On Writing: Description

How to Paint a Picture with Words

Photo by Andreas Fickl on Unsplash

Ten Shun!

In a sense a novel is description. Description of place, description of emotional states, desrciption of time, description of character, description of action.   Thus it intersects with other subjects we’ve taught

But it all is subsumed under the main job – of telling a story.

We are talking this week partly about physical description conjuring the material world around you – most especially people and locations/places.

But also, how physical reality/action communicates emotional truths (which also overlaps with ‘Show Don’t Tell’)

In other words, sometimes you’re not only describing a visual perception of something but what a description of certain physical details and actions communicate something deeper.

First a summing up – regarding ‘simple’ physical description:

Be Specific

Use Detail

Use journalistic observation - The art of noticing

All good liars know that it is the telling detail that makes it work..