{ ＩＮＫＬＩＮＧＳ } LOCK! NEW THREAD

[Hαηηαh]

Does anyone really struggle with description? I just seem to have a problem with describing how things look. Do you have any ideas on how to work with that/improve? I'm taking a creative writing class this next year which is going to focus on a lot that I struggle with, so I'm greatly looking forward to that.

[Kirarya]

I use my own 'prompts'. I have a soft pencil case full of random words and I normally pull out three if I'm bored. For example, just now I pulled out: final days, lost love, pearls. Interesting...

Ooh, I like this idea. I might just have to start doing this!

[Lilysplash]

Does anyone really struggle with description? I just seem to have a problem with describing how things look. Do you have any ideas on how to work with that/improve? I'm taking a creative writing class this next year which is going to focus on a lot that I struggle with, so I'm greatly looking forward to that.

Well, myself, I'm a largely descriptive writer. I love description scenes, especially about appearances or personality. I like to expand these aspects in roleplays, presenting myself with a minimum of two long paragraphs. This way, in depth description is inevitable.
There are a few other things that help. Expand your vocabulary for lack of redundancy. For example, you're writing about a winter setting. Instead of using the words "cold" and "wintry" all the time, try "brumal", "frigid", "algid", etc. Metaphors also help. Instead of "The ground was entirely white with snow", try "The ground was coated with a blanket of sparkling white, with the blindingly bright color stretching all the way to the horizon". Using elevated vocabulary is key in description, as "It snowed" just sounds bland. How about "Stars of ice, delicate and crystalline, pirouetted gracefully in the steel-gray and algid air, twinkling like stars in a velveteen night"?
Perhaps you could try purely descriptive exercises as well. I do these all the times with prompts. Here are a few examples.
Springtime
Character's Personality
City Life
Sorrow
Rain
Stars and Nighttime
Laughter
Meadow
Forest
Ocean

X3 sorry about the long list. I get carried away at times!

~Lilysplash

[Kirarya]

Does anyone really struggle with description? I just seem to have a problem with describing how things look. Do you have any ideas on how to work with that/improve? I'm taking a creative writing class this next year which is going to focus on a lot that I struggle with, so I'm greatly looking forward to that.

Yes, like Lilysplash said I think a large part of writing successful descriptions is the vocabulary. I'm currently trying to expand my own agglomeration of words, so what I do is pick out five words from my dictionary everyday. I write down those five words, their definitions, and five sentences for each. The next day I look at my list of five words, then try to recall the correct definitions. If I can't, the words carries over to my five for the next day.

[Lilysplash]

Does anyone really struggle with description? I just seem to have a problem with describing how things look. Do you have any ideas on how to work with that/improve? I'm taking a creative writing class this next year which is going to focus on a lot that I struggle with, so I'm greatly looking forward to that.

Yes, like Lilysplash said I think a large part of writing successful descriptions is the vocabulary. I'm currently trying to expand my own agglomeration of words, so what I do is pick out five words from my dictionary everyday. I write down those five words, their definitions, and five sentences for each. The next day I look at my list of five words, then try to recall the correct definitions. If I can't, the words carries over to my five for the next day.

That's clever! I'm starting that! c:

~Lilysplash

[Song & Lyric]

Username; Song & Lyric
What we will call you; Song & Lyric, Song, or Lyric. All work :3
Will you critique other's work?; Yes! I would love to! Just shoot me a pm
Links to your story; Here
Anything you what us to know?; I'm a very new to writing, and I'm jumping right into novels. I'm not perfect, but I'm trying my best! I would love some critique on my first story. I will also be definitely getting into writing other things once I get off to a pretty good start. Most likely not fanfics, but my own stories.

[Kirarya]

That's clever! I'm starting that! c:

~Lilysplash

Glad to be of inspiration! Sometimes I find it kind of fun, and other times I am just so not in the mood. Either way, it's helped so far.

[Lilysplash]

That's clever! I'm starting that! c:

~Lilysplash

Glad to be of inspiration! Sometimes I find it kind of fun, and other times I am just so not in the mood. Either way, it's helped so far.

I use online flashcards on Quizzlet in my free time. c: it's been helpful, but I'm not nearly done yet.

~Lilysplash

[Kirarya]

Out of curiosity..

What do you guys find that motivates you to write (muse)?

Actually, one of my favorite activities is what is called The iPod Shuffle Challenge. You set your iPod on shuffle, and begin writing a short drabble based on what song comes on. When the song ends, you start a new piece inspired by the next song. It's a lot of fun, especially when you're like me and have a very wide variety of music on your iPod. [One minute I could be listening to some classical music, the next it might be J-pop!]

[Cherry]

That's good advice for now, but it might turn her/his writing sour in the future. Overusing too many "dictionary words" really turns me and many others off.
Vocabulary: it's helpful, but people won't mind seeing the word "winter" a few times in a chapter than seeing massive amounts of words that are hard to understand.
Vocabulary is very important, -how else would you put words on paper?- but flowery description isn't the answer.
Description is meant to give your reader a clear picture in their mind of the subject. Which is more clear?
"A cadaverous, pallid face peered out the immaculate crystalline window. She placed her delicate, dainty fingers on the glass. Her lips broadened into a naïve smile, which made her youthful face glow. The lush garden below was in exquisite shape."
Or: "A face, so pale it looked like it had encountered a ghost, peeked out the window. She set her thin hand against the clean, reflective glass. She smiled, a childlike smile that made her whole face glow. The green garden below was in beautiful shape."
I could understand the first, but it seemed too over the top.

I used to have problems with description, but just decide what you'd like to describe. Do you want to increase your word count, make the scenery clear, or make your readers more aware of what's going on? Choose why you want to have more description.

I think you can use describing words, yes, even a lot in one sentence. But make sure it isn't a mouthful of posh, extravagant words. I always felt like I was never good at description until I wrote this sentence in my story and it just kind of clicked:
"Peering around, I walk quietly through the silent, catacomb-like labyrinth ... "Hello?" I ask quietly. "Anyone there?" My words bounce around the cavern, creating an uncanny echo."
I realized I loved how I described it. It was clear, and gave off the vibe that I wanted. (My character was exploring the sewers, looking for one of her friends who went to see some runaways hiding down there. It was a scary place, and it was clear it gave her the creeps even though she never came out in said it, even in first person. That's what you need to aim for, -I have to work hard, luckily she doesn't say her feelings outright so I have an excuse to write that way- to say something without telling it. Show, don't tell, like they say. It's not good to say "she's sad" or "he's happy." Show it with how they speak, what they do, what they think.)
I also realized most people don't really describe like that. (I don't want anyone thinking I'm vain for liking my writing that much XD)
And that's okay. But that's how I wanted to describe: clearly, with only a few choice words to prove my point. I wanted to communicate without being Captain Obvious.

You don't have to be really obnoxious on how you tell what it looks like. (Check out the City of Ember series, the author described things like the sun and grass [in the point of view of someone who'd never been outside] in a way that wasn't saying "it's grass; it's green. That's all" or treating the readers like dummies.)

I hope that helped. Just practice describing things you know, like your mom, your room, your favorite shirt. Then try harder things, like a bird that you've only seen in a painting or how you feel when you're at peace, snuggled up in your bed with a good book.