How to Write Better Descriptions and Make Your Writing Style Shine
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- Опубликовано: 4 фев 2025
- Writing clear and captivating descriptions isn't always as easy as it sounds. We've heard from so many writers who struggle with this complex aspect of the writing process. Descriptions have the potential to immerse us in a story, transport us to new worlds, and introduce us to vivid characters. However, description can sometimes bog down your writing, cause scenes to drag, and overwhelm your reader with information. So how do we strike a balance, and find that perfect "sweet spot" for writing descriptions that make us want to break out our highlighters? That's what we're exploring in this episode - with side-by-side examples! So grab a notebook and let's begin!
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OKAY GUYS: long, poetic descriptions... or short, snappy and to the point? Tell us your FAVORITE description style!! 📖✨
Straight to the point so I dont get lost in words that doesnt really matters
I like it to the point, but with some imagery layered in.
I was reading a book review (romance genre) where a user criticized the way the author constantly described the love interest's muscles. I found myself agreeing with the reviewer even though I wasn't conscious of it while I was reading. Anyways, it got me to thinking. I like the author's descriptions. She used good words. But she went overboard. Saying that to say short and to the point is better. But it can't be dull words either or else you will fail in conjuring a mental image. It's such a delicate balancing act and when I read authors who get it right I'm always so impressed.
I feel that some areas of the writing require more lucid descriptions- an AH moment for example. Then again some other vistas could be painted using perfunctory brush strokes. This isn't my final answer😁 I will have to listen to this video once more ....presently I'm still pensive. Thanks- loved the illustration of the " Hair as a Centerpiece" did place a vivid graphic into this very logical explanation...Loved it🙏
something not cliché: butterflies in the stomach. I know what it's like to feel afraid, or joyful, but to conjure a simile or metaphor that isn't overused? I can't find words.
In my college creative writing class, we had an assignment where we had to describe the same moonlit graveyard scene from the perspective of a child, an old woman, and a serial killer. It was a great exercise on how POV should dictate description. Excellent vid, btw (as always)😊💜
I’m gonna try this! Thanks for sharing!
@@kaokurosawa3872 You're welcome 😊
i wish my college had had a real class for creative writing.
What I've learned from RUclips videos, like their's, is that we can start with any details we want... and then add just 1 single action plus back story. Adjusting these additions can change the emotional picture.
Another person's video had something like, "Aga stepped into the bazaar, and was greeted by the scent of cinnamon and other spices. When she overcame the euphoria, she could not stop herself from stroking the silks and tassels."
We could change it to, "Aga stepped into the bazaar, and was greeted by the scent of cinnamon and other spices. She placed her hands over her eyes. For most of Aga's life, her mother used to make similar silk scarves and sell them in a flea market, which also had the same scents. Aga missed her so much."
Both paragraphs have the same physical features, but a completely different reaction.
I was wondering, how can I describe the surroundings of the character?
So-and-so once told me, “if your scene feels flat, change the weather.”
And when I’m writing descriptions (or really anything) I try to ask myself important questions just to get myself started. I love treating the scenes in my books like I’m the set designer for a movie, and I give everything from the scene to the characters a color scheme that is all a metaphor for the internal conflict. The more convoluted the story, the better! Good luck writing to you all!
My struggle is describing anything at all. 😂 so thank you for this.
I love using different descriptions to tell more about my characters. I'm writing a book with multiple POVs right now, and it is fascinating playing with how different characters will see the same situation or bit of landscape. For example, the sound of a river makes one of the characters calm and gives her a sense of being home. However, for another character, it brings up memories of the death of his eldest brother, and the helplessness that he felt in that moment. Of course, you would never want to go on and describe the same exact scene through two different character's eyes, but I think a quick sentence when the POV changes can be an interesting way to establish that we're dealing with another character.
"She was nearly lulled to sleep on her horse's back by the sound of the river as it ebbed and flowed."
vs.
"The violent thrashing of the water against the rocks made his stomach churn and brought back memories he'd rather forget."
How can I describe the character’s world without too much information?
