On the west coast of Taiwan, just north of Taichung City, there is a place called Gaomei where the setting sun takes all but an inch of water with it out to sea.

There, you can take off your shoes and socks and walk into the wetland, feeling the wet clay work its way up between your toes before becoming dry and flaky on the tops of your feet, like late-summer skin.

To the south, giant windmills rise like modern monolithic reminders that society lies somewhere beyond this natural canvas that the sky has been painting for millennia. The winds drift in slowly, cooling your skin and wafting up the musky scent of the seabed.

As the sun dips toward the horizon, the world is splashed with oranges, reds, and pinks. You are drawn to it, walking farther and farther out into the color, losing any indication of where the sky stops and the wetland begins. You can reach down and touch the sky.

With any luck, you can visualize how the Gaomei Wetlands look after reading this story (scroll down for a photo).

The goal of descriptive writing is simple: get your readers to see the thing you’re describing without them having to actually see it.

Although descriptive writing is a pillar of literature, it can also be utilized in your essays to make them more interesting and memorable. So what is descriptive writing? Let’s find out, and see how you can use it to improve your essay.

What Is Descriptive Writing?

Description is to writing what a good BBQ sauce is to pork steak. You can get the job done without it, but the end product will fall far short of its potential.

Side note: If you haven’t had a pork steak, you need to get yourself to St. Louis and get your life changed.

When I was searching for examples of description in literature for this blog post, I thought of “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver. In it, a blind man visits a woman he knows, and her husband (the narrator) has a hard time with it.

The narrator is asked by the blind man to describe a cathedral that’s on TV. He doesn’t do well:

To begin with, they’re very tall…They reach way up. Up and up. Toward the sky. They’re so big, some of them, they have to have these supports. To help hold them up, so to speak.

Can you imagine this guy as a tour guide?

Even though this is not an example of a good description, it does make me think that descriptive writing is a bit like describing an image to a blind person. Because although your readers may not be blind, they cannot see the image you’re describing.

Your written description must be vivid so that your readers are able to visualize the image in their minds without ever seeing it.

Carver himself does a much better job of describing the character:

We didn’t say anything for a time. He was leaning forward with his head turned at me, his right ear aimed in the direction of the set. Very disconcerting. Now and then his eyelids drooped and then they snapped open again. Now and then he put his fingers into his beard and tugged, like he was thinking about something he was hearing on the television.

I’m able to clearly visualize the scene in my head when I read this passage. And that’s what descriptive writing is all about.

If your readers are able to envision what you’re describing in your story, or essay, they will become enveloped in it and be that much more focused on your message.

Keep written descriptions vivid so that readers visualize the image without ever seeing it.
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How to Write Descriptively

So the goal is to transport an image to your readers’ minds. To do this, you should first imagine said image in your own mind or, if possible, look at the image.

Then start breaking that image into parts. Think about how you can describe those parts and how they form a whole. It’s also important to think about the feelings that accompany the image as this is the main thing you will be hoping to pass on to your readers.

Once you do this, it’s time to choose the right words to describe it so that your readers can imagine the same image. This is easier said than done, but you can do it.

Focus on the little details

I mentioned breaking the image into parts. We tend to see a thing as its sum instead of its parts. But if you examine a thing more deeply, those parts start to stand out.

It’s kind of like how you don’t know you need glasses until you try them.

When you write descriptively, you must see the details that add up to form the object. By pointing out these little details, you create a vivid image of the thing as a whole.

Instead of describing the man as simply listening to the TV, Carver explains that he was “leaning forward with his head turned at me, his right ear aimed in the direction of the set.” This is a much more striking image that stays with you as a reader.

Incorporate all five senses

Although your instincts will tell you to focus on how the thing looks, using all five senses in your description can make it much more memorable and vivid.

So instead of describing a tree as tall with green leaves, tell your reader about the rough texture of its bark, the birds singing from its branches, and the sour smell of its discarded leaves beneath your feet.

Use adjectives

This seems like a no-brainer. An adjective is a word used to describe a noun or pronoun. Its whole purpose is description, so obviously you should use them in descriptive writing.

However, you must be careful not to overdo it, especially with common (i.e., boring) adjectives. Try to find ones that will resonate more with your reader. For example, simply describing my nephew as “messy” doesn’t really do him justice.

