The Five Senses
Almost every good story will have some concrete description; that is, a description of the world as it is perceived through the five senses. It is one of the best ways for drawing a reader into your work, and for keeping his interest. When you describe something or someone in great detail, you plant an image in the readers’ heads and influence their attitude toward your subject simultaneously. I consider description to be one of the most important aspects of writing. To me, it is often the difference between good writing and great writing.
The Purpose
The use of description, as with all strategies, is governed by the purpose for which it’s being used. You can write an objective description if you want your reader to have a neutral picture of the subject in his mind. For example, if my puppy Georgie got lost, I would publish a flyer that described her in the most objective terms possible, in order to maximize the chance that someone would recognize her. My description would be matter-of-fact and as concise as possible. However, I've also had to quiet the fears of many of my friends (especially those with children) who question our decision to adopt a Rottweiler. As I explain to them what a sweet, patient, wonderful dog she is, I might include more biased language about her mournful puppy expression, her exuberance, her ridiculous antics, her soft fur, and her round puppy belly. In the latter description, I’m trying to steer my reader to feel a certain way about her. This is called a subjective description.
The purpose of the description is important because it influences how you will go about adding details. It helps to ask the following questions: What main impression of the subject does the description convey? What overall impression of the subject do the readers carry away with them? What reaction does the description inspire in the reader? This overall impression is called the "dominant impression", and it's akin to the thesis of your description – the main purpose or point.
The Details
To get the maximum effect from your description, it's crucial to pay attention not just to the dominant impression but also to the way the details are oraganized. You can organize the details of your description in several ways. For example, if you're writing a short story, you could rely on a particular character's point of view to organize your description. You could organize a visual description from top to bottom (appropriate if you're describing meeting someone at a bar, for example.) You could describe all the smells of a scene, then all the sights, sounds, textures and tastes. Which method of organization you choose depends (as always) on your purpose and audience. No matter what method of organization you use, however, it's important to be consistent.
Your details should reflect the dominant impression you want your reader to get of the subject. Your details should be as specific as possible in order to convey an accurate impression, but not so profuse as to confuse or overwhelm your reader. The best, most effective descriptions tend to paint a vivid picture in relatively few words. It helps to add concrete details - that is, details that describe sights, sounds, smells, textures and tastes. |