I have mild aphantasia, so I can't generate very detailed visuals of anything in my head. This has led me to write minimalistic descriptions. I provide the important elements and leave the rest to the reader. I think that adds something of an interactive quality, too, potentially getting them more invested.
this episode is just the thing i needed today! i always feel like my descriptions fall flat because i don't know how to write pretty pose very well, but you mentioning describing things from the character's perspective is a idea i never thought of before. telling how the character would feel about the scene or place laid out before them does make writing descriptions seem easier.
The twice as long example," The Better One" is perfect and not too wordy. I like it!
I really like similies for tightening up descriptions. Example: I have a character in one story who has traveled through a toxic wasteland wearing a survival suit with a broad-brimmed helmet. He describes himself at one point as looking like a large bipedal mushroom. Saves a lot of space.
You two are such a treasure. I always learn loads and take notes so the 37 minutes lasts an hour but it's well spent.
Four pages of notes later, and I'm truly inspired to keep writing.Thank you.
I try to portray my character to the reader, as often as possible, via his/her actions. Actions begin with thought and portray that thought or those thoughts by way of the result of that thought or thoughts... Your episodes are a great warm-up to write as well as instructive...
Great episode. I love the examples. It is a topic that I am dealing with now. I am writing my first novel and new to writing fiction. Very informative. I found value in every minute of the episode. Well done. Thanks for your time and effort.
Excellent difine two different types of opening chapter, and it very important opening method.. thank you Two sisters, Two Author 🙏🙏
So helpful! I find I struggle to add enough as I like to leave a lot to the reader’s imagination and don’t like interrupting the flow too much with lengthy descriptions.
Wowwwwwwww!!!!!
It is awesome ❤❤
So much of learning in just one video.
It was a free and valuable lesson for me.
I am smiling and crying at the same time.
The difference with the first example and the second is that the character is involved with her environment in the second one, whereas we're just hearing about the environment in the first one. Terressa is a participant, feeling emotions in regards to everything around her.
We care about the world, because we care about her. That's what makes the world notable. (I think this is also why I struggle to read stories with heavy description. I need stuff broken up by dialogue and thoughts and feelings. Otherwise I start skimming.
So helpful, thank you both! Descriptions are often daunting to me but this advice really takes the pressure off and simplifies it a lot.
Ok. Now I need to know more. lol. Did they choose both or did he just assume he'd gotten it?? AHHHHHH LOL. I was hooked. GJ :P
And I LOVE the bit where you pointed out that often we are needing to remove words and making sure we cut stuff out and that this is an example of where we want to allow flourish in some places where you have complex things going on like internal conflict. :)
This video has come at such an opportune time for me. I've just created my protagonist a week ago and thanks for these very valuable suggestions; with illustrations. I plan to rewrite using the ideas in this video I am genuinely appreciative to you for providing these creative insights You Sisters Rock!
Thank you both. This video helped me immensely.
I learned a lot from listening to this discussion bout description. However, I am a person first than descriptions from exterior surroundings. I think in terms of character development usually the character arc. This to me is impactful as my characters go through such turmoil. I have one supporting character who is the best friend of the main protagonist and she experiences loos of family. Her parents and sisters were murdered and for so long in history as she comes from the 16th century in Europe she is surrounded by people and fully expressed by the whole package of family from devotion to love and betrayal. This is in description of itself not just her physical appearance but in the context of her background and her relationships.
This was one of the most helpful video's. Thank you you so much for this. I have been struggling to figure out how much include, when and how to describe my characters of my first writting effort.
Wow! Lots of things to consider. I'm working on my first novel and you've highlighted so many more things that I hadn't thought of yet. I'm loving your videos, taking plenty of notes, and journaling possible descriptions, scenes, personality quirks, etc. My mind feels a little like it's trying to follow a raquetball in a doubles tournament. I think I'm looking in too many directions at once and feeling some overwhelm. A.D.D..? lol
Thanks a bunch I feel like this episode popped up at its right time, really needed these essential points keep up with this marvelous job ❤️
Excellent another great video on description in story! Your podcast is so helpful thanks.