This will depend on what you’re describing, but take the time to look for the adjectives that best describe the object and convey the feeling you want your reader to have.

Keep your verbs vivid

This same advice can apply to the verbs you use in your writing. Try to use more interesting verbs than the common ones you hear on a daily basis.

For example, in the passage from “Cathedral,” Carver writes that the man’s “eyelids drooped and then they snapped open again.” I find the use of drooped and snapped to be much more vivid than saying they lowered and then opened again.

Where to Use Descriptive Writing

Descriptive writing can and should be used in just about every form of writing. Being more descriptive can only help. But here are a few areas where it’s especially helpful.

Descriptive essays

Obviously. A descriptive essay requires you to describe something (an object, a person, an experience, etc.). The goal is to create a vivid image in the reader’s mind. Sound familiar?

For more information on how to write a descriptive essay, check out this post.

Sample Descriptive Essay:

A Vivid Description of the Beach

Narrative essays

Narrative essays give you the chance to tell a story. But remember to do that by showing, not telling. This is almost always a personal account of something that happened in your past.

This is the closest we get to creative writing in essays. In fact, you could call this creative non-fiction. And creative writing allows and calls for a lot of descriptive writing as it’s important for your reader to visualize the story you’re telling.

Sample Narrative Essay:

My Poker Experience

Persuasive essays

Persuasive, or argumentative, essays require you to present an argument for or against something. Your goal is to persuade the reader. Descriptive writing can help.

The argument in your argumentative essay will be much more powerful if you vividly set the scene for it. People are more easily persuaded of an argument when they can visualize its effects.

Sample Persuasive Essay:

A Persuasive Essay on Ecology: Live Green!

As you can see, descriptive writing is a great skill to practice and implement in your writing, whether creative or academic. It can take your writing to the next level, like good sauce on a pork steak.

If you need some feedback on how to improve your descriptions, you can send your essay to essay database.

Before I go, how well did I describe Gaomei?

Thanks for reading!

If you’re anything like me, I bet you’ve done it at least a few times. After all, those ads can be pretty convincing. Ask your parents. I bet they’ve bought at least one knife, frying pan, or leaf blower based on a half-hour infomercial. (But I digress.)

The point here is that you bought those products because of the description.

Clear, specific, meaningful description is important in your description essay too. (Did you catch that italicized term?  Meaningful description.) It can be easy to sit outside and describe everything you see, hear, and feel around you. Yes, this means you’re describing things, but what’s the point?

Description essays need to have a point and a purpose. To give you a better idea of what I mean, here are two descriptive essays that not only describe, but also bring the page to life.

2 Descriptive Essays That Bring the Page to Life

In each of the sample essays below, I’ve included a bit of commentary to help explain what the writer does well in the essay and what the writer might do to improve the essay.

One of the first things you should be looking at in both of these essays is the title. Remember, titles are important too and should be equally descriptive. Both of these writers fail to include a descriptive title and could benefit by reading How to Write Good Essay Titles That Are…Good.

Descriptive Essay #1: Bok Tower Gardens

(*Click images below to enlarge.)

Descriptive Essay #2: The Crosswalk’s Sorrow

(*Click images below to enlarge.)

Putting Pen to Paper (or Fingers to Keyboard)

Armed with a couple of examples descriptive essays and some tips on how to write a descriptive essay that brings the page to life, it’s time to get to work on your own paper.

If you’re still in need of a few more tips on writing the perfect descriptive essay, read How to Write a Descriptive Essay That Is Expressive or watch this video with some great advice on choosing your words wisely in descriptive writing:

Feel you have a good grasp on how to write a descriptive essay but have no idea what to write about? Here are 20 Fascinating and Unusual Descriptive Essay Topics.

(You could also browse some more descriptive essay examples to spark an idea.)

You now have a topic, and (pretend) you’ve now also written your paper. Can you describe the final step in the writing process? Editing, of course! Send your paper our way. Kibin editors are standing by.

Stuck on your descriptive essay?

Check out thousands of example descriptive essays.

Yes! Show me examples.

What about a great one?

Writing a descriptive essay usually requires you to describe something – an object, place, person, event, experience, emotion, etc. –  making use of details and sensory imagery.

