art description creative writing

Artist Guide

How To Write The Perfect Artwork Description

When it comes to selling your art, the more information that you provide in your artwork description the better! After all, this is where your customer will turn to learn more about your piece.

The best artwork descriptions on Artfinder comprise two sections: one detailing the inspiration behind the piece and another presenting the bare facts .

The inspirational bit

This component of the description will need to refer directly to the artwork at hand. There's no perfect formula for this, however it does need to be engaging! Remember that it should reflect you and your personality, as well as your enthusiasm for your work.

You may wish to mention the following:

• What inspired you to create the piece?
• What techniques did you use and why?
• What does it mean to you?
• What does it represent in terms of your artistic work as a whole?

Bear in mind that along with our usual criteria for excellent listings , we look for detailed and inspirational artwork descriptions for our Art of the Day email feature. So if you tick all of the boxes, you are more likely to be selected!

The factual bit

It’s worth spending a little more time on this component to ensure that you have every possible factor that the customer could wish to know. The good news is, though, that you can then copy and paste the same formula into each listing and tweak it to make it relevant to your artwork.

• Materials used – include canvas type , materials used e.g. pastels or pencils
• Dimensions – include these in centimetres and inches for extra clarity
• Packaging - explain your packaging process. Will the work be packed in bubble wrap or rolled? Do you offer to ship artworks both rolled and stretched?
• Delivery - expand on your courier and shipping times
• Anything else to add? Maybe you want to encourage the customer to get in touch with you directly with any questions

Image courtesy of Marcel Garbi

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Art Marketing

The art of writing about your art: from artwork description to artist statement.

There is a popular saying we all have accepted as a truth: “A picture is worth a thousand words”. But what happens when we want to talk about the picture, and what we think of it, what it made us feel, what it reminded us of? For visual artists, words are a tool needed to effectively communicate what they do, and spark conversation around their work.

For artists and art businesses alike, mastering the art of writing about their creations is a key communicational asset that can help them improve how they present their work to their target audience.

Good communication can elevate a pitch for exhibitions and events, strengthen the connections built through networking, and drive more traffic to a website, generating opportunities for more art sales or commissions. Keep reading to find helpful guides, prompts, and even “fill in” forms to improve your art writing skills.

Why polishing your writing skills is key to growing as an artist or art business

Language helps us elaborate on a subject and create a connection with the reader. It’s also a tool to focus people’s attention on particular characteristics and even, to drive them to follow an action, like moving forward in the art buyer’s journey you have designed for people that have shown interest in your work.

Writing is an indispensable skill in a world where the digital and physical spaces are intertwined . Creative writing is an essential part of any art marketing strategy or communication plan that aims to promote your work and get it noticed online or offline. 

Plus, there are several instances where you will need to use your writing skills as an artist, for example:

-Creating your own business or professional website .

-Writing a blog post to engage with your audience.

-Coming up with a creative caption for your social media posts ,

-Improving your artwork descriptions for exhibitions or e-commerce websites .

-Describing your virtual exhibition or online art show .

-Crafting an artist statement or an exhibition statement .

-Updating your artist resume .

-Crafting an exhibition proposal for a gallery .

-Writing invitations for an art show.

-Creating an art or artist newsletter or any email communication.

-Submitting your work for art fairs.

-Applying for scholarships, awards, grants, and residencies.

-Filling out your application for teaching opportunities.

-Drafting an art business plan.

How to break free from “writer’s block” as an artist

Have you ever faced the fear that only a blank canvas can produce? The same thing might happen when you face a blank page and the pressure to write. It happens to everyone, even the most prolific writers.

Writer’s block is only a period when your creative flow finds a roadblock, and there are many ways to break from it. Here are some ideas to spark your imagination and get you into writing:

– Record yourself: use the recording app on your mobile phone and freely talk about the subject you want to write about. After, you can listen to yourself, take notes, and turn them into text.

– Talk to a friend: a really good prompt to get you writing about any subject is leaving aside the pressure of sounding “artsy” or “professional”, and telling whatever you want to express in your own words like you would do in an intimate conversation with a friend.

– Use AI tools: technology is always there to help you, if you don’t know where to start you can use AI software to draft general ideas or even the structure of the text. Here are some proven ChatGPT prompts to write everything from an artwork description to an email.

– Feed your creativity: remember that Pablo Picasso quote, “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working”? Well, sometimes, you need to work to get inspired. Read a book or an article about the subject you want to write about, listen to music that gets you in the right mindset, and even watch a movie or series that can give you a different point of view about that theme. 

Prompts to write about your artwork

If you want to exercise the way you write about your art and what you create, following creative prompts is a good way to take you to new places and express yourself beyond the canvas (or medium of preference). Here is a list of prompts, ideas, or phrases to follow and get you writing about your art and create a first draft: 

-I usually find inspiration in…

-I created this because…

-My primary emotion while making this was…

-My main influences are…

-I decided to work with this medium because…

-What you are looking at is…

-Through my creations, I’m investigating…

-I chose this subject because…

-The concept of this artwork came to me when…

-I could describe my creative process as

-What defines my body of work/collection/group of artworks is…

List of adjectives to write about your art

In their most simple definition, adjectives are words we use to describe characteristics of a certain subject. When you are writing about art, these are your tools to convey your impressions and ideas about a certain piece and communicate them to the reader.

Here is a list of art-related adjectives you can use to nurture your writing:

– About the style or genre: abstract, realistic, modern, contemporary, digital, postmodern, expressionist, mixed media, avant-garde, minimalist, pop art, pointillist, sculptural, surrealist. 

– About the subject: portrait, self-portrait, still-life, landscape, symbolic, figurative, seascape, mythological. 

– About the tone: expressive, symbolic, provocative, articulated, crude, defying, dramatic, dynamic, evocative, fragmented, gestural, harmonious, introspective, interactive, organic, subliminal, traditional, and experimental.

– About the colors: bright, saturated, muted, subtle, bold, monochrome, contrasting, tonal, complementary, balanced, vibrant, warm and cool.

Want to continue expanding your vocabulary? Check these lists of art terms every creative should know: Part 1 and Part 2 .

Start writing about your artworks: “fill in the blank” exercises

Now that you know how to find inspiration, and even have a list of prompts to motivate you to write, it’s time to work on different formats that you will certainly use for career or art business purposes .

Take these “fill in the blank” exercises as a first draft for any of the suggested content, you should always revisit them, and edit them before publishing. Remember to always check twice for grammar and spelling mistakes.

How to write an artist’s statement

Artist’s statements are usually the welcome message to their exhibitions and related publications. This text is also a way to present themselves and their work in summary, covering the main information any art lover or potential collector should know about their body of work and the person behind it at first glance.

Draft your first artist’s statement with this “fill in the blank” example:

“(Artist’s name) is a (type of artist) whose work delves into ideas of (broad topic). This exhibition brings together (types of artworks) that explore (narrow theme).”

How to write a press release

Part of the success of a virtual or in situ exhibition relies on a killer art marketing strategy to promote it. One of the main assets you will need to prepare to get media attention and assistance is a press release. You can start working on your own with this exercise, just fill in the blank spaces:

“Press release title: (name of artists) presents (name of exhibition) at (venue or website)

(Artist’s name or collective) presents their latest exhibition (name of the art show) based on (overall theme) in (name and location of the venue or link to website for online shows) from (opening date) to (full duration of the exhibition).

Dive into the work of (artist’s name), who lives in (location), where they have developed a body of work focused on (themes). They have a background on (education or experience) and have been the recipient of (awards, grants, and residencies).

With their latest work (artist’s name) explores (themes), focusing on (subjects) through the use of (medium or technique). The exhibition conveys (visitor’s experience) as a result of the work with (name of curator).

Contact information: email, phone number, website, and social media channels”

Check Gita Joshi ’s prompts and recommendations for writing a press release on this exclusive ArtPlacer Academy webinar “ How to craft an art show proposal ”. Take the lesson by logging into your ArtPlacer account or starting your free trial.

How to write an artwork description

One of the most important texts you will write is an artwork description, this text is essential to drive traffic to your website, and e-commerce page, to get your art noticed by people looking for similar creations on social media. This is also used for gallery and exhibition purposes. 

With this basic “fill in the blank” form, you will be able to quickly come up with a draft for a description for any artwork:

“(name of the artwork) created by (artist’s name) on (medium) with (technique or style). This piece details/captures (subject matter) inspired by (theme).”

How to write a short bio for an artist

A short bio of you as an artist could be requested when applying for a job, when working on the “About me” page of your website, or the brochure of your next exhibition. This might be one of the texts that artists usually hesitate to write because it is difficult to summarize oneself in a few words, but with this “fill in” exercise you’ll come up with a starting paragraph for it.

Remember: your bio can be written in the first or third person depending on where you are going to present it and the tone you need to convey.

“(Artist’s name) is a (type of artist), based on/from (country, city). Born in (year), his/her/their work focuses on (main themes) which they explore through (preferred medium). They have a background in (expertise) having assisted to (academic background) and have worked with (previous commissioned work or general working background). They are inspired by (themes) and moved by the exploration of (subjects), they have been influenced by (general influences). They have exhibited their work in (previous exhibitions) and are the recipient of (awards, residencies)” 

Now that you know the basics, you can start working on your texts and polishing your writing skills to better communicate your vision as an artist!

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How to Write Art Descriptions for Your Artwork

How to Write a Description for an Art Piece Beautifully

As an artist, one of the most important aspects of your work is the ability to communicate it effectively and beautifully to your audience. A key part of this is having well written descriptions of your art pieces, which can help to convey the meaning, intention, and emotion behind your creations.