This was one of my favourite ones yet!! I love when you use examples! 😁
Wonderful video. Keep doing such podcasts. 🙂❤
I absolutely loved this video, I will definitely use the techniques in my writing. Practice, practice, practice! 😊
Very informative video, LOVED the examples, I really enjoyed the "improved version" descriptions :) inspiring, thanks! ❤
Particularly great episode - thanks!
Amazing video! I love all the descriptive tips, but I wish I could write half as well as your bad examples.
There's a practice where you write the same scene from the point of two different characters. I am taking it one step forther and writing the same day where they all converge, from five different points of view.
I love Kate. Long-suffering with enduring patience. This should be called "The Kate and Abbie's long hair show". I'm sorry, did I say that? Lots of good content. I even took notes while Kate talked and Abbie checked herself in the monitor. Excellent writing examples, Abbie. Great eyes and, well, you know.
What does this even mean bro? Is my brain glitching?
Excellent lesson. Thank you.
Hi again 🤠👋 😊 thanks for this vlog, it is something that I truly needed.
Just wondering, when you are writing about your characters, do you describe them or not much?
I've noticed that I constantly forget writing the environment or only add enough information for the reader to know if the character is in a city, in the woods, at home ect. I usually kinda zone out and don't notice things unless I actively pay attention to it so I forget other people might want details 😅.
Third just cause I can. Oh, I think short and snappy styles with longer poetic description when it counts
Totally listened thank you I needed this
Whenever I watch videos like this I keep thinking of Gustave Flaubert's 'Salammbo' and the chapter with the helepolis. Human futility expressed with such style in the disaster of the great siege tower.
Where are the differences? "and a peace sign tattoo on her left ankle from her freshman year in high school when she and her friends had all dared each other to get tattoos." Such a great, telling contrast to the rest of the description, whether the first version or the second, (which was otherwise better than the first). Now you mentioned that in the story, the tattoo doesn't matter, but something must matter. Using some quirky, unexpected difference that is relevant to the story would improve the second version even more, providing insight into the character AND raising questions in the reader's mind about the very relevance of the contrasting description. I am not a fan of tattoos, by the way, (though a couple of characters in my current work do have them,) so that's not what drew me to the line, but the quirk and contrast to the rest of the paragraph are definite hooks for me.
What about spreading out the description of a character in the first chapter? Does it all have to be only done at once?
How would you describe settings without too much information?
What if your protagonist comes across a mute/deaf character? How would you describe the use of sign language?
To describe oneself, the character would describe him/herself gradually. Example, Is this person at the beach or pool? They can comment on their hair: is it frizzie, or getting blown into their face? Is it too short & look like a boy; too long & mistaken for a girl. One's weight is always revealed by a swimsuit. Do they like their shape or not? Are they trying on clothes or have to wear someone else's clothes, or compare to someone nearby or family member? You might show whether or not this person is secure or insecure by the language used, too. A lot of things are just not important. That's why Sam Gamgee in the movie is not at all how I imagined him. Tolkien didn't spend time on his appearance, just his character.
Do you all do all right editing?
Being a poet, that would be long poetic...though during action scenes cut back such descriptions, especially of characters due to pacing.
The flat example is good enough, the better one is too creative. But perhaps I'm ignoring the fact it's more for Elementary School. I remember Arrow Books in 1967.
Writing tips helps write better
How do you make chemistry in families
BETTER than ME
I have tried starting to write my book and I would like some help or I can send you both what I have written so far for feedback as I'm new to it and I never have before and i don't know how else to get one on one advice
(i am neurodivegent)
Find your drive aleksi you shouldn’t be asking questions like that unless it’s to a close friend
Yeah this is an inappropriate comment on this video. It just is really out of touch with the context of what this RUclips channel and podcast is.
I'd like to read more from Kate. She is so shy. It's a pity, to be honest.
What if you're writing a true story and you really don't know what they're thinking? Do you just explain what they did and just what you observe, like facial expressions??
Why do people say Almost Like? If it's not exactly like or even just like, why bother saying anything?
The word almost takes the power out of everything.
Deep POV in descriptions can be overdone too... and can verge on telling not showing.
First
Begin by holding the writing instrument correctly, not as though it is a piece of kindergarten chalk.