Show Don’t Tell Paint a Picture with Words Details
Descriptive writing appeals to all of the reader’s senses: sight, touch, smell, hearing, taste. Good descriptive writing can evoke feelings in a person. If you find your writing too vague, go into the details of the person, scene, or object. Use words that show the details rather than tell about them.
Organize your description before writing: If you just bought an antique car, don’t describe the outside, go off on a tangent about the former owners, and then describe the interior. Organize by time, location, and importance. What is important about the geography of your locale or its historical significance? Create a backdrop. Determine what sets your subject apart. By using descriptive writing you can avoid boring explanations.
Write about the peculiarities of a place or object and odd quirks and habits of a person, not what the reader already knows: the sky is blue, the stars are bright. Don’t just list items; make your verbs have them do something. Avoid general nouns, adjectives, and passive verbs. Pass up clichés and idioms. Learn how to use similes and metaphors. Don’t describe what the reader already knows.
Begin organizing your descriptive writing practice by choosing a person, or an object, or place that you want to write about and think about the features and characteristics associated with the subject. Organize the details into a logical sequence. Use all five senses in your planning.
Next, draft your essay. Remember to show not tell. Don’t use too many adjectives and adverbs. Be specific. You are not writing a list of items; you are describing a scene. If your object is in a yard, pick an interesting perspective from which to describe it—from a tree house; your kitchen window; your neighbor’s yard. Your perspective can change how the object looks. Practice writing it from different viewpoints to get the one you want—just as you would take a photograph from different perspectives.
Begin with a descriptive sentence to draw the reader into the story or make a general statement and begin to elaborate on it. Conclude your story by restating your feelings about it and add how it continues your passion, curiosity—your feelings about your subject.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________