game of Thrones. Seemingly sitting atop a slender mountaintop, with its most iconic feature being the ‘Moon Door’ through which people are hurled to plummet through clouds to their death, it lived long in the memories of many readers and watchers.

But surely it’s not based on a real medieval castle? Well, don’t get too excited. In fact, aspects of The Eyrie are inspired by medieval history.

Features such as the ‘Moon Door’ are no different from murder holes, or machicolations to give them their formal French title. Many a medieval castle has such a feature, but rather than throwing prisoners through them, they were more used for defending the walls from attackers, with burning pitch and skull-crushing stones dropped through.

In terms of the height of the Eyrie, Beeston Castle is an example of a fortification that was built upon a hill. Little remains of this medieval castle, but its location was no doubt selected to be visible to all—a symbol of power. In medieval writings, it was referred to as Castellum de Rupe or the Castle on the Rock.

If you’re looking for ways to describe a castle in writing, such as a story or a h istory project, help is at hand. 

There are a few simple approaches you can adopt and each one achieves different things. 

First, I like to think of unique ways of describing the castle. Readers will get bored if you go down the “a stone structure with four towers in the corners and walls joining them”. A good technique is to sit and think of the uniqueness of the castle and how you can convey that image to other readers in ways that help them see what you’re seeing.

One of the best ways to do this is to use relatable metaphors and similes. To describe the parapets of a castle wall as “stone teeth”, or the “gate being as solid as a shield made of butter”, helps create imagery in the reader’s mind. The clearer that image the better.

Another effective method of describing a castle in a story is to use the  5 senses .

Let’s take a look at how each sense can liven up your descriptions beyond just visual imagery:

• Sound – medieval castles were busy places, with lots going on. There would have been peasants working in the baileys, tending to animals like pigs and horses. There may have been barracks in which soldiers are training, with steel clanging and clashing. Archers may have been practising too, with arrows thudding into targets. Think of industries too, like blacksmiths who may have been forging weapons and armor. This is just a snapshot of the potential sounds of a medieval fantasy castle.
• Smell – like the above, smells will also accompany a lot of the sources of noise. So animals will stink, moats (often used for dumping excrement in) were stinky things. Clothmakers and tanners all worked in very smelly places too.
• Taste – medieval food included the likes of game, and roasting meat such as pigs and boars.
• Touch – with the insulation not as heavily invested in beyond tapestries, rugs and hearths, medieval castles were cold and drafty.

How To Write A Story That Takes Place Only In A Fantasy Castle

Recently, someone asked for tips on writing a fantasy story that is set only in a castle.

This type of story is tightly linked with  worldbuilding  and requires a focus on character interactions and conflicts. Secrets, interpersonal struggles, and unexpected events can  help create tension  and drama.

Additionally, there could be a mysterious or spooky aspect to the castle, such as ghosts or  demons . Despite the limited setting, it’s essential to describe the castle in detail, including the layout, colors, lighting, and other atmospheric details. Experimenting with narrative structures like  flashbacks  or multiple perspectives can also help keep the story engaging.

When it comes to coming up with ideas for a castle in our fantasy stories, we tend to gravitate to what we know. Below we’ve seen some castle art and looked at how to draw fantasy castles, both of which can give you ideas.

But in this section, I wanted to give you some specific tips which I hope you may find useful.

• One way to make a castle in a fantasy story unique is to think about altering its design. I like to think about the key features of a castle, so the gatehouse, the walls and parapets, to name a few. Parapets in particular can be carved into all different kinds of shapes and styles.
• Think about the location of the castle or keep. The fantasy castles in Lord of the Rings , for instance, always had quite eye-catching locations. Rivendell upon the banks of a river, Minas Tirith built into the mountain, and so too Helms Deep.
• Another way to approach designing a fantasy castle is to think about how it interacts with your world. For example, does magic exist? If so, what limits does it have and what can it be used for? Raymond E. Feist, for instance, uses magic wielders in his Riftwar Saga to build cities and strongholds, with each different magic user having a unique skill, just like we have bricklayers, electricians, plasterers and so on.
• Sticking to the subject of magic, can this influence the design or defences of the castle in your fantasy novel? What if magical forcefields are in place, meaning there’s no need for a wall? You can find a good example in James Barclay’s  Chronicles Of The Raven  series. One of the main characters finds himself besieged by an army. To protect himself and everyone else within the fort, he creates a magical wall with the help of some demons. Anyone who touches the wall dies, their soul sucked into the demon world. Barclay introduced a clever bit of conflict here. The besieging enemy rounds up innocent citizens and forces them to march into the magic wall. This tests the resolve of our main character and shows what you can do with magic and fantasy castles. 

These are just a few ideas to help you when it comes to thinking about ways in which you can create original designs for your fortresses. Another very useful thing to try is to create a castle floor plan. Let’s take a look.

Thank you for reading this fantasy writing guide on the fantasy castle. If you’re looking to learn more about  writing fantasy  or about castles generally, check out this list below. There’s a wealth of information for you to devour:

• If you’d like to check out some discussions and opinions on different fantasy castles, check out this  thread on r/fantasy  on the most iconic fictional castles. This thread on  r/worldbuilding  is also very useful.
• If you need help  creating names for your fantasy creations , like castles and forts, head here for a detailed guide with lots of advice. You can also head here to check out my  fantasy name generator  tool
• Something that’s found in castles are weapons, and if you want some help and advice, check out this guide on  fantasy weapons  here.
• Archery  also featured a great deal in the defence and attack of castles and you can find a full guide here. 
• If you want to learn more about the types of armor worn by defenders and attacks you can check out this guide to  fantasy armor  here, and also this guide on the lives of  fantasy knights . 
• When it comes to bringing your castles to life, it can help to draw a map of the layout, or of the surrounding area. Head here to check out my  how-to guide on creating a fantasy map

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to get in touch .

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richiebilling

About author, related posts, medieval castles: a complete guide, a guide to siege warfare and tactics, everything you need to know about fantasy and its sub genres, 24 comments.

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Very informative.

NOTE: I think, when you were describing the “gród” that you mean “encircling” rather than “circular” wall. “Circular” indicates a round shape, where “encircling” refers to enclosing or surrounding a space.

Excellent article, great to see genuine content we can all learn between all users. I do as make tutorials and videos for others, if you have Instagram I would be happy to have you as follower : https://www.instagram.com/earthbydrones Have a good day! Earth By Drones Com Jeff

Thanks! I’m delighted you found it helpful! I don’t have instagram unfortunately. Are you on Twitter?

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Read my debut fantasy novel, Pariah’s Lament

Read my guide to writing fantasy, A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook

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