Description

Simply put: Show, don’t tell

Despite what you think of when you think of description in stories, you should not tell a reader what he or she should see or think. Yes, don’t tell us, show us!

Imagery (your best friend)

Instead of just using the old standby (adjectives), try describing places, people, things and ideas using your senses (there are five of them). Don’t just rely on visual description.

Emotion

Sometimes our emotions can describe a place or a person.

Adjectives that Describe

It is useful to use adjectives here and there, but use them sparingly.

Nouns that Describe

It is useful to use nouns to describe places for setting, etc.

Verbs that Describe

Another useful word is the verb. Sometimes actions are worth a thousand words.

Figurative language

In addition to the elementary school standbys, simile, metaphor, metonymy, analogies, and other uses of figurative language describe just as well.

What is isn’t

Sometimes it’s useful to describe something by not describing it. Try it.

That’s so cliché!

Avoid clichés like the plague.

Don’t overdo description