Descriptive Writing - The True Secret to Sensory Writing
Let's face it - not everyone is a natural at descriptive writing.
It can be difficult for some writers to break away from professional standards, and add a bit of poetic description to their writing.
So, if you're not a natural descriptive writer, what can you do? What is the secret to descriptive writing? There is no one answer to this question - rather, it's a combination of things that allow for proper descriptive writing.
Here are a few simple tips to help you to discover the "secret" to good descriptive writing.
Imagination Imagination is the first requirement for truly descriptive writing.
In order to describe something while you're writing, you have to have the ability to conjure it within your mind.
Are you describing a beach? You need to be able to smell, see, hear and touch all of the elements of the descriptive scene.
Are you writing about love? You need to be able to feel the anticipation, excitement, and warmth of the emotion.
A great imagination is the single best thing you can have as a descriptive writer.
Alliteration While not a requirement, alliteration is a wonderful way to work a subconsciously pleasing element into your descriptive writing.
Alliteration is simply including several words in a sentence that begin with the same letter.
Note the first sentence in this paragraph: "-wonderful way to work".
It adds flow to the sentence, without making it sound awkward.
Eventually, descriptive writers find this skill to be second-nature, but you may have to work at it.
Next time you're describing something, try using two compatible adjectives in a row that begin with the same letter.
Innovation With descriptive writing, you have to stay away from cliche phrases and adjectives.
This may mean being innovative about how you describe something.
Try to invoke sensory responses in your writing in new and exciting ways.
For example, instead of describing a girl this way: "she was as pretty as a picture", you could describe her as being "as beautiful as a summer sunset over the savannah" (notice the alliteration in that phrase as well).
By being innovative in your descriptions, you will be able to convey a clearer, more vivid picture with your writing.
It can be difficult for some writers to break away from professional standards, and add a bit of poetic description to their writing.
So, if you're not a natural descriptive writer, what can you do? What is the secret to descriptive writing? There is no one answer to this question - rather, it's a combination of things that allow for proper descriptive writing.
Here are a few simple tips to help you to discover the "secret" to good descriptive writing.
Imagination Imagination is the first requirement for truly descriptive writing.
In order to describe something while you're writing, you have to have the ability to conjure it within your mind.
Are you describing a beach? You need to be able to smell, see, hear and touch all of the elements of the descriptive scene.
Are you writing about love? You need to be able to feel the anticipation, excitement, and warmth of the emotion.
A great imagination is the single best thing you can have as a descriptive writer.
Alliteration While not a requirement, alliteration is a wonderful way to work a subconsciously pleasing element into your descriptive writing.
Alliteration is simply including several words in a sentence that begin with the same letter.
Note the first sentence in this paragraph: "-wonderful way to work".
It adds flow to the sentence, without making it sound awkward.
Eventually, descriptive writers find this skill to be second-nature, but you may have to work at it.
Next time you're describing something, try using two compatible adjectives in a row that begin with the same letter.
Innovation With descriptive writing, you have to stay away from cliche phrases and adjectives.
This may mean being innovative about how you describe something.
Try to invoke sensory responses in your writing in new and exciting ways.
For example, instead of describing a girl this way: "she was as pretty as a picture", you could describe her as being "as beautiful as a summer sunset over the savannah" (notice the alliteration in that phrase as well).
By being innovative in your descriptions, you will be able to convey a clearer, more vivid picture with your writing.
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