The Writing Company · The Mayor

Write to describe

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2 Assess Take the quiz

3 Practice Try it out

4 Create Make your own

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Step 1 · Pick a prompt

Pick one prompt. Choose a place you can walk through in your head, weather and all.

Step 2 · Plan it

Plan first. Fill in the five parts of the Path in short notes. A good path on paper is a scene the reader can walk.

Name the place (my scene, in one sentence)

Pick one path (front to back, top to bottom, or near to far)

Three senses (see, hear, and smell or touch)

Verbs that work (which verb carries each sentence)

The last detail (where my path ends)

Step 3 · Pick one goal

One goal, chosen before you write, beats ten wishes after. Pick exactly one.

After you write, look for the proof in your own sentences.

Step 4 · Write your description

Hold one path, feed three senses, and let a working verb carry each sentence.

Strong verbs you can borrow: drumsdriftsclingsglowssnapspools

Step 5 · Sum it up

One more thing, once you have written. One sentence: what should the reader see, hear, and feel when they stand in your scene? If your description and your sentence disagree, believe the sentence.

Step 6 · Before you turn it in

Read your description once, out loud if you can. Then check.

My first sentence names the place.
I picked one path and held it, start to finish.
I fed three senses: sight, sound, and smell or touch.
A working verb carries each sentence.
My describing words are woven in, not piled up.
My last sentence lands on the detail that matters most.
My sentences vary, and my words are exact.

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