GET DESCRIPTIVE!

1
GET DESCRIPTIVE!

• Authors tricks for Showing, Not Telling in
  Writing!
• by Ms. Carol A. Withrow

2
What does Showing, not Telling mean?

• Some writers tell things to their readers,
  giving very little description.
• Here is an example The boy was mad.
• This sentence doesnt help your mind form a
  mental picture of the angry boy, does it?
• Now lets look at a showing sentence!

3
Here is a Showing example!

• One look at the boy and I knew. Oh, no! This day
  was already off to a great start. His shaking
  hands were balled into fists at his sides. The
  grip was so tight, his wrinkled knuckles were
  white! His little chest heaved, up and down, up
  and down, and his nostrils flared in unison, like
  a bull ready to charge. Down his red cheeks
  streamed tears of fury. He was heated! I had to
  help him move past this!
• Can you PICTURE that? ?

4
How do writers do that?

• There are many tricks to descriptive writing.
  Here are a few we use
• Snapshots
• Thoughtshots
• Strong Verbs
• Specific Nouns
• Sensory Details
• Similes Metaphors

5
Whats a Snapshot?

• A snapshot is like taking a picture in your mind
  of what you are trying to describe. Next, write
  about what you see, creating that same picture
  for your reader.
• Think about the description of our angry friend
  His shaky hands were balled into fists at his
  sides. The grip was so tight, his wrinkled
  knuckles were white! His little chest heaved, up
  and down, up and down, and his nostrils flared in
  unison.
• In this example, I gave the readers the picture I
  intended for them to see!

6
Whats a Thoughtshot?

• A thoughtshot is when the author adds a
  characters thoughts to the description of
  something. Including what your character is
  thinking gives insight into that person and the
  situation.
• In the angry boy example, the narrator was a
  teacher who thought Oh, no! This day was already
  off to a great start. I had to help him move past
  this!

7
What are Strong Verbs?

• Writers use verbs (mainly action words) in every
  sentence. By choosing verbs carefully, authors
  help paint the picture of their description in
  the readers mind.
• In our example, His little chest heaved, up and
  down should give you a specific picture of the
  way his chest moved (a more boring choice).
  Also, Down his red cheeks streamed tears of
  fury adds to the details of his anger as you
  know he cant stop crying and his tears keep
  flowing down his face.

8
What do you mean by Specific Nouns?

• Good authors choose nouns (and appropriate
  adjectives to modify them) that enhance their
  description.
• Compare this to our example.
• He was getting ready to throw a punch.
• His shaking hands were balled into fists at his
  sides. The grip was so tight, his wrinkled
  knuckles were white! (This shows that he might
  punch, without telling the reader.

9
What are Sensory Details?

• Adding description to your writing with the 5
  senses (seeing, hearing, smelling, touching and
  tasting) brings writing to life!
• In our example, the snapshots help you see the
  scene. Note these sensory details seeing -
  using color words and other adjectives, as well
  as strong verbs specific nouns and hearing
  like a bull ready to charge helps you hear the
  panting sound of an angry bull

10
Using Similes Metaphors

• Similes are comparisons using like or as Our
  boy is described like a bull ready to charge.
• Familiar sayings make great similes I was as
  scared as a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs,
  OR It was as light as a feather.
• Metaphors are direct comparisons between what you
  are describing and something familiar. On the
  track, I am a racehorse, galloping into first
  place every time.

11
What is Good Voice?

• When authors include words and phrases that sound
  like their own everyday speaking voice, that is
  using a real, or authentic voice.
• You have your own ways of saying things that can
  help bring your characters to life for your
  reader. Write correctly and descriptively, but
  remember to BE YOURSELF in
  WRITING! ?

12
GET DESCRIPTIVE!

• You can paint word pictures to describe the
  images you want your reader to VISUALIZE with
  DESCRIPTIVE WRITING TRICKS of the TRADE! ?
• READ your own WRITING and find places to add
  snapshots, thoughtshots, strong verbs, specific
  nouns, sensory details, similes metaphors, and
  your own good voice!
• Be the best author you can!?