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Descriptive writing

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17 views

Descriptive writing

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Uploaded by

swati4always
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Descriptive writing

Posted onDecember 5, 2018 ByThe Lingwist

1. What is description?

In descriptive writing, a description is a picture in words that helps the reader see, hear, taste, smell, or
feel something that the writer has experienced.

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2. Steps and criteria

When we write a description, we must remember to:

– Begin with a hook that tells what the description is about.

– Use exact, vivid words to create a picture in the reader’s mind.

– Include important details about what you are describing.


-Put details in time order, spatial order, or in order of importance.

-Use sensory words that help your reader picture what you are describing.

– End in a way that wraps up the description.

3. When Description Is Used

4. What effective descriptive writing looks like

Authors of descriptive writing use a variety of styles and techniques to connect with readers, but
effective descriptive writing often shares these characteristics:

 Vivid details. Specific details paint a picture in the reader’s mind and appeal to the reader’s
senses. Descriptive writing may also go beyond creating a strong sensory impression to give the
reader a “picture” of the feelings the description evokes in the writer.

 Figurative language. Tools of the writer’s craft such as analogy, simile, and metaphor add depth
to authors’ descriptions.
 Precise language. General adjectives, nouns, and passive verbs are used sparingly. Instead,
specific adjectives and nouns and strong action verbs give life to the picture being painted in the
reader’s mind.

 Thoughtful organization. Some ways to organize descriptive writing include: chronological


(time), spatial (location), and order of importance. Descriptive writing about a person might
begin with a physical description, followed by how the person thinks, feels and acts.

See Also: Argumentative writing

Expository writing

5. Descriptive writing techniques

There are lots of different ways you can make your writing more descriptive. Here are a few of the most
common descriptive writing techniques:

5.1. Metaphors

A metaphor is a descriptive technique that likens one thing to another. Take a look at these examples of
common metaphors:

 My child is the light of my life.

 He’s the black sheep of our family.

 She’s a tornado that destroys everything in her path.

By stating that one object is another, you’re saying they share certain traits. You aren’t saying they’re
indistinguishable or that they’re actually the same object; you’re expressing that the reader will
encounter these specific traits in a very similar way in both objects.

5.2. Similes

A simile is like a metaphor. And yes, that was a simile.

Just like a metaphor, a simile describes something by comparing it to something else. The difference
between the two is that a simile uses the word “like,” “so,” “than,” or “as” to make the comparison. For
example:

 The building was as tall as Mt. Fuji.

 She drives faster than a NASCAR racer.

 They ate like a bunch of vultures.

With a simile, the comparison typically isn’t literal—it’s hyperbole that emphasizes the statement being
made, much like it does with a metaphor. If you aren’t familiar with the term “hyperbole,” don’t fret—
we’re covering it later on in this section.

5.3. Sensory writing

Sensory writing depicts a scene through your senses. Take a look at these examples:
 When the cool water splashed my face, the contrast made me realize just how red-hot my skin
had gotten.

 Their home always smelled like freshly baked cookies; a constant cloud of chocolatey, sweet
warmth wafted through the house.

 The sticky substance reached every centimeter of my skin, oozing into my pores and gluing my
fingers and toes together.

As you can see, sensory writing typically incorporates other kinds of descriptive writing, like similes,
metaphors, and hyperbole.

Freewriting is a great way to channel your senses and craft some spot-on sensory writing. Just open your
word processor or notebook and start writing what you think, feel, or have experienced. There are no
rules, no restrictions—just move everything that’s happening in your mind onto the page, walking
through sensations like how you feel, what you hear, what you see, and what these

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