Improving your writing: imagery and
descriptive techniques
Skill definition: Using language to create interest and involve the reader.
Whatever type of writing you are doing, whether it is telling a story, describing a place or a
person, or trying to persuade the reader about something, it is important to write in such a way
that you put pictures (images) in the reader’s head. In this way, your writing will not only be
more interesting, it will be more memorable.
Think back to the chapter on comprehension (pages 73–75) and you may remember how effective
figurative language can be. Be inspired by what you have read and include it in your own work.
Using some of the following ‘writers’ tricks’ will help to ‘lift’ your writing and make it more interesting.
lUsing the senses
Without realising it, we use our senses all the time to build up a picture of someone or something.
When you are writing description, don’t just use the sense of sight – what about sounds and
smells, for example? The more senses you use, the clearer the picture will be for the reader.
lAlliteration
T
he repetition of a consonant at the beginning of a string of words adds a ‘sound’ quality
to your writing. Use it in writing to add emphasis in non-fiction or to create a sound in the
reader’s head in fiction writing or to add to the mood of a description. For example:
The slender stream snaked its way through the countryside.
lOnomatopoeia
When the sound of the word is similar to the sound of what it describes, the technique is called
onomatopoeia. Use it in your writing to help the reader hear your description. It works well
when used during action-packed scenes, mysterious episodes or describing places where the
sound adds to the mood.
screech crunch sizzle pop jingle gurgle rattle twang
lSimiles
A simile is used to compare two things to help the reader imagine them. By giving the reader more
of a visual picture, the qualities of the thing being described are easier to comprehend. Use similes
in descriptive writing to build a vivid picture. Use them in non-fiction writing to help the reader
understand your viewpoint or to help convince them of something by deepening their understanding.
3 Composition
The tallest trees towered over the rest of the forest like giants marching through clipped grass.
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Like similes, metaphors also compare two things but on a deeper level. Rather than describing
one as thing as similar to another, metaphors describe something as if it were something
else. This makes a description go far deeper and allows you to build a broader picture of what
something is like.
As he travelled the road from adolescence to adulthood, he passed alongside many places to
stop and many to keep walking past.
lPersonification
Giving human attributes to things that are not human is called personification. It may be
actions, emotions or abilities. Use it in horror or mystery to make things seem creepier or
in adventure to emphasise the action. It can be used to add emotion to a story or to make
something seem more powerful in a piece of persuasive writing.
As we walked through the wood, the trees on either side of the path leaned over to hear better
what we were saying. The path narrowed as they put out their arms to join hands and prevent us
from reaching our destination.
lGroups of three
Improving your writing: imagery and descriptive techniques
lMetaphors
The tricolon is a group of three words or phrases. It creates rhythm: use it to add emphasis and
help an idea stick in the reader’s mind. It can also be combined with alliteration. For example:
As I regained consciousness, I felt beaten, bruised and battered.
lInteresting verbs
Choose interesting verbs and don’t repeat a verb in a piece of writing. Think about what action
is happening and consider a range of synonyms. Which one fits the mood, the character or
the setting the best? In this example, you could think about the speed of the boy, the way he
moves and the tone of voice of the narrator:
He trudged/sprinted/plodded/dragged himself up the hill to school.
lInteresting adjectives
The same is true of adjectives. Don’t just pick an interesting adjective – pick the most
appropriate one. Sometimes one well-chosen word tells the reader all they need to know.
Beautiful? Or dazzling, ravishing, stunning?
Serious? Or severe, solemn, maudlin?
lAvoid
‘dead’ words and phrases such as ‘there was/were/is/are’. Instead, replace these words
with ones that are more descriptive and informative. For example, rather than saying ‘There
were lots of people in the room’ try:
Hundreds of people were crammed into the room.
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