Creative Writing / Descriptive Writing

6 Ways To Practice Descriptive Writing

Rachel22 Comments

The words don’t always flow well when we sit down to write. Sometimes we have to start off working on a creative writing prompt, take a walk, or even just sit back and sip on our coffee for a moment.

Then we hope some sort of idea will come to us sooner rather than later.

Or if we already have the idea in our hand, but we’re not entirely how to paint that picture worth 1,000 words for our readers.

6 Ways to Practice Descriptive Writing

1. Practice different scenerios

Cooking dinner? Take in your sights and smells and even your taste later on. Describe what you’re cooking, the ingredients, how your counter looks, what’s in the sink, etc. Paint your whole kitchen based on that one meal. Mostly likely, not all that description will be needed, but the practice is fun.

2. Look up creative writing prompts

If you type “descriptive writing” into Google, you’re most likely going to get prompts for essays or anything else academic, if not elementary school level. Still, there are plenty of creative writing prompts that cater to such writing. You can also twist other writing prompts to make them more your own and cater to your needs as well.

3. Read and rewrite

Read books. Seeing different styles may help you want to try something new. Sometimes, if you think a certain scene could be better, rewrite it. No one has to see it, but it’s a good start.

4. Try a mystery box

Okay, this sounds like something you would do at school, but it helps, trust me. Have someone put items into a box without telling you what they are. Reach into the box and feel around. Write about what you feel and what you think is in the box. Maybe give your description to someone else who didn’t know what was in the box and see if they can guess what it is. This totally sounds like a great party game… am I right?

5. Take a look at other peoples houses

This one may sound weird, but take note of the decor of other houses. Go on real estate websites and look up different styles and such. See what you like and don’t like, describe them all, and change anything you want.

6. Pinterest

Pinterest is your friend. From eye and hair color to what that little plastic piece on the end of your shoelace is called, Pinterest has great info-graphics and lots of information that you thought you’d never need.

What are some ways you practice descriptive writing? Or any kind of creative writing? Let me know in the comments below!

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22 thoughts on “6 Ways To Practice Descriptive Writing”

  2. Thank you for some great tips. For a large part of my writing, I always carry a note pad with me to write things down. My best writing comes during long walks with my dog in nature. I guess, I’m just more relaxed.

    Reply

    • Ah yeah, that’s a good way to do it. I find being more relaxed definitely helps. I think that’s why we, as writers, tend to go for walks whenever we feel stuck. The fresh air helps a lot and can be so inspiring. 🙂

      Reply

  4. I write down my dreams in the morning – if they were particularly vivid, I try to describe what I saw. If I’m stuck with a description in a story, I write it down any way I can. Often, a better description will come to me when I’m doing something else.

    Reply

  11. Sometimes I just can’t find the words. When that happens, I’ll get up from the computer and do a load of wash, load the dishwasher or something else totally unrelated to writing. When I let my mind wander, they usually comes to me.

    Reply

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