How to Use Powerful Description to Captivate Your Readers.

Poor description is boring and annoying. It consumes your time and frustrates you - imagine what it will do to your readers!

But when description's done right, it's like being Merlin - performing magic. You transport your readers from reality into the imaginary world you have created with your pen - and they are not even aware that they are reading description. With your choice of words, you make them feel, think and also act exactly as it is in your mind.

To give a powerful description, you must first know what you want to describe - have a graphical image of it. Then you write it as it is - make your readers see exactly what you are seeing.

This can be only achieved by the combination of 'appropriate' words.

Description isn't an interruption in a story ("We'll pause this story now for a brief descriptive passage"). It's part of your story. 

You use description to...

- create characters.

- build your story's world.

- show events and action.

- show your characters' thoughts and feelings.

- create the effect of time passing.

- create a certain mood or atmosphere.

Compare these statements:

One: The man walked into the conference hall. He looked proud.

Two: The man swaggered in, with a cigarette burning on his lips and a crude smile; the aura he emitted was not mistaken.

Both statements are talking about the same man, but statement two has a clearer description of the man's personality.