Description allows us to show rather than tell. Think of a park or coffee house, or any other place you like to visit. If you just say “park” or “coffee house” to people, they will come up with their own ideas about these places.

The words themselves are abstract, but in descriptive essays, your goal is to make these terms more concrete by showing them to the reader.

So get ready to bust out those adjectives – they’ll be your best friends when writing this type of essay!

That said, you can’t simply describe something without a purpose and organization: that’s like setting up a tent when you’re camping and then sleeping outside on the ground.

In this blog, I’ll show you how to effectively tackle descriptive essays while also giving you some great exercises that can help you practice and get started.

The Barn Exercise

Don’t know where to begin? How about some practice!

For this exercise, describe a barn (outside, inside, or both) from the point of view of a man whose son has just died in a war. Do not mention the war, the man, or the son.

Focus solely on the barn itself, but keep this information in mind. How do you think this man would describe the barn?

Intense, right? This is a great exercise that makes you – the writer – focus on your topic and use only those details that are most relevant to descriptive writing.

The barn is the most important element here, and based on the mood (which we can assume is one of grief, despair, anger, etc.), you can describe the barn using words and a tone that would suggest how the “narrator” feels in that moment.

The barn’s appearance will be affected by the narrator’s emotional state.

This exercise has an alternative. Forget the man and the son for a second. Instead, choose a strong emotion (joy, jealousy, fear, excitement, etc.), and then describe the barn using this emotion, but never mention the emotion itself.

This makes you really think about which words will best describe the barn while letting your reader know how you feel about it through showing not telling.

…Because not all barns are mired in grief. In fact, some are downright cheerful:

How to Write A Descriptive Essay: Strategies for Description

Use Sensory Imagery

Just using the power of your words, you can let a reader see, hear, taste, feel, or smell the environments you create in your descriptive essay. Think of that first blank white page on your computer as your canvas; using your imagination,  “paint” a picture on this canvas so that the reader can experience a “sense” of a place, object, person, etc. from your point of view.Neat, huh?

Use Similes and Metaphors

Similes use “like” or “as” to describe something.

Examples: My dog is like a bulldozer plowing through the snow.

This room is as cold as ice!

These Kibin editors are so cool; they’re like movie stars!

Metaphors make implicit comparisons; they don’t use “like” or “as”.

Examples: You’re my whole world.

Jeremiah was a bullfrog.

She has a heart of gold.

Be specific to let readers really “see” what you want to show them.

Bad: There was a desk in the corner.

Better: The solid oak writing desk in the corner had a small drawer with round brass handles. It was overstuffed with papers that had yellowed with age.

All right, now – strap on your boots: we’re diving into descriptive essay writing!

All about them were small woods of resinous trees, fir and cedar and cypress, and other kinds unknown in the Shire, with wide glades among them; and everywhere there was a wealth of sweet-smelling herbs and shrubs. The long journey from Rivendell had brought them far south of their own land, but not until now in this more sheltered region had the hobbits felt the change of clime. Here Spring was already busy about them: fronds pierced moss and mould, larches were green-fingered, small flowers opening in the turf, birds were singing.– J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

Use specific details! Look at how well Tolkien makes use of specific details to turn abstract ideas into concrete images that the reader can understand.

How to Write a Descriptive Essay: Determine Your Approach

#1. Objective description – This approach is used to impartially inform the reader about a topic. An objective description is neither personal nor emotional, rather it is based in factual observations. Here is an example:

The 16 reservations of Cleveland Metroparks consist of over 21,000 acres of various landscapes and attractions for visitors to enjoy. The Park District is commonly referred to as the “Emerald Necklace” because the reservations encircle the city of Cleveland. Two of the reservations, Brecksville and Bedford, fall within the boundaries of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  (Source)

Do you see how the writer didn’t put in any emotional or personal details? The description is purely objective and based on just the facts.

#2. Subjective description – This is the more common approach used to write a descriptive essay because it allows you to inject some feeling into your writing. You can write your descriptions from your unique perspective and celebrate your observations with artistic prose.

