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Descriptive Writing Notes

Descriptive writing is a literary technique that uses detailed observations to create vivid imagery and engage readers through sensory experiences. Effective descriptive writing involves using varied vocabulary, sensory details, and a strong focus on a dominant impression to convey mood and atmosphere. Writers should avoid vague language, excessive adjectives, and clichés, while varying sentence structure to enhance the overall impact of their descriptions.

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aarushashok2011
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25 views

Descriptive Writing Notes

Descriptive writing is a literary technique that uses detailed observations to create vivid imagery and engage readers through sensory experiences. Effective descriptive writing involves using varied vocabulary, sensory details, and a strong focus on a dominant impression to convey mood and atmosphere. Writers should avoid vague language, excessive adjectives, and clichés, while varying sentence structure to enhance the overall impact of their descriptions.

Uploaded by

aarushashok2011
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Descriptive Writing Guidance


 May be real or imaginary
 Base your observation on an actual memory or experience to make your response
more convincing and original
 Use of the present tense gives a sense of immediacy
 Vary the subject and verb in each sentence (Avoid beginning with ‘There is .. ‘ ‘The
storm…’ ‘It…’
 Try to include a range of the following
 unusual vocabulary
 varied vocabulary
 as many of the five senses as possible
 multiple adjectives
 similes, metaphors and personification
 varied sentence lengths
 sound effects (alliteration, onomatopoeia etc.,)
 nouns need to be qualified by at least one adjective, and usually more, to enable
the reader to picture what is being described
 atmosphere can best be created by appealing to all the five senses
 colour is essential for conveying mood
 size and shape are also important elements
(the large, silver-framed, speckled, antique mirror)
 verbs of locomotion describe more than just movement
They convey the gender, age, social status, health, mood and personality of the
character. (The ancient bearded tramp in his tattered grey overcoat and filthy shoes

was shuffling along the damp and littered pavement.)


 a strong descriptive opening will usually set the scene and refer to the time, place,
season or weather
 a strong ending may draw a conclusion
 it is better to write a description of a place at a specific time rather than a general
one

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DESCRIPTIVE WRITING

Definition of Descriptive Writing


Descriptive writing is a literary device in which the author uses details to paint a picture with
their words. This process will provide readers with descriptions of people, places, objects, and
events through the use of suitable details. The author will also use descriptive writing to create
sensory details as a means of enhancing the reading experience. If done effectively, the reader
will be able draw a connection through the use of sensory details that include seeing, hearing,
smelling, touching, and tasting. These techniques will assist you in becoming not only a better
writer, but will also make your writing more engaging for readers.

Descriptive Writing Techniques


Here are some examples of descriptive writing techniques that you can utilize and effectively
apply to your own writing.

Choosing your focus: When you first to begin writing, it's extremely important to decide what
your topic is going to be. This will prevent you from losing focus on the theme or main idea of
your writing. When you decide what you are going to write about, you can begin to add details
about the specific event, object, or person.

Use of words: In most cases, you'll use adjectives to make your writing more detailed for the
reader. For example, rather than just saying:'The dog sniffs around,' yo u'd say: 'The big brown
dog sniffed around the red rose bushes in the front yard.' The use of 'big,' 'brown,' 'red rose
bushes,' and 'front yard' assists the reader in visualizing the event and what the dog looks like.
This process will allow the reader to create a mental image through the use of your word choice.

Reader interest: As a writer, it's important paint a picture with your words. One of the best ways
to do this is through the use of the five senses. This won't only engage your target audience, b ut
it'll appeal to other readers as well. By using taste, smell, hearing, sight, and touch, you are
creating an opportunity for the reader to develop an emotional connection to your writing.

Re-reading and redo: Re-reading what you write is an important step in the descriptive writing
process. This gives you time to reflect on whether or not you need to add more details to your
writing. Putting yourself in the readers' position is important. Ask yourself after reading your
writing, 'Would I be able to understand the main topic of my writing if I had no prior exposure?'
This should indicate whether or not more details are needed.

Always remember, good descriptive writing is done well if the main topic of your writing is
understood by all readers.

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Creating A Dominant Impression
The first step in using effective description is to focus on a dominant impression. A dominant
impression creates a mood or atmosphere in your paper. This mood can be conveyed through
effective descriptive writing. For example, pay attention to the mood in the following paragraph.

My family ate dinner at Merrymead Diner every Friday night while I was a child. We huddled
close in a large, red booth as we scanned the familiar menu. The aroma of gravy over creamy
mashed potatoes lingered in the air. I snuggled close to my mom’s arm as she ordered our drinks.
The waitress brought our thick milkshakes out on a tray and placed them in front of us on a paper
doily. The jukebox in the back played songs that we all knew the words to, and we sang along
until our food arrived, hot and enticing on the table. Outside I shivered in the cold air, but in the
diner I was cozy, munching on crispy French fries and enjoying a hot, juicy cheeseburger.

Can you feel the mood of this paragraph? The author is trying to convey a feeling of safety,
comfort, and happiness. Notice how the author does not tell the reader she feels safe and happy.
She shows the reader through descriptive detail. Her dominant impression is one of comfort and
happiness.

Sensory Details
Sensory description uses sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste to sketch an impression in writing.
Consider a paragraph without sensory description.

My sister and I walked along the boardwalk each afternoon of our vacation. We watched the
ocean and listened to the waves. Usually we stopped for a snack at one of the many stores that
line the boardwalk. Afterwards, we walked along the beach and let our feet get wet.

Now, consider this paragraph with all five sensory descriptors: sight, sound, smell, taste, and
touch.

My sister and I walked along the boardwalk one afternoon on our vacation. The hot boards
warmed our bare feet. We watched the foam-covered waves topple over each other and then slide
back into sea. The crashing water competed with the exuberant yells from the seagulls. We
bought a perfectly oval fluff of pink cotton candy that dissolved sweetly in our mouths.
Afterwards, we walked along the edge of the water, letting the warm salty air blow our hair away
from our necks as the cool water lapped over our toes.

Vivid vs. Vague Language


The sensory details you select in your writing should create for your reader the same picture you
have in your mind. Instead of using vague, general words, your sensory language should be
concrete and sensory-packed. This makes the difference between vivid and and vague language.
Take a look at the comparison between vague and vivid sentences.

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Vague Vivid

The food was


The pale turkey slices floated limply in a pool of murky fat.
unappetizing.

The sprinkler was


The cool water from the sprinkler sprayed our hot faces.
refreshing.

Our old car puffed as Main Street became clogged with a line of clamoring
The traffic was heavy.
motorists.

Vary Sentence Structure


When using descriptive language, it is important to vary your sentence structure. Try to avoid
using the same subject- verb pattern in all sentences. Embedding descriptive elements and
combining sentences can help to avoid the routine subject-verb structure.

The hall was empty. She ran towards the classroom. She entered right after the bell rang.

Varying this sentence structure by embedding descriptive detail breaks the monotonous tone and
the clipped, subject-verb style.

Racing down an empty hall, she skidded into the classroom, breathless, just as the bell clanged
above her.

What to Avoid When Using Sensory Detail


 Too many adjectives—retain only the most powerful words in your writing, deleting any
unnecessary words
 Too many adverbs—verbs are stronger than adverbs
o She strolled into the room is more powerful than She walked casually into the room.
 Clichéd figures of speech—overused language, such as green with envy, signals a lack of
imagination. Use fresh, descriptive words that go against rote thinking.

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