To help you, here are some tips to write effective descriptions of your artwork:

• Start with the basics: Begin by describing the medium, dimensions, and any relevant technical information about your artwork. This will help your audience understand the physical characteristics of your piece, and can provide a useful reference point for further discussion.
• Identify the key themes and concepts: Think about the themes and concepts that inspired your artwork, and try to articulate them clearly in your description. What emotions or ideas are you trying to convey through your work? What inspired you to create this piece? Whenever possible, tell the story behind the piece or how you experience it as a viewer. By sharing these insights with your audience, you can help them to connect with your work on a deeper level.
• Use vivid and descriptive language: Your description should paint a picture in the mind of the reader, so use language that is evocative and descriptive. Try to choose words that capture the mood, tone, and atmosphere of your artwork, and avoid using generic or clichéd descriptions that don’t do your work justice.
• Consider the audience: Think about who your audience is and what they might be looking for in your artwork. Are they art collectors, critics, or casual viewers? What do they already know about your work or the art world in general? How does the artwork help them or enrich their lives? By tailoring your description to your audience, you can help them to engage more deeply with your artwork.
• Edit and refine: Finally, make sure to edit and refine your art descriptions until it is clear, concise, and engaging. This may involve cutting unnecessary information, rephrasing awkward sentences, or adding additional details to flesh out your ideas.

I hope these tips help you create descriptions of your artwork that are compelling, informative, and engaging. Remember, the goal is to help your audience connect with your work on a deeper level, and to communicate the passion and creativity that goes into each and every piece you create.

If you are looking for one on one help or to save some time and have someone write the descriptions beautifully and from your authentic voice, I can help! Click here or the link below to get in touch and see how we can work together to tell the story of your art beautifully and get your audience connecting with your work.

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Singulart Magazine > Advice for... > How to Write the Perfect Artwork Description

How to Write the Perfect Artwork Description

In art, the visual display is often the main attraction. However, the quality of an art description can’t be overlooked. An artwork description functions as a link between the art piece and the viewer, which gives the viewer an idea of its meaning, context, and emotion. No matter if you’re a visual artist, curator, or gallery owner, knowing how to write effective artwork descriptions is a key skill that allows you to connect with the audience and communicate the real message of the piece.

Understanding the Purpose of an Artwork Description

An artwork description is much more than a mere description of sizes and materials. It is a chance to arouse interest, induce emotions, and give the proper setting. Think of it as a story that leads the viewer through the artist’s visual movements. By the means of some well-written explanation, the viewer can better understand and therefore be able to feel more closely related to the work of art.

Key Elements of an Effective Artwork Description

1. Captivating Introduction: Commence with a captivating opening that hooks the reader from the start and sets the context for the remainder of the description. Consider combining curious details about the artwork’s origin or meaning.

2. Detailed Visual Analysis: Conduct thorough research on the visual elements of the painting. Talk about colors, textures, sizes, shapes, and other features elaborately.

3. Contextual Information: Give some information about the artist, art movement or style, and the historical or cultural background. Such specifics make pictures vivid and enrich the perception of viewers.

4. Emotional Connection: Expound your feelings about the art piece or invite the viewer to reflect on their emotions in regards to the artwork. Use descriptions to evoke emotions, atmosphere, and sentimentality.

5. Interpretive Analysis: Intentionally engage the viewers to critically examine the artwork provided with additional information. Research the theme, symbolism, and message buried in the artist’s work. Advice your viewers to search for the core of the art piece. 6. Concise Description: On the one hand, it is critical to provide complete details without at the same time overload of information. Keep the description succinct and to the point, mentioning the most notable element of the work of art. 7. Engaging Language: Write with clearness, imagination, and feelings. Utilize the power of vivid description, metaphors, and sensory perception to transmit the work of art to the reader’s mind’s eye. Seek to generate a story that will link the audience through a cognitive process.

Tips for Writing the Perfect Artwork Description

1. Know Your Audience: Tailor your description to appease the needs and preferences of your target market. Consider the level of art awareness, their cultural background, and their probable willingness to interact with the artwork.

2. Use Descriptive Language: Use words that create a vivid picture in the reader’s mind. Make them perceive the painting through your eyes. Make use of descriptive language that will attract both the emotional and the visual senses of the reader.

3. Be Authentic: Humanize your personality traits in your description as much as possible. Be sincere and share what you feel, rather than just repeating the clichés or the textbook phrases.

4. Edit and Revise: Check the description for clarity, flow, and errorless grammar. Get rid of any language that is not necessary or that distracts your readers from the real message you want to convey. Strive for precision and simplicity in your language.

5. Seek Feedback: Don’t hesitate to consult your peer, mentor, or anyone who you trust. Their involvement will be essential in polishing the artist’s description so that it depicts the feeling of the artwork.

Why Singulart is The Best Place To Sell Your Art?

Selling your artwork has never been simpler with Singulart’s streamlined process. Here’s why artists love it:

1. Easy Setup: With Singulart, you can start selling your art from your couch with just a few clicks. Subscribe to the platform and in no time list your artworks that will be seen by passionate art admirers from all over the world.

2. Transparent Performance Tracking: Monitor the progress of your artwork with detailed analytics available in the Gold and Platinum plans. Know your audience, monitor sales statistics, and make informed decisions to effectively manage and optimize your sales processes.

3. Hassle-Free Transactions: As soon as your artwork is bought, the Singulart team will handle all the logistics. Just ship your artwork the way you decide, send it to the buyer and receive money in an easy way.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you describe a good artwork.

Give the work’s formal components—line, medium, color, light, space, composition, and style—your complete focus. What impression do they leave on the observer, and how do they relate to the entire piece? Take into account the artist, the time, the place, and the historical backdrop of the piece. 

How do I write my art description?

Start by outlining the inspiration behind your work, whether it was a historical occasion, a particular person, a singular experience, or just something that caught your attention. Don’t merely state that you were inspired by something; instead, describe how the event affected every aspect of your design, including the lighting, shadows, and color scheme you used.

Writing an excellent art description is part art and part science. There is an equal requirement for creative, insightful, and precise thinking. By practicing on the issues that are mentioned above and following the tips provided, you could end up with descriptions that are captivating and inspiring, hence enriching the viewers´ experience of art and enhancing their appreciation for the art world.

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Writing About Art

• Visual Description

The simplest visual description uses ordinary words to convey what the writer sees.  First he or she must look at the subject – slowly, carefully, and repeatedly, if possible – to identify the parts that make the whole. These parts must be sorted into the more and the less important, since no description can include everything, and assumptions must be separated from actual observations. It is easy to confuse what we see with what we think we see, or what we know is there.  Then comes the difficult job of finding appropriate words. In effect, writing a visual description consists of two separate acts of translation.  The first transforms a visual experience into a verbal one and the second turns a private experience into one that can be communicated to someone else.

Any writer takes some things for granted. It is crucial to understand what these things are and then consider them in terms of both the purpose of the description and the interests of the reader.  For example, to describe the sky in a particular 17th-century Dutch landscape painting as cloudy indicates one aspect of the picture in a general way.  It leaves entirely unexplained the specific elements that create the visual effect – like the shapes and colors of the clouds, the way they have been arranged, or how they suggest space.  These qualities cannot be imagined by a reader who has not been given explicit details.  In the same way, identifying something by artist, title, and date might be all a specialist needs to visualize the work.  Anyone else, however, will need to be told much more.

Generally speaking, the best place to begin a visual description is with an explanation of the subject and the materials of the work.  Together they provide enough information to orient any reader.  In most cases, though, neither will be enough by itself.  To say that a work of art shows a woman and a child, but not whether the representation is in two or three dimensions, makes it hard to form even the roughest mental image.  If, however, the writer says that the work is a life-size sculpture of a woman and child, the reader can begin to imagine what it might look like.  He or she also will know enough to have questions.  A good written description will anticipate these questions and provide information in an order that answers them.

Additional observations can make the first sentence even more useful.  Perhaps the artist is famous, and “a life-size sculpture of a woman and child by Henry Moore” would convey a great deal to the reader.  Perhaps the subject is the Virgin Mary and Jesus, an identification filled with meaning for someone who is knowledgeable about Christianity.  Maybe the sculptor is not known and the subject has not been identified.  Then describing the relationship between the figures might be helpful.  To say that the work is a life-size sculpture of a seated woman holding a small child on her lap gives the reader a beginning.  Of course the introductory sentence cannot hold too much information.  It must strike a balance between giving the reader a few vague generalities and trying to convey everything at once.

A traditional work of art is, first of all, a physical object.  The material or materials used may not be possible to identify by just looking.  Perhaps they look like something they are not, or the surface and texture have been obscured by layers of paint.  In cases like these, the correct identification can be brought to the attention of the reader, but not as part of what anyone can see.  This is an instance of knowing being different from seeing.  If information is based on an external source, even a museum label, the source must be cited after it has been verified.  Many mistakes get repeated as facts by people who did not bother to check them.

The size of a work is always crucial. The effect made on a viewer by an object that can be held in the hand, compared to a billboard that covers the side of a building, is so different as to make any similarities seem almost inconsequential.  The first demands a very intimate relationship, with careful and close looking to see what is there.  The other must be seen from a distance and may contain details that are too small to be comprehensible.  Scale also influences the design of a work, since the same composition, colors, and methods of making rarely transfer effectively from a small format to a very large one, or vice versa.  This is another reason why size must be considered in a visual description.