Ready for another LOTR reference? Let’s see how Smaug describes himself:

“My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail is a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!”- J. R. R. Tolkien, The HobbitThink about your assignment requirements, and then determine which style–objective or subjective–is best for your descriptive essay!

How to Write a Descriptive Essay: Plan and Organize

Like any essay you write, you don’t want to just dive in. Start by generating ideas, taking notes, and outlining. Try to stick to one main vantage point and overall “mood.”

In your descriptive essay, try to stick to one main vantage point and overall “mood.”
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Remember that you need to have a purpose for writing this essay, so be sure to come up with a thesis.

Vantage point – Do you get up close and intimate with your subject, or are you more distant? Be sure that you maintain a balance of these vantage points throughout the essay for consistency.

Intimate: Use this approach to describe something or someone you’re very familiar with. Make good use of memory here for specific details.

“My old teddy bear has been discolored by years of attic dust and is more brown than gray now. A bit of cotton stuffing shows where my mom had sewn up the ear after Bugs, our old Collie, got at it. It’s still missing a black-button eye from the attack, and the lonely thread line in the empty ‘socket’ makes the toy look like its always winking.”

Distant: Use this vantage point when you need to describe less significant moments that aren’t as important to the overall essay but are necessary for transition from one moment to the next.

“Jeremy’s house looked like a prison – the walls were made of old unwashed brick, and the windows all had bars on them.”

Mood – This is the impression you want to leave the reader with. Consider the various descriptions above. How did they make you feel?

Think about the contradictory language in this example. How does it affect the tone?

“It was a bright, beautiful day – the sun was shining, and the flowers were in full bloom.  My grandfather’s funeral was in two hours.”

Thesis – This is the main purpose for writing your essay. Read this post to get a little help with your thesis statement.

Here is a thesis statement example for a descriptive essay I would have fun writing:

“This description of the Millennium Falcon shows that Han Solo piloted more than just a ‘bucket of bolts’; the iconic spacecraft had many upgrades that allowed Solo to smuggle successfully, evade capture, and outmaneuver the best Imperial fighters in the galaxy.”

Not sure how to format an essay? Be sure to check with your teacher about the specifics.

How to Write a Descriptive Essay: Develop a Draft

Once you have finished planning your mood, vantage point, and approach, start writing the paper! There are three main components to any essay: Introduction, Body, Conclusion. These are all terms you may be familiar with, but let me give you the details!

Introduction – Tell the reader what you will tell them. In this paragraph, you briefly summarize the main points of your essay and provide your thesis. Think about the overall imagery and mood you want to convey – this is the spot where you first “dip your toe in the water” to get an idea of what it feels like. That’s the type of effect you’ll want the introduction to have.

Body – Tell them. The body paragraphs are the “meat” of your essay in which you’ll be doing the most describing. Unlike narrative essays, which are often chronological and move from one event to the next through time, a descriptive essay often takes a reader from one place to the next .

If you’re describing the interior of a house, for example, you may go from one room to the next, ending on your most favorite room – the pinball-laser-tag-bowling-alley-bouncey-castle room in your basement. (Okay, perhaps you don’t have such a room, but you can see where I’m going with this).

All essays must be organized in some way, and moving from one place to the next is typically how descriptive essays handle this.

Keep in mind that a strong organization for this paper will include a topic-by-topic approach. If you’re writing about that house, be sure that each door you move through begins a new paragraph. Hit the “Enter” key and indent that next line!

Conclusion – Tell the reader what you told them. As a general rule, a conclusion never introduces new information. Much like the intro, it summarizes the essay’s main points and then returns to the thesis to reinforce your claim one last time, leaving the reader with the impression you wanted them to have from the very beginning.

Final Thoughts on How to Write a Descriptive Essay

Writing is a muscle that needs exercise, so starting out with a little practice works well for many writers.

Check out these sources for extra help and inspiration on how to write a descriptive essay. A review of some descriptive essay examples can also go a long way toward helping you better tackle this writing style. You can see how other students approached their descriptive essays.

Let’s recap! A descriptive essay should have:

• An intro, body, and conclusion
• A thesis statement that tells your reader the point of your essay
• An objective or subjective approach
• A vantage point and an intentional mood or tone (think about the barn exercise!).
• Specific details, sensory imagery, metaphors, and similes
• A logical progression from one topic to the next (remember the “room-to-room house” example above).

