Category: Writers Block
A little bit about writing descriptively. Read this and successfully take your readers in to your stories.
In Many countless murky encounters, I discover a vast emptiness. One that is constantly filled with stories that appear as freshly picked but not yet refined. The edges are rough, and the huge void is not filled. I look in to it feeling disconnected, looking in to the hollow nothingness with sad blue eyes. I wish it could be filled, but alas…..
Numerous entries I’ve read have no descriptions. Even more tell rather then show. This is a constant struggle for many writers old and new alike. Fortunately, there are quite a few questions you could ask yourself to enhance your story and show readers rather then tell them.
Readers aren’t there merely to look at the words and the formation of them. They aren’t even there to learn the story. They must see, understand, comprehend, and imagine.
Take them on a trip. Allow them to travel in to your world and actually spot the objects along with the people. Replace this world with your own. Make them believe they live in your world and has always been there.
Don’t Just let them see, but also touch, feel emotions, smell, taste, and hear. Make this a completely tangible world.
You could use the questions below to help you think. Put your ansers in your story. If it’s necessary draw or use other forms of art to aid you in completing this exercise
What does the setting look like? This is most important. If a person is suppose to be in your sene and be your character he mus know the basics. He must know his surroundings. Examine the room object by object. Try to explore the room completely when in it. Find a way to describe a little bit of every object. When describing an object ask yourselves the following:
What does this object look like?
What does the object appear like?
What’s it’s form?
How about it’s size?
How about color?
How does it feel?
What texture?
Does it have any special features?
Bumps or dents?
Soft or hard?
Does it ever emit any noise and smell?
Why does it emit the noise?
Is the noise high or low?
Is it loud or soft?
When does it emit the noise?
What smell does it emit?
Is it a welcoming smell?
When does it smell?
Is this smell strong?
Will everyone like the smell?
Does this object trigger any emotional feelings for an individual?
Why does it? (perhaps bring up a memory?)
Who is this person? We must not only understand the surroundings. We must also understand the individual. Kind of a lesson in understanding oneself and the role one plays in a story.
What’s his personality?
Values?
Trait?
What’s he like?
What does he look like?
Hair, eye, and skin color?
Tall?
Muscular?
Plump?
Describe other features?
What’s his backstory?
What’s his emotion at this given time?
If he’s not talking what sounds does he hear?
Inside of his house or houtside?
Is it loud?
What kind of sound is it?
How does it sound like?
What movements does he do?
How does he perform his action?
How does he move and act when the dialogue is occurring?
What thoughts does he think?
Are they everyday thoughts?