Writing interesting descriptive essays: introduction

Writing is never easy for some of you out there, even when you are thoroughly familiar with a subject. Some people are just better at studying a subject, at researching it or at talking about orally and writing about it can be one of the most difficult things for them. However, you should know the fact that writing can be easy if you have the know-how with you and if you get used to using certain techniques.

If descriptive essays are difficult for you to write, then you should definitely read on, because you will find out about the best techniques to use when writing descriptive essays (and descriptive passages in general).

  1. First and foremost, do not start writing until you have taken some time to think of the things that are particularly characteristic about the thing/man/woman/place you have to describe. What is it that makes it truly unique? What is it that always makes you think of it? Think of these things and, if you feel that it helps, put them down on a list you will have in front of your eyes when writing the essay.
  2. Secondly, make sure that you have enough time to write down a draft and then correct and improve everything on it. As a matter of fact, this tip is valid for any kind of writing you will ever have to do. Drafting it first will allow you to spot mistakes and inaccuracies much better and it will allow you to send a more qualitative piece of writing.
  3. Descriptive essays are all about showing what you saw. That means that you should make them to be the same way as a “recording” of everything you saw and felt when you first came into contact with the object of description. That also means that you should use entire sentences to describe what exactly makes the object of description have a certain characteristic. For example, it will not be enough to say that “London is historical city”. Instead, you will have to develop more about it (for instance, “London is a place where history lies at every corner and where the architecture itself is a mark of the long and winding road the United Kingdom has walked since its formation”).
  4. Try to stay away from clichés as much as possible. “She was beautiful as a day of spring” may sound poetic and nice, but the truth is that your teacher must have heard that at least 100 times in his/her career. Try to be unique and try to open your mind to descriptions that are truly original, yet compelling.
 
 
#