Now that you have the tools to help you start writing a descriptive essay that is expressive, it’s time to fill that blank white page with your words! When you’ve finished your draft, Kibin’s editing service is here to help you make sure it’s polished and awesome!

Now go forth and describe, you brave wordsmiths!

Stuck on your descriptive essay?

Check out thousands of example descriptive essays.

Yes! Show me examples.

Okay, this isn’t CSI, and you’re not under investigation, so this isn’t the type of description we’ll be learning about in this post.

Describe your summer vacation.

You’re not in third grade, either so no one is going to ask you to write a paper describing your family’s summer vacation (I hope!).

Write a 750 word essay describing a place, an object, an experience, or a process. Be creative!

Now this sounds like something you might be asked to write. Describing something sounds easy enough, right? But there are guidelines you should follow when writing a descriptive essay.

Being creative and descriptive can sometimes be a challenge. I’m sure you don’t want to write the seventh incarnation of your summer vacation essay, but you might be struggling to think of something a bit more original.

If you’re feeling less than creative and need some inspiration, then you’ve found the right place, as this post includes 20 fascinating and unusual descriptive essay topics.

Writing a Descriptive Essay: What You Need to Know

Yes, you’ll need to include descriptions in a descriptive essay, but there’s more to it than that.

Yes, you need to include descriptions in a descriptive essay, but there’s more to it than that.
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Here are three key points should know before you write your paper.

Know why you’re writing the essay

Like any assignment, a descriptive essay has a specific purpose.

Is your purpose to simply describe something, or are you supposed include your feelings and comments about something? Not sure how to include either of these?  Read more about objective and subjective description.

Know what details to include

Description is obviously important in a descriptive essay but don’t include details simply for the sake of including them. These unnecessary details slow down your writing and bog down your readers.

Here’s an example that includes too many unnecessary details.

I walked up the three steps on my front porch, put my key in my newly painted front door, and opened it casually. My jaw dropped to the floor when I opened the door. Eight of my best friends were packed tightly like sardines in the corner, each holding colorful Happy Birthday signs. They jumped out and yelled “Surprise! Happy Birthday!” as I walked in the room.

This paragraph provides too many irrelevant details. Do readers really need to know how many steps are on your front porch, or do they need to know your door was freshly painted? Of course not. These details aren’t important to your description of this event, so leave them out.

Warning:  Avoid cliches! Expressions, such as “my jaw dropped to the floor” and “packed like sardines” are overused and not original or creative.

Know (and use) your senses

No, this doesn’t refer to common sense (though I do recommend you always use common sense). Here, senses literally refers to your 5 senses: sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell.

It’s easy to include sight in description, but don’t forget the other senses. Including the other senses creates more vivid imagery. It will bring your descriptions to life and help your readers imagine what you’re describing.

Think about describing a bakery. Through your description, you can show readers an image of the physical space and describe the donuts, but if you can capture the sweet aroma of baked goods wafting through the air, you’ll create a much more effective description.

Now that you’re hungry for donuts, and now that you have a better understanding of how to write a descriptive essay, the fact remains that you still need something to write about.

Here are 20 topics to help spark your creativity.

20 Fascinating and Unusual Descriptive Essay Topics

Remember, you want to avoid topics that you’ve written about since the third grade and boring topics that are too obvious.

Try one of these topics, instead!

5 Fascinating and Unusual Descriptive Essay Topics about Places

Sure, you could describe your bedroom, your dorm room, or even a classroom, but that’s not very original, so write about something a little more unusual, like one of these 5 places.

1. A construction site: Think of the sounds of machinery and smells of construction materials. You might even be able to describe conversations between workers.

2. A waiting room: Consider the mood of the room and how people interact. How do strangers interact when placed in a quiet room together?

3. A gas station restroom: I hate to ask, but is it possible to describe how this room might smell?

4. A cemetery at dusk: The time of year, the weather, and the light will be important in your description of a cemetery. Is the mood somber or creepy?

5. A line at an amusement park ride: Think about how the temperature and the length of the line might play an important role in your description. Does a 90 degree day and a 30 minute wait change the mood of the people in line?

