Adding description to your writing

We’re nearly at the deadline for the writing competition. A massive thanks to all those schools who have already submitted their student’s short stories. So today, we’re going to look at the role of description in your writing.

What is it?

Put simply, it’s the words used to describe your character’s surroundings. Where they are, what they can see, what’s around there?

How to use descriptions

Firstly don’t overdo it. A long list of descriptions is not going to make for interesting reading.

Start early. We want to know where the scene is set, so don’t be afraid to start with some description straight away. Let’s build an example:

Bert and Betty went down the escalator into the mall.

There, straight and to the point. We know what an escalator is and we can imagine a mall. But we can build on this.

Let’s add something specific to the scene. A detail or two about the mall:

Built over twenty years ago, the mall was beginning to look tatty. Bert noticed the cracked window as he and Betty rode the escalator.

So now we know the mall is old and in disrepair. But we can add more to it still. Description isn’t just about what the characters see, it’s about other senses as well. Let’s put in some noise and a smell:

The escalator creaked as Bert and Betty rode it down into the mall. The mall, built over twenty years ago, was beginning to look tatty. A harsh smell of disinfectant rose from the floor as the cleaner pushed a mop around the cracked tiles.

So again we bring in another detail that highlights the disrepair of the mall – the cracked tiles.

Another way to bring in description is through the use of action. We can bring in an extra detail, for example:

The escalator creaked as Bert and Betty rode it down into the mall. The mall, built over twenty years ago, was beginning to look tatty. Bert stepped off and walked past a cleaner, harsh disinfectant filled his nostrils.

“There,” yelled Bert and he sprinted past the book store almost tripping over a sign advertising discounted calendars.

You could also have description being voiced by the characters as dialogue, for example:

The escalator creaked as Bert and Betty descended into the mall.

“This place has really gone downhill,” said Bert.

“Remember when it was built?” asked Betty. “It was the place to be seen.”

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