Descriptive Writing

Descriptive writing uses words to paint a picture in the reader's mind. It helps the reader see, hear, smell, taste, and feel what the writer is describing. Good descriptive writing makes you feel like you are really there. It is used in stories, poems, and many other types of writing.

Using Your Senses

The best descriptive writing uses all five senses. Instead of saying the garden was nice, you could say the garden was full of bright red roses that smelled like perfume. Adding details about what you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch makes your writing come alive.

Show, Don't Tell

Good writers show instead of tell. Instead of writing he was scared, you could write his hands shook and his heart pounded. This helps the reader feel the emotion. Using strong verbs and specific adjectives makes your descriptions much more interesting.

Fun Facts

• Authors sometimes spend hours choosing just the right word for a description.
• Descriptive writing is sometimes called painting with words.
• Using too many adjectives can actually make writing harder to read, not easier.

Did You Know?

Author J.K. Rowling is famous for her descriptive writing that helped readers imagine the magical world of Harry Potter.