Color matters.  Even if it is not part of the subject, it influences the way we look at a work.  Bright colors catch our eye before dark ones do, and even subtle changes may matter a great deal.  The sense of space created within an abstract painting by Wassily Kandinsky comes from the colors he chose as much as the shapes.  Often the color of a work has changed over time. Some Greek sculptures, which we are accustomed to see as white marble, were painted with lifelike colors. Our expectations make reconstructions look startlingly incorrect. 5 The controversy that surrounded the cleaning of Michelangelo’s paintings in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican was partly about technical matters, but also about the tremendous change it made to the colors.  Those who accepted the results of the cleaning as historically correct had to revise their ideas about Michelangelo as an artist as well as about the history of 16th-century Italian art. 6

The qualities listed above explain why a reproduction can never substitute for an original.  A good copy will convey certain elements of the work, but it cannot convey them all. Even an excellent color photograph of an oil painting, a two-dimensional picture of a two-dimensional picture, will leave out more information than it gives. The same is even more true with reproductions of three-dimensional objects.  A single image communicates only one point of view, and it cannot indicate size, shape, surface, or volume.  These are the most essential visual qualities of sculpture.

Art historians usually do not write general visual descriptions, because they are intent upon making a specific argument or they are interested in a particular aspect of a work.  One exception is James Cahill, whose analyses of Chinese paintings provide exceptionally complete accounts of what the pictures look like.  Even without being interested in his scholarly purpose, any reader can appreciate his skill as a writer.  Typically, he used ordinary words to make his readers understand size and brush stroke as well as subject and composition.  His authorial voice is even and careful and always that of a historian, removed in time and place from the works in question.  At the same time, however, he often described what he saw in terms of how it must have been made.  In this way, he made a sense of artistic process seem like a vital part of the finished works.

One passage by Cahill about a picture from the Ming period shows how he helped make his readers more attentive viewers.  About the ink paintings in an album by the painter Wang Li (Private collection and Shanghai Museum, China), he wrote:

The surviving leaves [of Scenes of Hua-shan ] exhibit a remarkable variety in theme and composition . . ..  [O]ne may question whether the actual landscape offers any such powerfully overhanging formations of strangely twisted and pitted rock as the album does. In one of the leaves, such a mass occupies almost the whole space of the picture, leaving only narrow ravines at the sides, in which travelers are visible on paths, climbing always upward. . . .  He draws in heavy lines that taper at the ends and thicken where they bend; it is the interrelationships of these bent lines, together with sparse texture strokes and a limited use of ink wash, that define the shapes of the rocks and the hollows in and around them.  Bushes and trees grow from crevices or on the tops of boulders and ridges.  Presenting such a massive escarpment full face to the viewer . . . seems to endow the landscape with an unearthly inner life more than it portrays the effects of natural geological processes. 7

These few sentences suggest the landscape elements in the picture, the way they are arranged, what kinds of strokes Wang Li used, and the effect of the work on the viewer.

Beginning with a description of the subject of the album as “powerfully overhanging formations of strangely twisted and pitted rock” gives the reader a vivid image to which each word has contributed.  “Powerfully” suggests the way in which the rocks are “overhanging” and “formations” suggests the idea of shapes being created over time.  This makes better sense after the next phrase, which describes the rocks as “strangely twisted and pitted.” All of those words allow “mass,” in the next sentence, to suggest a specific visual character.  Similarly, “heavy lines that taper at the ends and thicken where they bend” is made up of words that occur in everyday language, but they combine to evoke how Wang Li’s brush must have moved to deposit the ink as it did.  With the phrase “massive encarpment,” the final sentence reiterates the ideas of powerful formations and mass.  Then it turns in the unexpected direction of the painted landscape having “an unearthly inner life,” which suggests an entirely different dimension from the last phrase, “the effects of natural geological processes.”  Together, though, they convey a sense of wonder at how the picture presents its subject.

A Western oil painting offers very different qualities to describe from a Chinese ink painting.  An exhibition review about Willem de Kooning's work by David Rosand conveys how dramatic the effect of paint and color can be:

Among the first colors to emerge from de Kooning’s monochrome palette of the late 1930s is a flesh pink.  Modulated from near neutrality to cosmetic blowsiness, this hue never abandons its significance: throughout his work, it declares flesh.  As de Kooning’s paint itself acquires an increased substance, which in turn inspires and provokes the aggressiveness of the brush, his visceral equation of impasto and flesh becomes more integral to his art.  This phenomenology of paint is most obviously realized in the Woman series (from c. 1950 inwards). . . .  The series marks a watershed in his career: the return to figuration allowed the artist to acknowledge overtly the physiognomic basis of his painterly style, its source in the gestures of the body. . . .  Even as de Kooning moved to an imagery of abstract landscapes, individual strokes, gestures developed in the earlier figures, continue to carry by allusion and recollection their sense of flesh – just as the recurring pink proclaims flesh. . . . 8

Like Cahill, Rosand saw the physical movements of the painter in the work he described, but they are “gestures of the body” rather than the hand.  These gestures provide the “physiognomic basis” for de Kooning’s style, and create a direct connection between the figural subject and the presence of the artist.  Color also is important, the crucial “flesh pink” changing from “near neutrality” to “cosmetic blowsiness.”

Rosand used the word “impasto” to refer to de Kooning’s paint.  The term, which comes from the Italian word for dough, refers to accumulations of paint on the surface of a canvas, often textured so they catch the light.  The technique first appeared in Venetian paintings made during the Renaissance, by Titian among others.  Rembrandt van Rijn and Vincent Van Gogh are two other artists famous for manipulating oil paint in this way.  By choosing this word, as well as describing the style as “painterly” (discussed in Stylistic Analysis), Rosand connected de Kooning to a specific tradition of Western painting.

• Introduction
• Formal Analysis
• Personal Style
• Period Style
• "Realistic"
• The Biography
• Iconographic Analysis
• Historical Analysis
• Bibliography
• Appendix I: Writing the Paper
• Appendix II: Citation Forms
• Stylistic Analysis
• Doing the Research
• The First Draft
• The Final Paper
• About the Author

© Marjorie Munsterberg 2008-2009

12 Art Description Examples

Art descriptions are written text used to describe works of art, usually for an exhibit, gallery web page, or catalogue. An effective description should not only provide information about the work depicted, but also help readers engage with the artwork, throughout a combination of well-crafted language and descriptive elements. Check out these Art Description Examples to get an idea on how to write your own for future projects.

Art Description Examples

Art descriptions provide an avenue for viewers to engage with works of art. By utilizing descriptive elements that evoke emotion, viewers will be able to more accurately experience the artwork as the artist intended it to be seen. While there are many specific artistic styles and artwork styles, the two art descriptions provided above offer a glimpse at some of the elements that should be included for a meaningful description.

2. Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night is one of the most famous artworks of all time. The wildly swirling stars and the reflective beauty of the night sky create an overwhelming feeling of power and awesomeness, quite possibly the most stunning night sky painting to ever be produced.

4. Rembrandt van Rijn painted numerous self-portraits during his lifetime, and his most famous, Self Portrait in Slightly Open Vest, captivates the viewer with its sense of depth and humanity. The monochromatic color palette and the serious frowning face project a deep sense of loneliness.

5. Marc Chagall’s La Tour Eiffel captures the romantic ambiance of the famous landmark with bright primary colors and ethereal strokes of paint. The vibrancy of the painting captures the beauty of the monument and its surroundings.

6. Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks is a masterpiece of realism. The painting captures the inescapable feeling of urban loneliness with a panoramic view of a late-night diner and its mysterious occupants.

8. Frida Kahlo’s The Two Fridas paints a surreal image of the legendary artist in her iconic double self-portrait. The painting embodies her strength, resilience, and soul with its dreamy setting and vibrant colors.

9. Grant Wood’s American Gothic is a celebrated painting of a rural Iowa couple, surrounded by a rolling landscape of lush green fields. The painting’s unique mix of realism, detail and subtle expressions creates a timeless image that speaks to the American Dream.

More Art Description Examples are coming soon…

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How to write a good description for your artwork?

The description of your works is fundamental to sell and promote your work. Learn simple tips and tricks for presenting a good description.

WHY ARE ARTWORK DESCRIPTIONS SO IMPORTANT?

On Artmajeur, when you have uploaded the photo of one of your works, then completed the information concerning the work itself (dimensions, type of work, materials used, etc.), you must enter a description. This section is designed for three reasons:

1. Describe your work for search engines (SEO). The description must respect a number of rules to be correctly indexed by search engines (SEO). If you write a brief explanation of your work, your page is more likely to appear in the top search results. This information ranking system is called SEO, an acronym for "Search Engine Optimization", is a process used to optimize the relevance of a website's content and the popularity of its links, so that its pages are easier to find, more relevant and popular for users' search queries and, therefore, for search engines. Also, in this context, it should be pointed out that the more people linger on your profile, reading content, the better your page will rank on different browsers;

2. Describe for the visitor in order to know more about the work It is important that a work be accompanied by a description, because visitors, just like when they go to a museum, want to know more about your work. Who would want to buy a work (especially on the internet where the buyer has not physically seen it) if there is no relevant information? It is therefore a necessary step to sell.

3. Describe to sell Adding a description to your work is not only useful for search engines, but also for art lovers, gallery owners and journalists. Indeed, if the first will be stimulated to buy by learning the particularities and the reasons for which you created it, the second will see in it a guarantee of professionalism, will be more inclined to work with you, and will be able to use your writing to enhance your work on social networks and in articles.

