Descriptive writing

In a nutshell

Writing to describe transforms ordinary, plain text into writing that is so highly detailed that it appeals to the reader's imagination by drawing them in and allowing them to imagine what is being described. In this summary, you will learn how to create a piece of descriptive writing that brings text to life by using a variety of descriptive techniques.

Getting started

Before you begin the piece of descriptive writing, it is important to consider your form, your audience and what exactly you need to describe. In order to create an effective description, you need to organise your ideas carefully so that the description makes sense. Whether a question asks you to describe a completely imaginary scenario or a particular scene, you need to develop your description so that the reader can really imagine and immerse themselves in what you are trying to describe. 

It is a good idea to hook the reader at the beginning of the piece of writing as this keeps them engaged and interested in how the story will unfold. You can plan your descriptive writing in the form of a list, or a thought shower, where your ideas can be numbered into clear paragraphs.

Descriptive techniques

The aim of descriptive writing is to capture, captivate and compel the audience to continue reading. There are a variety of descriptive techniques you can use to make the writing more vivid and interesting. ​

Tip: Avoid describing everything in the same way as this will make the writing lose its impact. By using a range of descriptive techniques, vocabulary and sentence structures you can create a varied and compelling description that will give the audience an escape from reality.

Imagery

Imagery is description that creates a mental image in the mind of the reader through the use of descriptive literary devices.

The five senses

When it comes t​o senses, don't just mention how things look. It is important to maintain the attention of the reader by describing how things look, sound, smell, feel and taste.

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Example

Describe your perfect morning:

"Stepping into my favourite bakery, I could smell the aroma of freshly baked blueberry muffins. As I sat down at my usual table by the window, I heard the soft clatter of a student's keyboard as he eagerly typed away. I gazed outside the window to watch the people in suits passing by and felt grateful to be away from the hustle and bustle of the morning rush to work. The waiter brought over my caramel macchiato and the heavenly smell seemed to greet me with a good morning. I clasped my hands around the mug to feel its warmth as I sipped the strong yet sweet coffee which felt like liquid silk as it ran down my throat."

Personification

Personification gives inanimate objects or abstract nouns human qualities that can paint a picture in the mind of the reader.

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Examples

• "The trees danced in the breeze."
  
• "Fear crept through the streets."
  

Adjectives, adverbs and verbs

Always try to use an interesting variety of adjectives, adverbs and verbs in a creative way. These can elevate a simple sentence into a vividly descriptive piece of writing.

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Example

Take the phrase "My day at the zoo". By adding a few adjectives, a verb and an adverb, this sentence becomes "My crazy adventure living at a secret abandoned zoo". Simply by adding a few adjectives, adverbs and verbs, you can elevate a simple piece of text into a description filled with imagery.

Similes

A simile is a form of figurative language which compares two different things which have something in common, using the words 'like' or 'as'.

Examples

• ​"Her eyes were as green as a spring meadow."
  
• "They fight like cat and mouse."

Metaphors

A metaphor is a rhetorical device that directly refers to a person, object or situation as something it is not, without using 'like' or 'as'. Metaphors do not refer to things in a literal sense, but instead, they refer to it as something else in order to create a more imaginative figure of speech. Metaphors are able to convey descriptions and ideas more easily than literal statements.

Example

• "The sun is a creature of habit."
  
• "The snow was a blanket of white on the ground."
  

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Oxymorons

An oxymoron combines two contradicting ideas to create a vivid figure of speech. 

Examples

• ​"Deafening silence"
  
• "Clearly confused"
  

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Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeic words sound like the sound they are describing.

Examples

• ​Snap
  
• Crash
• Beep
• Pop

Alliteration

Alliteration is a sound device that involves the repetition of a sound or letter within a sentence.

Example

"The beautiful blue bird burst out in song."

Assonance

Assonance is the repetition of similar or identical vowel (a,e,i,o,u) sounds in a series of phrases or words. Assonance is a good way to reinforce and draw attention to words by giving them a stronger effect on the reader.

Example

"Audacious Ava ate all the birthday cake."

Consonance

Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds within a sentence or phrase.

Example

"Mike likes his new bike."

Sibilance

Sibilance is the repetition of 's' sounds, often to create an eerie description.

Example

​"The slimy snake slithered slowly in the sand."

Use a combination of the devices above to create a written world the readers can get lost in. Remember to plan and structure your ideas so you don't end up listing places and events without developing their description.