Ian Dawson's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing-skills"

Every story happens somewhere, and wherever that place is, it needs to be described to the reader so that they can be fully immersed in the story being told. While there are many locales that people are familiar with and can picture in their minds, it is the writer's job to ensure the image they wish to convey of that location is communicated accurately.

Here are three writing exercises you can try to work on your location description skills.

Exercise #1 – Describe a City or Town

PART ONE

Pick a city or town you know well or would like to visit and write a detailed paragraph or two that puts the reader in the middle of that specific location. Describe the sights, sounds, smells, weather, the people, architecture, etc.

PART TWO

Whittle those paragraphs down into one sentence. Can you still convey the feel and vibe of the city or town in fewer words? What adjectives or verbs can best describe the location using less space?

Exercise #2 – Describe a Specific Location in the City or Town

PART ONE

Choose a park, a library, a coffee shop, or the public square, and write in detail everything you want to convey to a reader about that location. Be as descriptive as possible, giving the reader details that make them feel like they are in that space. Again, try for one or two paragraphs.

PART TWO

Can you put the reader in that location in one sentence? You want to convey as much information as possible in a limited number of words while giving the reader a true sense of experiencing the location.

Exercise #3 – Describe a Part of the Location in #2

PART ONE

Look around the location you’ve chosen. What stands out to you? Focus on that specific thing. It could be a wall, a painting, a fountain, or a tree. Give it all the descriptive detail you can, leaving nothing out as you craft one to two paragraphs.

PART TWO

In one sentence, describe the object to the reader without losing the true sense and weight of the object or part of the chosen location.

Why Am I Doing This?

Knowing how to describe a location in great detail is a valuable tool for a writer. At the same time, learning how to convey that information in only a few words can empower you as a writer when tasked with writing a pitch, a blurb, or a synopsis.

Practice writing out long, colorful descriptions, then try to convey the same feeling in one sentence. Like anything else, it will get a little easier each time, even if it continues to be a fun challenge.

Happy Description Writing, and I’ll see you next time!