HOW TO MAKE A GOOD DESCRIPTION OF A WORK OF ART?

The description of your work is one of the most important points for you to be seen and to sell. It must be relatively short in order to be read. In order to enhance your work, there are simple and effective tips for correctly describing them:

1. Objective description of the work: You have to start by objectively describing what you see in the work (protagonist, background, colors). But also if it is a work representing a specific place, it must be mentioned, this will promote referencing. You can start by describing from left to right, for example. The important thing is to have a real description of the work.

2. Message conveyed by the work: It is important to open up to collectors and explain to them why you have decided to cover a certain subject or theme. When the name of your work is already “a message” itself, it is important to share its meaning with visitors. In short, you must ask yourself a question: why did I paint this subject, what did I want to say? The answer will be in your description.

3. The technique used to create the work: If the technique you used is special and/or innovative, you must specify this in the description. All other information about the work (dimensions, techniques, style, support...) that you have already mentioned when you upload a work to Artmajeur are not to be included in the description of the work.

SOME CIURTS EXAMPLES OF WORKS OF ART DESCRIPTION

To make it easier for you, here are some examples of artwork descriptions:

1. Leonardo da Vinci, The Mona Lisa (circa 1503-1506):

The painting depicts a seated woman facing the left of the painting. His face is almost frontal and his gaze is directed towards the observer. The background that can be seen beyond the parapet is a lake landscape dotted with hills, cliffs and high mountains. The work depicts Lisa Gherardini. With regard to the pictorial technique of sfumato, this revolutionary stylistic technique by Leonardo helped create a sense of mystery around the painted figure. One of the strengths of the Mona Lisa is her particularly ambiguous smile;

2. Piet Mondrian, Composition with red, yellow and blue (1929):

Inside the painted surface, thick black lines, orthogonal to each other, create rectangular and square backgrounds. The colors used are the primary colors, that is to say yellow, red and blue, which are arranged according to an order of composition aimed at formal and chromatic balance. These last colors are linked to a specific symbolism: yellow represents solar energy, red the union of light and space, and blue spirituality;

3. Alberto Giacometti, The Walking Man I (1960): The sculpture represents a character taking a big step forward. The work interprets the human figure with essential and elongated ascending forms. The protagonist of the sculpture is frail and afflicted, that is to say an emaciated body which, despite everything, tries to carry within itself the hope of finding the strength to be reborn. The sculpting technique is carried out by pieces of material, which coagulate along the limbs and the emaciated body.

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A Guide to Descriptive Writing

by Melissa Donovan | Jan 7, 2021 | Creative Writing | 9 comments

What is descriptive writing?

Writing description is a necessary skill for most writers. Whether we’re writing an essay, a story, or a poem, we usually reach a point where we need to describe something. In fiction, we describe settings and characters. In poetry, we describe scenes, experiences, and emotions. In creative nonfiction, we describe reality. Descriptive writing is especially important for speculative fiction writers and poets. If you’ve created a fantasy world, then you’ll need to deftly describe it to readers; Lewis Carroll not only described Wonderland  (aff link); he also described the fantastical creatures that inhabited it.

But many writers are challenged by description writing, and many readers find it boring to read — when it’s not crafted skillfully.

However, I think it’s safe to say that technology has spoiled us. Thanks to photos and videos, we’ve become increasingly visual, which means it’s getting harder to use words to describe something, especially if it only exists in our imaginations.

What is Descriptive Writing?

One might say that descriptive writing is the art of painting a picture with words. But descriptive writing goes beyond visuals. Descriptive writing hits all the senses; we describe how things look, sound, smell, taste, and feel (their tactile quality).

The term descriptive writing can mean a few different things:

• The act of writing description ( I’m doing some descriptive writing ).
• A descriptive essay is short-form prose that is meant to describe something in detail; it can describe a person, place, event, object, or anything else.
• Description as part of a larger work: This is the most common kind of descriptive writing. It is usually a sentence or paragraph (sometimes multiple paragraphs) that provide description, usually to help the reader visualize what’s happening, where it’s happening, or how it’s happening. It’s most commonly used to describe a setting or a character. An example would be a section of text within a novel that establishes the setting by describing a room or a passage that introduces a character with a physical description.
• Writing that is descriptive (or vivid) — an author’s style: Some authors weave description throughout their prose and verse, interspersing it through the dialogue and action. It’s a style of writing that imparts description without using large blocks of text that are explicitly focused on description.
• Description is integral in poetry writing. Poetry emphasizes imagery, and imagery is rendered in writing via description, so descriptive writing is a crucial skill for most poets.

Depending on what you write, you’ve probably experimented with one of more of these types of descriptive writing, maybe all of them.

Can you think of any other types of descriptive writing that aren’t listed here?

How Much Description is Too Much?

Classic literature was dense with description whereas modern literature usually keeps description to a minimum.

Compare the elaborate descriptions in J.R.R. Tolkien’s  Lord of the Rings  trilogy  with the descriptions in J.K. Rowling’s  Harry Potter series  (aff links). Both series relied on description to help readers visualize an imagined, fantastical world, but Rowling did not use her precious writing space to describe standard settings whereas Tolkien frequently paused all action and spent pages describing a single landscape.

This isn’t unique to Tolkien and Rowling; if you compare most literature from the beginning of of the 20th century and earlier to today’s written works, you’ll see that we just don’t dedicate much time and space to description anymore.

I think this radical change in how we approach description is directly tied to the wide availability of film, television, and photography. Let’s say you were living in the 19th century, writing a story about a tropical island for an audience of northern, urban readers. You would be fairly certain that most of your readers had never seen such an island and had no idea what it looked like. To give your audience a full sense of your story’s setting, you’d need pages of detail describing the lush jungle, sandy beaches, and warm waters.

Nowadays, we all know what a tropical island looks like, thanks to the wide availability of media. Even if you’ve never been to such an island, surely you’ve seen one on TV. This might explain why few books on the craft of writing address descriptive writing. The focus is usually on other elements, like language, character, plot, theme, and structure.

For contemporary writers, the trick is to make the description as precise and detailed as possible while keeping it to a minimum. Most readers want characters and action with just enough description so that they can imagine the story as it’s unfolding.

If you’ve ever encountered a story that paused to provide head-to-toe descriptions along with detailed backstories of every character upon their introduction into the narrative, you know just how grating description can be when executed poorly.

However, it’s worth noting that a skilled writer can roll out descriptions that are riveting to read. Sometimes they’re riveting because they’re integrated seamlessly with the action and dialogue; other times, the description is deftly crafted and engaging on its own. In fact, an expert descriptive writer can keep readers glued through multiple pages of description.

Descriptive Writing Tips

I’ve encountered descriptive writing so smooth and seamless that I easily visualized what was happening without even noticing that I was reading description. Some authors craft descriptions that are so lovely, I do notice — but in a good way. Some of them are so compelling that I pause to read them again.

On the other hand, poorly crafted descriptions can really impede a reader’s experience. Description doesn’t work if it’s unclear, verbose, or bland. Most readers prefer action and dialogue to lengthy descriptions, so while a paragraph here and there can certainly help readers better visualize what’s happening, pages and pages of description can increase the risk that they’ll set your work aside and never pick it up again. There are exceptions to every rule, so the real trick is to know when lengthy descriptions are warranted and when they’re just boring.

Here are some general tips for descriptive writing:

• Use distinct descriptions that stand out and are memorable. For example, don’t write that a character is five foot two with brown hair and blue eyes. Give the reader something to remember. Say the character is short with mousy hair and sky-blue eyes.
• Make description active: Consider the following description of a room: There was a bookshelf in the corner. A desk sat under the window. The walls were beige, and the floor was tiled. That’s boring. Try something like this: A massive oak desk sat below a large picture window and beside a shelf overflowing with books. Hardcovers, paperbacks, and binders were piled on the dingy tiled floor in messy stacks.  In the second example, words like  overflowing  and  piled are active.
• Weave description through the narrative: Sometimes a character enters a room and looks around, so the narrative needs to pause to describe what the character sees. Other times, description can be threaded through the narrative. For example, instead of pausing to describe a character, engage that character in dialogue with another character. Use the characters’ thoughts and the dialogue tags to reveal description: He stared at her flowing, auburn curls, which reminded him of his mother’s hair. “Where were you?” he asked, shifting his green eyes across the restaurant to where a customer was hassling one of the servers.

Simple descriptions are surprisingly easy to execute. All you have to do is look at something (or imagine it) and write what you see. But well-crafted descriptions require writers to pay diligence to word choice, to describe only those elements that are most important, and to use engaging language to paint a picture in the reader’s mind. Instead of spending several sentences describing a character’s height, weight, age, hair color, eye color, and clothing, a few, choice details will often render a more vivid image for the reader: Red hair framed her round, freckled face like a spray of flames. This only reveals three descriptive details: red hair, a round face, and freckles. Yet it paints more vivid picture than a statistical head-to-toe rundown:  She was five foot three and no more than a hundred and ten pounds with red hair, blue eyes, and a round, freckled face.

10 descriptive writing practices.

How to Practice Writing Description

Here are some descriptive writing activities that will inspire you while providing opportunities to practice writing description. If you don’t have much experience with descriptive writing, you may find that your first few attempts are flat and boring. If you can’t keep readers engaged, they’ll wander off. Work at crafting descriptions that are compelling and mesmerizing.

