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One of the most important aspects in a writers work is setting the scene. For some this is easy but others it can be the hardest part. Personally I have my good days and bad days with describing it just the right way.
When I’m writing a first draft I just let the creativity flow as it wants because we all know our creativity has a mind of its own lol. Then for the first and following edits I make it a point to focus more on setting the scenes. If one particular moment didn’t come to me in the most detailed way the first time, I’ll revisit it. Trying hard not to let it hinder my progress.
To be honest there are times I’ve failed at that and just focused on a description for a scene as I work my regular job, because I wanted to get that part written so bad that I got the chilling writers block being stuck on that moment.
Ideally you want to describe what the reader would see if they were a character in your book. You want to immerse them in the moment so they feel the emotions that the characters do, so they understand the importance of it.
I’ve heard people say write what you know, so you can describe it the best way. Personally I don’t necessarily agree with that. If your writing fiction, describing a fictional place than you can make it a combination of what you know and what you can find. I mean just because you haven’t been to a certain country, or area similar to what you are writing doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to describe it.
Looking up a certain place, or item, food, flower, etc., that has likenesses to what you are setting the scene for, can help. For example you can look up a flower that is from the area, and how it is described to smell. Or look up articles from people who have visited the area and see how they described it. Certainly you may be asking yourself if that really makes sense. In reality you know the world you are creating better than anyone so you know what will work and what doesn’t.
I write a lot by feeling. Or in other words if the first thing that comes to mind feels right, I can tell pretty quickly. Descriptors are a writers bread and butter. Everything we write relies on our ability to use them. There are so many simple ideas for describing something and setting that scene all around you.
How it smells when you make a pie around the holidays (Like cinnamon and sweet apples with a hint of vanilla), how the dough sticks to your hands when you go to wash it off and the flour makes it so you have to rub your hands together but it still sticks under your nails because when water hits it, it reminds you of glue (Or I could tell they baked because they smelled like fresh apple pie and there was flour stuck under their nails).
A chill breeze made the trees sway ever so slightly and my bones ache. It was always easy to tell when a storm was coming because the leaves turned upside down expecting rain.
My checklist on how to describe something is very simple but helps guide me to what I want to say, and sometimes it helps to close my eyes to picture it…
- What do I see?
- What do I hear?
- What do I smell?
- What do I feel?
Those questions always guide me to what I want to say because in order to tell the story we have to put ourselves in our characters shoes, so what better way than to ask yourself what they would see, hear, smell and feel or in other words how would you in that situation.
So the next time it rains, step outside for a minute close your eyes and take in the scene then open them so you see what the rain does. Pay attention to the sound it makes when it hits certain things, or how it smells. Or the next time you enter a train station what do you notice? What stands out to tell you its a train station, and what details would others miss?
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Tiffany’s Writing Journey 