Many writers dread writing descriptions. It’s difficult to know what to include, and it requires a lot of mental energy to summon interesting details from one’s imagination. Description can involve the setting, an object, a character, actions, and even internal thoughts. It might entail an artfully placed sentence dancing between dialogue; a paragraph that grounds the reader in the scene; or pages of prose that sink deep into a particular subject.

Here, I share five guiding principles for describing a scene, along with five additional advanced strategies with in-depth examples.

Text version of this video:   / the-ultimate-guide-to-writing-engaging-des...  

Love my channel? Treat me to a cup of coffee at https://ko-fi.com/quotidianwriter.
My Published Stories and Poems: https://www.quotidianwriter.com/my-wr...
Twitter:   / quotidianwriter  

TL;DR PRESS
Website: https://tldrpress.org
Twitter:   / tldrpress  
Anthologies: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-te...

SARAH L. HAWTHORN
Short Story – “A Doe in Crown Land” in QUEER BLADES: https://www.amazon.com/Queer-Blades-A...
Twitter:   / slhawthorn  

JOE BUTLER
Novels – OF ALL POSSIBILITIES and STRANGE DAYS IN THE HOUSE OF AUGUST: https://www.amazon.com/All-Possibilit...
Short Story – “A Small Life” in BANDIT FICTION: https://payhip.com/b/x0zN
Website: https://writelikeashark.com
Twitter:   / writelikeashark  

MIA V. MOSS
Novella – MAI TAIS FOR THE LOST: https://www.amazon.com/Mai-Tais-Lost-...
Short Story – “The Radiant Web” in STARSHIPSOFA: http://www.starshipsofa.com/blog/2021...
Website: https://www.magicrobotcarnival.com
Twitter:   / atomicjackalope  

ALEX LAUREL LANZ
Short Story – “Every Little Hair on Your Head” in SCARE STREET: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9T99R1H?...
Short Story – “The Only Way Out Is Through” in TALES TO TERRIFY: https://talestoterrify.com/episodes/5...
Twitter:   / alexlaurellanz  

LYLE ENRIGHT
Short Story — “Bargaining” in SHORT EDITION:
https://short-edition.com/en/story/sh...
Short Story — “Road Rage” in SPECULATIVE CITY:
https://speculativecity.com/fiction/r...
Substack: https://lenright.substack.com
Twitter:   / ynysdyn  

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

“Description: Narrative Lensing” by David F. Shultz: https://davidfshultz.com/2017/03/26/d...

“On Writing: Great Character Descriptions!” by Hello Future Me:
   • On Writing: Great Character Descripti...  

“Exile” by Carolyn Forché (poem): https://www.lyrikline.org/en/poems/ex...

MAI TAIS FOR THE LOST excerpt narration by Simone Stivi: https://www.fiverr.com/listeninglydia...

"Every Little Hair on Your Head" excerpt narration by Liz Petersen:
https://www.fiverr.com/girlg0yle?sour...

Opening Animation by Vitor A. Dupont: https://www.behance.net/vitordupont

Title and End Music: “Clockwork” by Vindsvept –    • Fantasy Music - Vindsvept - Clockwork  

Background Music by Vindsvept:
+ “Keeper of the Forest”
+ “The Journey Home”
+ “Leaving the Dream”
+ “Alone”
+ “Skymning”
+ “Lycanthropy”
+ “Light the Bonfire”
+ “Deliverance”
+ “Wildfire, part two”
+ “Spirit of the Wind”
+ “The Forgotten Forest”
+ “Chasing Shadows”

Defining Descriptive Writing (0:00)
1. Focus on Details Specific to the Point of View (1:04)
2. Include the Senses (2:30)
3. Favor Strong Verbs and Adjectives (4:10)
4. Move the Narrative Forward (6:41)
5. Don’t Describe Everything (8:50)
6. Add a Character-Based Layer (10:13)
7. Imagine the Scene from a Fixed Point (14:52)
8. Decide How You Want the Scene to Feel (18:46)
9. Pair Descriptions with Actions (24:13)
10. Connect Similes and Metaphors to the Story World (28:42)
Descriptive Writing Exercise (32:41)