• Go to one of your favorite spots and write a description of the setting: it could be your bedroom, a favorite coffee shop, or a local park. Leave people, dialogue, and action out of it. Just focus on explaining what the space looks like.
• Who is your favorite character from the movies? Describe the character from head to toe. Show the reader not only what the character looks like, but also how the character acts. Do this without including action or dialogue. Remember: description only!
• Forty years ago we didn’t have cell phones or the internet. Now we have cell phones that can access the internet. Think of a device or gadget that we’ll have forty years from now and describe it.
• Since modern fiction is light on description, many young and new writers often fail to include details, even when the reader needs them. Go through one of your writing projects and make sure elements that readers may not be familiar with are adequately described.
• Sometimes in a narrative, a little description provides respite from all the action and dialogue. Make a list of things from a story you’re working on (gadgets, characters, settings, etc.), and for each one, write a short description of no more than a hundred words.
• As mentioned, Tolkien often spent pages describing a single landscape. Choose one of your favorite pieces of classic literature, find a long passage of description, and rewrite it. Try to cut the descriptive word count in half.
• When you read a book, use a highlighter to mark sentences and paragraphs that contain description. Don’t highlight every adjective and adverb. Look for longer passages that are dedicated to description.
• Write a description for a child. Choose something reasonably difficult, like the solar system. How do you describe it in such a way that a child understands how he or she fits into it?
• Most writers dream of someday writing a book. Describe your book cover.
• Write a one-page description of yourself.

If you have any descriptive writing practices to add to this list, feel free to share them in the comments.

Descriptive Writing

Does descriptive writing come easily to you, or do you struggle with it? Do you put much thought into how you write description? What types of descriptive writing have you tackled — descriptive essays, blocks of description within larger texts, or descriptions woven throughout a narrative? Share your tips for descriptive writing by leaving a comment, and keep writing!

Further Reading: Abolish the Adverbs , Making the Right Word Choices for Better Writing , and Writing Description in Fiction .

I find descriptions easier when first beginning a scene. Other ones I struggle with. Yes, intertwining them with dialogue does help a lot.

I have the opposite experience. I tend to dive right into action and dialogue when I first start a scene.

I came across this article at just the right time. I am just starting to write a short story. This will change the way I describe characters in my story.

Thank you for this. R.G. Ramsey

You’re welcome!

Great tips and how to practise and improve our descriptive writing skills. Thank you for sharing.

You’re welcome, Bella.

Hello Melissa

I have read many of your articles about different aspects of writing and have enjoyed all of them. What you said here, I agree with, with the exception of #7. That is one point that I dispute and don’t understand the reason why anyone would do this, though I’ve seen books that had things like that done to them.

To me, a book is something to be treasured, loved and taken care of. It deserves my respect because I’m sure the author poured their heart and soul into its creation. Marking it up that way is nothing short of defacing it. A book or story is a form of art, so should a person mark over a picture by Rembrandt or any other famous painter? You’re a very talented author, so why would you want someone to mark through the words you had spent considerable time and effort agonizing over, while searching for the best words to convey your thoughts?

If I want to remember some section or point the author is making, then I’ll take a pen and paper and record the page number and perhaps the first few words of that particular section. I’ve found that writing a note this way helps me remember it better. This is then placed inside the cover for future reference. If someone did what you’ve suggested to a book of mine, I’d be madder than a ‘wet hen’, and that person would certainly be told what I thought of them.

In any of the previous articles you’ve written, you’ve brought up some excellent points which I’ve tried to incorporate in my writing. Keep up the good work as I know your efforts have helped me, and I’m sure other authors as well.

Hi Stanley. Thanks so much for sharing your point of view. I appreciate and value it.

Marking up a book is a common practice, especially in academia. Putting notes in margins, underlining, highlighting, and tagging pages with bookmarks is standard. Personally, I mark up nonfiction paperbacks, but I never mark up fiction paperbacks or any hardcovers (not since college).

I completely respect your right to keep your books in pristine condition. And years ago, when I started college, I felt exactly the same way. I was horrified that people (instructors and professors!) would fill their books with ugly yellow highlighting and other markips. But I quickly realized that this was shortsighted.

Consider an old paperback that is worn and dog-eared. With one look, you know this book has been read many times and it’s probably loved. It’s like the Velveteen Rabbit of books. I see markups as the same — that someone was engaging with the book and trying to understand it on a deeper level, which is not disrespectful. It’s something to be celebrated.

Sometimes we place too much value on the book as a physical object rather than what’s inside. I appreciate a beautiful book as much as anyone but what really matters to me is the information or experience that it contains. I often read on a Kindle. Sometimes I listen to audio books. There is no physical book. The experience is not lessened.

I understand where you’re coming from. I used to feel the same way, but my mind was changed. I’m not trying to change yours, but I hope you’ll understand.

You’ve provided some great information and advice. One thing I might add–it is helpful to consider the POV character. For example, what will they notice in a restaurant? A police officer may notice the placement of the exits, the tattooed man carrying a side-arm, the security cameras on the ceiling, etc. The descriptive items he would notice would be very different from those of an elderly grandmother or a fifteen-year-old teenaged girl.

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Creative Writing Practice: Describing Art with 5-Senses Descriptions

• Posted By Randall Chew

Hi, everyone! I’m Ms Atifa, an English teacher at Lil’ but Mighty. Some of you might be familiar with 5-senses descriptions, and how they help to make your compositions more interesting.

For those who are not, let me explain briefly what it is. The 5-senses descriptions refer to how we can use the five senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch) to describe different moments in your writing in order to make it more engaging. Usually, you will use the 5-senses descriptions in your introduction when you are describing the setting of your story. However, these descriptions are not exclusive to the introduction, and can definitely be explored in other parts of your story too!

For a glimpse of how 5-senses descriptions look like, let’s compare these two examples:

A. I ate the Korean fried chicken. I was satisfied because it was delicious.

B. As I ate the Korean fried chicken, the savoury taste of soy sauce burst in my mouth . Grinning in satisfaction, I slowly chewed the tender, juicy meat .

As you can see, example B is more vivid as it engages the sense of taste. This allows the reader to easily visualise how appetising the chicken the writer is eating.

Using 5-senses descriptions helps the readers of your story imagine the scenario better; it is as if they are actually present and experiencing the moment you are writing about. One way you can incorporate 5-senses descriptions better is to imagine the moment you are describing as a painting or picture. How could you describe a moment in your story using 5-senses descriptions to make it as detailed as possible so that the reader can feel immersed in it?

To practise this, let’s take a look at three famous paintings in history. You might have seen some of these before!

For each of the paintings shown below, come up with two to three 5-senses descriptions. If you can come up with a sense that is different from what is suggested, that is perfectly fine (and kudos for being so creative)! For this practice, imagining yourself in the scenario shown in each painting would help.

Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh

Describe this painting using the sense of sight and hearing . To guide you, think of these prompts:

• How can you describe the colours of the sky in the picture?
• What might you hear on a quiet night? (e.g. sounds of certain insects or animals)
• How can you describe the building in the painting?

Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci

Describe this painting using the sense of sight and touch . To guide you, think of these prompts:

• How can you describe the woman’s appearance?
• What might the texture of her clothes feel like?
• How can you describe the landscape behind her?

Still Life with Cheese by Floris Claesz Van Dijck

Describe this painting using the sense of taste, smell and touch . To guide you, think of these prompts:

• What would you smell if you walked into a room with all this food?
• How would the different food in the painting feel in your hands?
• How would the different food in the painting taste?

I hope that you have fun with this practice, and I’d love to see your responses in the comments. Whenever you see a piece of art, you can now imagine how you could describe it in words to put your 5-senses description skills to the test. You can even practise 5-senses descriptions for any of your favourite artworks, or interesting pictures that you’ve chanced upon on social media! I hope you will have fun trying it out.

Bye for now!

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What Is Creative Writing? (Ultimate Guide + 20 Examples)

Creative writing begins with a blank page and the courage to fill it with the stories only you can tell.

I face this intimidating blank page daily–and I have for the better part of 20+ years.

In this guide, you’ll learn all the ins and outs of creative writing with tons of examples.

What Is Creative Writing (Long Description)?

Creative Writing is the art of using words to express ideas and emotions in imaginative ways. It encompasses various forms including novels, poetry, and plays, focusing on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes.

Table of Contents

Let’s expand on that definition a bit.

Creative writing is an art form that transcends traditional literature boundaries.

It includes professional, journalistic, academic, and technical writing. This type of writing emphasizes narrative craft, character development, and literary tropes. It also explores poetry and poetics traditions.

In essence, creative writing lets you express ideas and emotions uniquely and imaginatively.

It’s about the freedom to invent worlds, characters, and stories. These creations evoke a spectrum of emotions in readers.

Creative writing covers fiction, poetry, and everything in between.

It allows writers to express inner thoughts and feelings. Often, it reflects human experiences through a fabricated lens.

Types of Creative Writing

There are many types of creative writing that we need to explain.

Some of the most common types:

• Short stories
• Screenplays
• Flash fiction
• Creative Nonfiction

Short Stories (The Brief Escape)

Short stories are like narrative treasures.

They are compact but impactful, telling a full story within a limited word count. These tales often focus on a single character or a crucial moment.

Short stories are known for their brevity.

They deliver emotion and insight in a concise yet powerful package. This format is ideal for exploring diverse genres, themes, and characters. It leaves a lasting impression on readers.

Example: Emma discovers an old photo of her smiling grandmother. It’s a rarity. Through flashbacks, Emma learns about her grandmother’s wartime love story. She comes to understand her grandmother’s resilience and the value of joy.

