A Guide to Descriptive Writing
Descriptive writing makes reading a more visual experience.
Utilize descriptive writing, to show not tell your story to readers.
However, it is important to note that if passages of descriptive writing are too long or too complex, they will slow your story down.
Alternatively, the story's development and readability fall flat if you do not use a variety of types of words.
Take time to choose your words carefully, expand your vocabulary, and practice descriptive writing.
Below are some tips that may improve your descriptive writing.
Metaphors compare one thing to another.
Utilizing this technique is not saying the objects you’re comparing are the same, but that your audience can note shared traits between the two.
Example: Jordan is a living map.
Explanation: Of course, Jordan is not literally a living map. What the map and Jordan have in common is geographical information and the ability to help others navigate locations without getting lost. What the writer has done here is demonstrate to readers that Jordan has an excellent sense of direction.
Similes also compare one object to another but discuss one thing as being like another.
You will often find words such as “like,” “so,” “than,” or “as” used in similes.
Example: Diego soars across the soccer field like a jet.
Explanation: Again, this is not a literal statement. The author shows us that Diego is a fast runner and creates a vivid image in the reader's mind that would not have been present if they had simply stated that Diego is fast.
Make a Statement with Hyperboles
Hyperboles are exaggerated statements.
They are used to make a point.
Example: Math class lasts a million hours.
Explanation: Your readers will know there is no way a class can realistically last a million hours, but they will understand the feeling of time dragging on when you’re doing something you do not enjoy.
Adding sensory details is a great way to help your reader experience your story.
Depending on the character and story, sensory details may include sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.
Be careful not to overload passages with sensory information.
Only use what is needed to communicate with the audience.
Example: Cold, wet glue dripped from the bottle onto her fingers; the tangy, chemical smell flooded her nose. She rubbed it between her thumb and long finger, relishing the transition from silky gliding fingers to tacky digits to peeling the cast of her fingerprint away from her skin with the satisfying crinkle of crisp paste.
Explanation: In this description of glue on skin, readers encounter details of touch and smell. Although this scene is not happening to readers at this moment, they can easily recall the smell of glue and the feeling of it between their fingers.
Choosing vivid language can form a clearer image in your reader’s mind.
For instance, you may select words that more accurately convey what you’re aiming to communicate, whether you are simply searching for a synonym to vary language or trying to locate a word with a more nuanced meaning.
Example: “The knight entered the kingdom on the back of a horse.” vs. “The knight stormed into the kingdom on the back of a mighty stallion.”
Explanation: Having a knight storm in on a stallion rather than enter on a horse is a much stronger, more heroic image. Additionally, stallion may be a better word choice than horse because it is specific. The word stallion tells the reader the horse is male and could be used for breeding, which, since this is a knight’s horse, could be relevant since it could be used to breed warhorses.
Crafting a visual experience for readers marks successful descriptive writing, but you also want your readers to experience your work emotionally.
For your story to reach its full potential, you need to incorporate feelings, whether those feelings are positive or negative.
Example: Desiree felt the weight of the empty space in bed pressing down and stealing her breath like a knee to the chest. She was cemented in place, limbs unfeeling, as she floated above the bed tethered to her body but no longer secure within.
Explanation: Here, the author shows the readers a woman dealing with the pain of grief and the hollowness that sometimes accompanies it. Most readers have experienced some level of loss in their lifetime and will understand and emotionally connect with Desiree.
Source ⚜ Descriptors ⚜ Common Metaphors ⚜ Mixed Metaphors
Plot ⚜ Character ⚜ Worldbuilding ⚜ Imagery ⚜ Notes ⚜ Writing Sounds
