1.
Key Dimensions for Object Description
Dimensio Purpose Sample Vocabulary
n
Material What the object is gold, leather, wood, glass, paper, stone, silver,
made of plastic
Color Its visual hue black, red, turquoise, yellow, green, grey
Shape Its general form square, triangular, rectangular, circular
Size Scale or magnitude tiny, small, medium, large, huge
Age Newness or wear new, old, ancient, worn-out
Opinion Descriptive fine, strange, ugly, elegant, ornate
evaluation
Location Placement in the on the table, beside the bench, at the edge, by the
scene window
2. Sentence Starters for Describing Clues
Use these to integrate vivid descriptions smoothly into your writing:
● Material & Size:
○ "A tiny silver key lies half-buried in the garden’s grass."
○ "A weathered leather-bound journal sits warped by damp."
● Color & Shape:
○ "A bright red envelope, square and sealed, waits under the doormat."
○ "A circular bronze locket swings from the doorknob."
● Opinion & Age:
○ "An ancient copper coin, tarnished and oddly smooth from handling."
○ "A strange glass vial, pristine despite its clearly old design."
● Location Context:
○ "A worn-out paper map lies next to the shattered window."
○ "A tiny gold ring glimmers on the windowsill, bathed in afternoon sun."
3. Show It, Don't Tell It
Tell Show
The key was small. The brass key sat on the stone ledge, slender and cold in the
afternoon shade.
The document was The parchment’s edges curled yellow and brittle, the ink faded but
old. still defiant.
The watch was The silver pocket watch gleamed with obsessive polish, its tick
valuable. unnerving in the hushed room.
The vial looked odd. The glass vial trapped light in its seams like trapped
fireflies—beautiful, yet haunting.
The book seemed A hardcover book bound in cracked leather bore a title in
important. embossed gold, unreadable yet commanding.
4. Quick Tips for Strong Descriptive Writing
1. Layer descriptors:
Combine material, color, and size in one phrase: e.g., “a tiny, tarnished silver key”.
2. Use sensory language:
Think of how the object feels, smells, or sounds (e.g., “the glass vial rattled faintly
when nudged”).
3. Embed significance:
Make the object hint at character or narrative (e.g., "The torn letter, soaked in tea,
smelled faintly of roses—her signature fragrance").
4. Set the scene:
Use location to suggest action or history ("The yo-yo lay beneath his feet as if
dropped in the final struggle").