Novels (The Long Journey)

Novels are extensive explorations of character, plot, and setting.

They span thousands of words, giving writers the space to create entire worlds. Novels can weave complex stories across various themes and timelines.

The length of a novel allows for deep narrative and character development.

Readers get an immersive experience.

Example: Across the Divide tells of two siblings separated in childhood. They grow up in different cultures. Their reunion highlights the strength of family bonds, despite distance and differences.

Poetry (The Soul’s Language)

Poetry expresses ideas and emotions through rhythm, sound, and word beauty.

It distills emotions and thoughts into verses. Poetry often uses metaphors, similes, and figurative language to reach the reader’s heart and mind.

Poetry ranges from structured forms, like sonnets, to free verse.

The latter breaks away from traditional formats for more expressive thought.

Example: Whispers of Dawn is a poem collection capturing morning’s quiet moments. “First Light” personifies dawn as a painter. It brings colors of hope and renewal to the world.

Plays (The Dramatic Dialogue)

Plays are meant for performance. They bring characters and conflicts to life through dialogue and action.

This format uniquely explores human relationships and societal issues.

Playwrights face the challenge of conveying setting, emotion, and plot through dialogue and directions.

Example: Echoes of Tomorrow is set in a dystopian future. Memories can be bought and sold. It follows siblings on a quest to retrieve their stolen memories. They learn the cost of living in a world where the past has a price.

Screenplays (Cinema’s Blueprint)

Screenplays outline narratives for films and TV shows.

They require an understanding of visual storytelling, pacing, and dialogue. Screenplays must fit film production constraints.

Example: The Last Light is a screenplay for a sci-fi film. Humanity’s survivors on a dying Earth seek a new planet. The story focuses on spacecraft Argo’s crew as they face mission challenges and internal dynamics.

Memoirs (The Personal Journey)

Memoirs provide insight into an author’s life, focusing on personal experiences and emotional journeys.

They differ from autobiographies by concentrating on specific themes or events.

Memoirs invite readers into the author’s world.

They share lessons learned and hardships overcome.

Example: Under the Mango Tree is a memoir by Maria Gomez. It shares her childhood memories in rural Colombia. The mango tree in their yard symbolizes home, growth, and nostalgia. Maria reflects on her journey to a new life in America.

Flash Fiction (The Quick Twist)

Flash fiction tells stories in under 1,000 words.

It’s about crafting compelling narratives concisely. Each word in flash fiction must count, often leading to a twist.

This format captures life’s vivid moments, delivering quick, impactful insights.

Example: The Last Message features an astronaut’s final Earth message as her spacecraft drifts away. In 500 words, it explores isolation, hope, and the desire to connect against all odds.

Creative Nonfiction (The Factual Tale)

Creative nonfiction combines factual accuracy with creative storytelling.

This genre covers real events, people, and places with a twist. It uses descriptive language and narrative arcs to make true stories engaging.

Creative nonfiction includes biographies, essays, and travelogues.

Example: Echoes of Everest follows the author’s Mount Everest climb. It mixes factual details with personal reflections and the history of past climbers. The narrative captures the climb’s beauty and challenges, offering an immersive experience.

Fantasy (The World Beyond)

Fantasy transports readers to magical and mythical worlds.

It explores themes like good vs. evil and heroism in unreal settings. Fantasy requires careful world-building to create believable yet fantastic realms.

Example: The Crystal of Azmar tells of a young girl destined to save her world from darkness. She learns she’s the last sorceress in a forgotten lineage. Her journey involves mastering powers, forming alliances, and uncovering ancient kingdom myths.

Science Fiction (The Future Imagined)

Science fiction delves into futuristic and scientific themes.

It questions the impact of advancements on society and individuals.

Science fiction ranges from speculative to hard sci-fi, focusing on plausible futures.

Example: When the Stars Whisper is set in a future where humanity communicates with distant galaxies. It centers on a scientist who finds an alien message. This discovery prompts a deep look at humanity’s universe role and interstellar communication.

Watch this great video that explores the question, “What is creative writing?” and “How to get started?”:

What Are the 5 Cs of Creative Writing?

The 5 Cs of creative writing are fundamental pillars.

They guide writers to produce compelling and impactful work. These principles—Clarity, Coherence, Conciseness, Creativity, and Consistency—help craft stories that engage and entertain.

They also resonate deeply with readers. Let’s explore each of these critical components.

Clarity makes your writing understandable and accessible.

It involves choosing the right words and constructing clear sentences. Your narrative should be easy to follow.

In creative writing, clarity means conveying complex ideas in a digestible and enjoyable way.

Coherence ensures your writing flows logically.

It’s crucial for maintaining the reader’s interest. Characters should develop believably, and plots should progress logically. This makes the narrative feel cohesive.

Conciseness

Conciseness is about expressing ideas succinctly.

It’s being economical with words and avoiding redundancy. This principle helps maintain pace and tension, engaging readers throughout the story.

Creativity is the heart of creative writing.

It allows writers to invent new worlds and create memorable characters. Creativity involves originality and imagination. It’s seeing the world in unique ways and sharing that vision.

Consistency

Consistency maintains a uniform tone, style, and voice.

It means being faithful to the world you’ve created. Characters should act true to their development. This builds trust with readers, making your story immersive and believable.

Is Creative Writing Easy?

Creative writing is both rewarding and challenging.

Crafting stories from your imagination involves more than just words on a page. It requires discipline and a deep understanding of language and narrative structure.

Exploring complex characters and themes is also key.

Refining and revising your work is crucial for developing your voice.

The ease of creative writing varies. Some find the freedom of expression liberating.

Others struggle with writer’s block or plot development challenges. However, practice and feedback make creative writing more fulfilling.

What Does a Creative Writer Do?

A creative writer weaves narratives that entertain, enlighten, and inspire.

Writers explore both the world they create and the emotions they wish to evoke. Their tasks are diverse, involving more than just writing.

Creative writers develop ideas, research, and plan their stories.

They create characters and outline plots with attention to detail. Drafting and revising their work is a significant part of their process. They strive for the 5 Cs of compelling writing.

Writers engage with the literary community, seeking feedback and participating in workshops.

They may navigate the publishing world with agents and editors.

Creative writers are storytellers, craftsmen, and artists. They bring narratives to life, enriching our lives and expanding our imaginations.

How to Get Started With Creative Writing?

Embarking on a creative writing journey can feel like standing at the edge of a vast and mysterious forest.

The path is not always clear, but the adventure is calling.

Here’s how to take your first steps into the world of creative writing:

• Find a time of day when your mind is most alert and creative.
• Create a comfortable writing space free from distractions.
• Use prompts to spark your imagination. They can be as simple as a word, a phrase, or an image.
• Try writing for 15-20 minutes on a prompt without editing yourself. Let the ideas flow freely.
• Reading is fuel for your writing. Explore various genres and styles.
• Pay attention to how your favorite authors construct their sentences, develop characters, and build their worlds.
• Don’t pressure yourself to write a novel right away. Begin with short stories or poems.
• Small projects can help you hone your skills and boost your confidence.
• Look for writing groups in your area or online. These communities offer support, feedback, and motivation.
• Participating in workshops or classes can also provide valuable insights into your writing.
• Understand that your first draft is just the beginning. Revising your work is where the real magic happens.
• Be open to feedback and willing to rework your pieces.
• Carry a notebook or digital recorder to jot down ideas, observations, and snippets of conversations.
• These notes can be gold mines for future writing projects.

Final Thoughts: What Is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is an invitation to explore the unknown, to give voice to the silenced, and to celebrate the human spirit in all its forms.

Check out these creative writing tools (that I highly recommend):

Read This Next:

• What Is a Prompt in Writing? (Ultimate Guide + 200 Examples)
• What Is A Personal Account In Writing? (47 Examples)
• How To Write A Fantasy Short Story (Ultimate Guide + Examples)
• How To Write A Fantasy Romance Novel [21 Tips + Examples)

Art of the City with Ruth-Ann ..

How to write art descriptions that will sell your ..., how to maximize traffic to you.., how to write art descriptions that will sell your art.

• by Arslan Hassan
• Advice Artists Featured Articles Marketing Tips Platform Tips
• 33422 Views

There was a time when art could only be sold in galleries and art exhibitions. Today, with the adoption of digital technology and the internet it’s become a lot easier for aspiring artists to showcase their talent to audiences. The majority of artists now rely on the internet and its modern tools to display and promote their creations. Not only does this help them market their pieces effectively, but it also requires minimal investment on their end.

However, to successfully advertise your art on a website, blog, or social media page, it’s essential to craft innovative descriptions for every piece, making it inviting for visitors to purchase your creations. When trying to sell your art, the more information you provide to potential clients about a particular piece, the easier it is to convince them to make a purchase.

In this article, we’ll be sharing some surefire pointers on how to write fascinating art descriptions for your artwork that will boost sales.

Define the Inspiration behind Your Art

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but when it comes to selling that picture, it may require more than a couple of words to convey your message to the buyer. How you describe the muse behind your art can elevate the appeal of your designs. There are no set guidelines for product descriptions, but a general rule of thumb is that it needs to be alluring.

Begin with describing the source of your inspiration, be it a historic event, a person, a unique experience, or just something that appealed to you. Don’t just reference being inspired by an event, explain how that experience influenced your design, from shadow play and lighting to your chosen color palette. Describe how it impacted your perception of pigments and color as an artist and influenced the tiny details that are significant to the artwork as a whole.