5 Fascinating and Unusual Descriptive Essay Topics about Objects

Your first thought might be to describe your television, your couch, or anything else immediately in front of you, but really, how fascinating can a couch be?  Why not write about something a bit more interesting, like one of these topics.

1. The contents of your purse or wallet: Describe what the items look like, but also describe their importance or significance. Do you carry any sentimental items?

2. A painting or picture: Describe the subject of the painting or photograph. Do the background images have any significance? What is the history behind the painting or picture?

3. Your favorite toy from childhood: Can you describe to readers why the toy was your favorite? What is the toy made of? Is it soft and cuddly or made of plastic or steel?

4. The street in front of your home: Paint a clear picture for your readers by describing the street itself, what surrounds the street, and who uses the street? What noises are associated with the street? Are there any distinctive smells or sights?

5. A tattoo: Colors, lines, and concept will play an important role in describing a tattoo. If known, you might also include a description of the tattoo’s meaning.

5 Fascinating and Unusual Descriptive Essay Topics about Experiences

You’ve likely graduated from kindergarten, middle school, and maybe even high school.  You might be tempted to write about this experience, but unless it was truly unique, consider skipping those boring ideas and go with a more unusual topic like one of the five listed here.

1. A frightening, funny, or embarrassing subway ride: Describe how frightened you were when you were trapped in a dark subway car for hours. Perhaps describe how embarrassed you felt when you broke the heel of your shoe running to catch the train. Or, describe how a subway performer changed your day.

2. Feeling alone in a room–not knowing anyone at the party, in a new school, or in a class: Think about the emotions you felt. How can you describe this to others so they, too, feel how you felt in that instant? Did the shape of the room or placement of the people contribute to your feelings?

3. A visit to an emergency room: Describe the sounds of doctors, patients, and medical devices to your readers. Describe your thoughts and feelings. Consider how you might describe the chaos or calm in the ER at any given time.

4. Getting lost in a strange new place (a city or even on your campus): Combine the panic you might feel along with a clear description of the sights and sounds around you to help readers understand your emotions and see your surroundings.

5. Meeting up with a long-lost friend (or ex-boyfriend/girlfriend): Consider how you might describe the person. Does he or she look different than when you last met? How did you feel when you first saw your friend or ex? Does the place where you met play a role in your description?

5 Fascinating and Unusual Descriptive Essay Topics about Processes

Yes, making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich might be considered a process, but these types of how-to processes read more like directions, rather than a description of a process. Choose a topic (like one listed below) that allows for more discussion and description.

1. How to survive your first year of college: Think about all of your experiences and try to narrow them down to a few key points that college students must know in order to survive. You might describe the best ways to study, how to meet new people, how to avoid feeling homesick, or even how to avoid the freshman 15.

2. How to train for a marathon: This description not only involves the physical aspect, but also involves the mental aspects of training. Describe how you feel during each.

3. How to study for an exam: Describe a few important study strategies. Consider how you learn best and how you might help others follow your same techniques.

4. How to break up with your boyfriend/girlfriend: Is it ever okay to break up on Facebook, Twitter, or via text? What should you say to your soon-to-be ex?

5. How to protect your privacy online: Describe a few key steps anyone can use to protect his or her privacy. Look for simple, low-cost solutions anyone can try.

From Descriptive Topic to Descriptive Essay

After you’ve chosen from the many possible descriptive essay topics for your paper, remember: know why you’re writing the essay, know what details to include, and use your 5 senses.

With these three tips in mind, it will be easy to turn your fascinating and unusual topic into a superb essay.

If you’re looking for extra help turning descriptive essay topics into an essay, here are a few resources to set you on the right path.

For help with basic essay structure, read How to Write a 5-Paragraph Essay Outline.

Read more tips on structuring your descriptive essay here.

Do you remember when teachers told you to show, not tell? They’re right! Click here to learn more about using this strategy in your own descriptive essay.

If you’ve written a killer descriptive essay but just can’t decide how to end it, read 12 Essay Conclusion Examples to Help You Finish Strong and How to Write a Killer Essay Conclusion.

When you’ve finished your essay, don’t forget to have one of our editors review your paper.

Happy writing!

Stuck on your descriptive essay?

Check out thousands of example descriptive essays.

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