descriptive essay

Creative Techniques for Descriptive Writing

1. Sit relaxed in a quiet place and close your eyes for a few minutes. Try to imagine yourself in some place you know well and that you have some feelings about. How old are you in this scene?

2. Imagine yourself in a specific spot, such as in your favorite chair,

under a tree, etc.

3. Decide what time of day it is. What is the season? What is the weather like?

4. Are you alone, or are other people with you? How do you feel about these people?

5. Once you have recreated this scene in your mind, what are the things you see that are most typical and distinctive about this scene?

6. Open your eyes and give yourself five minutes to make a list of what you “see” in this scene. Don’t evaluate, edit, or correct this list. Just write down your first impressions

7. Close your eyes again, go back to your imagined place, and “listen” for all the sounds in it.

8. When you have ‘listened” long enough to be aware of several sounds, open your eyes and make a list of them. Again, limit the time you write.

9. Repeat the same processes for the sense of smell, touch, and-if possible-taste.

10. When you have finished all your lists, go through them and pick out the most distinctive details that, when combined in a description, will best evoke the spirit of this place in a way to show your feelings for it.