You can explain why you choose a specific texture or the particular aesthetic you were aiming for and how the color palette helped you achieve the finished product. Let the words flow, and you can make adjustments to the final draft when you’ve arrived on the desired emotion you’re aiming to convey.

Include the Bare Facts

Once you’ve covered the inspirational aspect of your artwork description, it’s time to focus on more factual details. For this, place yourself in your customer’s shoes and consider the kind of information you’d wish to acquire before finalizing a purchase. This would include most of the physical details, such as:

• The accurate dimensions of the piece
• Materials used in creating the artwork
• The kind of procedure involved
• Explain the delivery process/method

The good news is, you can follow this formula for all the art listings that go on your website or blog with minor tweaks depending on the piece of art. Consider every possible detail that the customer would like to know and explain it in a clear description, so there is no ambiguity or confusion.

Finally, create a Call to Action (CTA) to motivate the desired response from your potential clients; at the end of the description, encourage them to directly reach out to you for any further questions or queries.

Use the Right Keyword (But Don’t Go Overboard)

Before you begin to draft the perfect description for your art piece, it’s recommended to pick the most suitable keywords or phrases that customers may use to search for art like yours. People often choose to skip this approach, but search engine marketing is possibly one of the most cost-effective marketing methods today. This requires you to do some keyword research, so you know the right terms to include in your description before the piece goes up for sale.

Once you’ve selected the appropriate key phrases, you can scatter them throughout your product description, as long as the text makes sense. The ideal frequency would be 2 to 3 times maximum. Exceeding that limit would classify as keyword-stuffing and can blatantly risk your Google rankings, as well as turn away any potential clients.

When optimizing your art descriptions, you can also seek the expertise of a digital marketing agency or a marketing expert. Their experience and knowledge of the industry might save you from errors in boosting SEO; they will elevate your art description technically so that maximum potential clients view your work.

Add an Inviting But Searchable Product Title to Your Creation

The right keyword is not only incorporated in the body of the description but the title of your art piece as well. When considering a title for your artwork, it’s important to include a keyword that relates to the context of your art. You want the title to describe the finished product and for viewers to be able to understand the image through the title. This is especially important when selling your art online since most art collectors or buyers search for pieces using specific keywords. Therefore, if your title does not consist of the relative keyword, it could affect your chances of being found online. The search engine algorithm will naturally skip your artwork if it lacks the appropriate keyword, and your piece will not show up in the search results.

Your descriptions may fall on the wordier side, but that’s okay. You may address the different aspects of your artwork and the creative process as eloquently as you wish. Just remember, you want your story to succeed in capturing the viewer’s attention and prompt them to seal the deal. With beautifully written descriptions, your sales will never have to suffer again. Play around with words and be sure to express your journey as an artist in a way that resonates with collectors and helps them emotionally connect with your artwork. 

In a Nutshell

In the end, it’s essential to be equally creative with your words as you are with your art. When you’ve got a compelling story to tell within your description, it’s guaranteed to grasp the attention of art enthusiasts and collectors. People look for something with feeling, and if you manage to effectively deliver a powerful message, there will always be a shower of praise on your doorstep. Keep creating compelling descriptions for your artwork, and you will never be out of commission again!

Author Bio:  Arslan Hassan is an electrical engineer with a passion for writing, designing and anything tech related. His educational background in the technical field has given him the edge to write on many topics. He occasionally writes blog articles for Dynamologic Solutions, a  software house in Pakistan .     

Arslan Hassan

Related post.

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Words to Describe Art: How to Create an Artist Statement

Tips for Writing an Artist Statement and Effectively Using Words to Describe Art

Table of Contents What is an artist statement? What are the best ways to write a strong artist statement? How do famous artists describe their art? What are some of the best words to describe art? Conclusion

I love the process of creating art. I love the brainstorming session with terrible stick figure drawings, I love the ‘practice stage’ of drawing the same thing over and over again, and I love the final design. Despite the tedious planning stages, I love how those small wobbly drawings in your sketchbook can come to life in a real masterpiece of art.

You know what the art means to you, but how do you describe it to others? Also, where do you find the words to describe art, something so subjective and intangible? 

You can Google ‘Words to Describe Art.’ This Google search returns an overabundance of thesauruses and general terms.

While these words are indeed artistically inclined, you want words specific to your artwork, medium, and style. What you need are solid, real tips for writing an artist statement; you want to use the best words to describe art.

What is an artist statement?

“[An artist statement is a] piece of writing by you that helps the audience access or understand your artistic work.”  School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)

Basically, an artist statement is a formal way of using words to describe art. Essentially, it is a way for you, the artist, to express the message you are trying to convey visually. 

Many of these words to describe art are generally used for social media and website promotion, galleries, exhibitions, grant applications, teaching position applications, and fellowships.

Generally, I write and rewrite my artist statements on a consistent basis with my social media posting schedule. Please check out my social media to see how I describe my own art.

What are the best ways to write a strong artist statement?

Writing an artist statement is a more complex process than simply using random words to describe art. First, write in first person POV, remember to keep your audience in mind while writing, and follow the acronym K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid). Lastly, I included some good questions to think about when brainstorming your artist statement.

Write in First Person Point-of-View

Structurally, the SAIC recommends to write the artist statement in first person. This advice contrasts artist biographies which are typically written in third person. 

For instance, you can say “I created this work to represent…” and “my mother influenced this…”. These examples work well because they help define an intimate connection between the art and the viewer.

Typically, you don’t personally know the viewer, so establishing personalized meaning can add substance to your art. Supporting the connections between the viewer and the artwork is vital in helping people really understand your work.

Learn to Keep your Audience in Mind

Remember your audience. Who did you create this artwork for? What type of people would you imagine in the gallery looking at this artwork? Who would buy this painting?

The artist statement is sometimes published on social media platforms or printed next to the painting in a gallery. You may be writing to someone who has never held a paintbrush in their life, so keep these thoughts in mind when writing an artist statement. Carefully choose words to describe art that make sense to your audience.

Some words to describe art are different for artists versus non artists. For example, saying a work is impressionistic could mean in reference to the impressionism painting style of the 19th century. In contrast, impressionistic could represent the work’s capability in leaving an impression, or a lasting memory, on the viewer. 

Learning art history is a great method to improve your art lingo. For instance, maybe learn how the difference between modern and contemporary , and how in the art world, they are not synonymous. If you are curious about which art style best matches your artwork, check out this quiz !

The specialized art jargon, referred to as “art speak,” is great for the critique, though try to avoid it for the artist statement.

The KISS Method: Keep it Simple, Stupid

Basically, try to be concise, straightforward, and as clear as you can. A good rule of thumb is to avoid using too many complex words to describe art, and stick to the basics like colors, shapes, and simple patterns.

If you are optimizing your artwork for digital marketing purposes, sometimes simply describing the art is better than describing the meaning or the feeling. Using artistic keywords like ROY G. BIV colors and shapes. For more simple color theory tips, check out this blog post written by me: Color Knowledge Tips That Will Make You a Better Artist

Also following SEO guidelines may provide good results.

Brainstorming Ideas

Next, find important questions to ask throughout the brainstorming process. Your answers to these questions should include words to describe art and how you created the art.

• What are the key ideas, issues, struggles, and goals within your work?
• Does your work have a thematic focus (goals, purposes, intentions, and explorations)?
• What is the content of work, including themes, ideas, and subject matter? 
• How were you influenced culturally, historically, theoretically, artistically, personally, and biographically?  
• Who is your audience? Who will be looking at your work? What do you imagine they feel when viewing it? 
• How would your audience use words to describe art?
• How did you create the work? What materials, processes, traditions, and styles did you use in your work?
• Can you use your senses to describe the art? What does the work look, sound or feel (impasto) like?
• How can you make your art work easier to understand?

Finally, have a friend or teacher review your artist statement when you finish writing it. You may think the statement makes sense, but it may not be clear to someone who hasn’t spent hours working on the artwork. 

How do famous artists describe their art?

The masters, edvard munch.

Many famous artists write artist statements describing their masterful artwork. Some are available in museums, some are available online.

For instance, Edvard Munch’s  The Scream   has a vivid artist statement full of life and emotion, similar to the visuals seen in the work itself. The artist chose relatively simple words to describe art, but written with dashes, like parsed thoughts coursing through the artist’s head.

Jackson pollock

Jackson Pollock remains a fantastic and famous artist, despite criticism for his work’s abstracted and childish features.

Louise bourgeois

Next, Louise Bourgeois’s massive spider sculptures are really freaking cool and worth sharing. She started creating these steel structures in the 1990s, contrasting her previous styles. The words she chose to describe art explain the metaphorical allegory behind the sculpture.

Many of these masters use words to describe art with passion, flame, and emotion. Notice how they use first person POV, relatively simple diction, and still manage to communicate what the art is about and what it means to them.

Underrated Artists

I want to include some artist statements of underrated artists as well. I’ve met many talented and creative individuals, and I would like to share their art and artist statements in this section.

AUGUST LAMM

August Lamm is an incredible portrait artist, and I’m very excited to share her artwork. She typically uses ink and oil paints. In this piece, I especially love the use of complementary colors in the man’s face, the contrast of detail versus an almost unfinished impressionistic appearance, and of course, the simplicity of the artist statement. It’s very painterly and I love it. Be sure to check out more of August’s works on her Instagram !

The artist statement included in this painting is short and simple compared to others in this article. Regardless of length, it is powerful and emotional and allows the viewer to connect with the artist, and maybe even the subject, on a more intimate level.

