This is the last week of our Descriptions series. It sounds like you’ve had fun with it, from the feedback I’ve been getting. 🙂
So this last week, it’s time to write a description of something in your novel. This turns the series from an academic (but fun, right?) exercise, into something very practical.
Where do you need a great description in your novel? It might be a person, a place, or a thing. Your choice!
Ready? Have you picked? When you have decided, here are some quick final description tips for you:
- Make sure you are describing things from your narrator’s point of view. This might be your protagonist, if you’re writing in the first person, or it may not be, if you’re writing in the third person. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you need to join the Write for a Reason Academy.)
- Use all the senses, plus colour
- Add atmosphere congruent with the story
- Don’t make your descriptions too long, or too short (I know! Only you can work this one out!)
- Always keep your target readers in mind as you write, so it will be just right for them. (Are you writing for your One Reader? This will help. And you know where you can find out more about this helpful technique – yup, the Write for a Reason Academy!)
- Use strong words. For example, emerald green, not just green. Adorable instead of cute, immense instead of big… you know the kind of thing.
- Don’t tell us how rough the wood is – give your protagonist a splinter, then you’ve shown us! (If you need help with Show don’t Tell, there’s a bonus feature in the – guess where? In the Write for a Reason Academy, of course!)
As always, don’t forget to share your descriptions with me. 🙂
Grace and peace on your day,
Janet