ERIKA WILSON

I first discovered Erika Wilson at a local arts market. Her work was captivating and I wanted to learn more about this incredible artist. Erika provided two artist statements, proving her knowledge of writing to a certain audience.

In the first artist statement, notice the purpose is primarily for social media, and make sure to follow her Instagram ! Erika uses first person POV and includes the dimensions and mediums used in the work. She also includes emojis and middle dots between paragraphs, a common spacing technique for Instagram, showing that she knows her audience.

The next artist statement is noticeably more professional. In particular, notice how Erika adapted the bullet points into dashes and uses clear spacing, giving a cleaner appearance, similar to a resume. Erika’s use of words to describe art discuss her inspiration, techniques, and purpose in under 100 words. It’s simple, effective, and one of the best artist statements I’ve seen.

——————-

Hello! I’m Erika Wilson, a visual artist based in Salt Lake City, UT.

My work is deeply inspired by natural wilderness and the lush, strange, beauty of the botanical world. Equally, my artwork draws from cultivated nature found in urban spaces: gardens, houseplants, and roadside scrub alike.

I use vibrant color and dramatic line to create imagery that provokes wonderment, engages curiosity, and invites viewers to experience their senses unreservedly.

At its foundation, my artwork is a celebration of our intimate connection to nature, in the many forms we may find it, no matter how ordinary or unusual.

———————-

My website:  https://erikawilsonart.square.site/

My Instagram: @erika.wilson.art

Kyle and I actually went to the same arts high school. We both studied Visual Arts and I’m really proud to see how he has grown as an artist. Please go follow his Instagram account here !

Kyle has a stunning impasto painting technique that really gives life to contrasting flat cartoon-like characters. His works are animated and fun to look at, as well as visually interesting.

Kyle’s artist statement uses first person POV to describe his thoughts and organizes the paragraphs increasing in size. He also continues to deliver contrasting elements. The whimsical and colorful style conveys comfort, in this “cozy painting,” unlike the realities in the life of a western cowboy, portrayed in the serious face and stature of the man.

I found Julia’s artwork on Instagram and I was awestruck. Definitely make sure to give her a follow here ! She uses fine pens to create stunning realistic landscape drawings.

Her artist statement is also written in first person POV and describes her medium of choice, thoughts behind her style and technique, and how her personal background impacts her artwork. The words to describe art express her talent and experience with the medium, her knowledge of principals and elements of design, and the contextual origin of the content.

Truly, Julia’s words describe the artwork better than I could ever analyze it. This is a perfect example of the importance of an artist statement and how it can compliment the visual artistry of the work.

For more examples of my personal artist statements, please check out my social media platforms .

What are some of the best words to describe art?

In this article we defined an artist statement, discovered tips to effectively use words to describe art, and reviewed examples of artist statements in the wild.

In this final section, we will recall the elements and principles of art and design. These are the building blocks of aesthetically pleasing work, and basic references to use when describing your own art.

To learn more about building blocks of art, and starting out as an artist, please check out the following articles:

The list of elements and principles of art are generally a good place to start when looking for words to describe art. Basically, there are six elements of art and eight principles of art. 

The Basic Elements of Art and Design

• Generally associated with hue, value, and intensity, color is one of my personal favorite elements of art. 
• Check out examples of color in my art here .
• I have also elaborated on color theory in the article here .
• Generally associated with height and width, shape can be organic and/or geometric.
• I associate this element with volume, height, width, depth.
• It can be two dimensional or three dimensional because it gives an illusion of value (drawing) or real value (sculpture).
• This element is generally associated with being implied, abstracted, parallel, or crossed.
• This element is generally associated with positive (subject matter) and negative (background) areas.
• Space creates the illusion of depth through value.
• This element is generally associated with how the art feels or looks like it feels (soft, bumpy, hard, slick, squishy, sharp, smooth).

The Elite Principles of Art and Design

• This principle of art and design is generally associated with patterns, movement, repetition, tempo, and beat.
• This principle is generally associated with unification, familiarity, and connection.
• This principle of art is generally characterized by symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial.
• This principle is generally used to highlight the focal point, or the subject, of a work of art.
• Pop art is a great example of using contrasting colors, especially complementary colors (colors opposite each other on the color wheel i.e. orange and blue).
• This principle is generally associated with dynamism and action and helps to guide the viewer’s eye to the focal point.
• Similar to rhythm, this principle of design is generally associated with duplication.
• Relativity is a huge part of this principle of art and design. It is also related to relationships and size.  
• Generally associated with diversity and interest, variety captures attention, similar to contrast.
• Variety partners with unity to establish balance.

You can choose to describe art in any way you want, because it’s your art. You can call it ugly or nonsensical just as easily as you call it stunning and deep and impressive. Adjectives are subjective in the same way you and your artwork are subjective.

However, if you want people to understand your artwork, you may need to clearly communicate what it means. Using artistic terms helps to encourage the viewer to look past the image and think about the process, materials, backstory, and time dedicated to create the art.

In this sense, writing a clear, optimized, and creative artist statement can add value to your artwork.

Why did the artist choose the colors they did for the different parts of the work? How does the composition move the viewer’s eye around the work? Is there a focal point, a spot where the artist chose for you to look first?

There are many words to describe art, but an artist statement proves unique because it comes directly from the creator.

You, the artist , have the chance to tell the world what your art really means. You are the one to give your art value.

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Last updated on Feb 14, 2023

10 Types of Creative Writing (with Examples You’ll Love)

About the author.

Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.

About Savannah Cordova

Savannah is a senior editor with Reedsy and a published writer whose work has appeared on Slate, Kirkus, and BookTrib. Her short fiction has appeared in the Owl Canyon Press anthology, "No Bars and a Dead Battery". 

About Rebecca van Laer

Rebecca van Laer is a writer, editor, and the author of two books, including the novella How to Adjust to the Dark. Her work has been featured in literary magazines such as AGNI, Breadcrumbs, and TriQuarterly.

A lot falls under the term ‘creative writing’: poetry, short fiction, plays, novels, personal essays, and songs, to name just a few. By virtue of the creativity that characterizes it, creative writing is an extremely versatile art. So instead of defining what creative writing is , it may be easier to understand what it does by looking at examples that demonstrate the sheer range of styles and genres under its vast umbrella.

To that end, we’ve collected a non-exhaustive list of works across multiple formats that have inspired the writers here at Reedsy. With 20 different works to explore, we hope they will inspire you, too. 

People have been writing creatively for almost as long as we have been able to hold pens. Just think of long-form epic poems like The Odyssey or, later, the Cantar de Mio Cid — some of the earliest recorded writings of their kind. 

Poetry is also a great place to start if you want to dip your own pen into the inkwell of creative writing. It can be as short or long as you want (you don’t have to write an epic of Homeric proportions), encourages you to build your observation skills, and often speaks from a single point of view . 

Here are a few examples:

“Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away.

This classic poem by Romantic poet Percy Shelley (also known as Mary Shelley’s husband) is all about legacy. What do we leave behind? How will we be remembered? The great king Ozymandias built himself a massive statue, proclaiming his might, but the irony is that his statue doesn’t survive the ravages of time. By framing this poem as told to him by a “traveller from an antique land,” Shelley effectively turns this into a story. Along with the careful use of juxtaposition to create irony, this poem accomplishes a lot in just a few lines. 

“Trying to Raise the Dead” by Dorianne Laux

 A direction. An object. My love, it needs a place to rest. Say anything. I’m listening. I’m ready to believe. Even lies, I don’t care.

Poetry is cherished for its ability to evoke strong emotions from the reader using very few words which is exactly what Dorianne Laux does in “ Trying to Raise the Dead .” With vivid imagery that underscores the painful yearning of the narrator, she transports us to a private nighttime scene as the narrator sneaks away from a party to pray to someone they’ve lost. We ache for their loss and how badly they want their lost loved one to acknowledge them in some way. It’s truly a masterclass on how writing can be used to portray emotions. 

If you find yourself inspired to try out some poetry — and maybe even get it published — check out these poetry layouts that can elevate your verse!

Song Lyrics

Poetry’s closely related cousin, song lyrics are another great way to flex your creative writing muscles. You not only have to find the perfect rhyme scheme but also match it to the rhythm of the music. This can be a great challenge for an experienced poet or the musically inclined. 

To see how music can add something extra to your poetry, check out these two examples:

“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen

 You say I took the name in vain I don't even know the name But if I did, well, really, what's it to ya? There's a blaze of light in every word It doesn't matter which you heard The holy or the broken Hallelujah 

Metaphors are commonplace in almost every kind of creative writing, but will often take center stage in shorter works like poetry and songs. At the slightest mention, they invite the listener to bring their emotional or cultural experience to the piece, allowing the writer to express more with fewer words while also giving it a deeper meaning. If a whole song is couched in metaphor, you might even be able to find multiple meanings to it, like in Leonard Cohen’s “ Hallelujah .” While Cohen’s Biblical references create a song that, on the surface, seems like it’s about a struggle with religion, the ambiguity of the lyrics has allowed it to be seen as a song about a complicated romantic relationship. 

“I Will Follow You into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie

 ​​If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks Then I'll follow you into the dark

You can think of song lyrics as poetry set to music. They manage to do many of the same things their literary counterparts do — including tugging on your heartstrings. Death Cab for Cutie’s incredibly popular indie rock ballad is about the singer’s deep devotion to his lover. While some might find the song a bit too dark and macabre, its melancholy tune and poignant lyrics remind us that love can endure beyond death.

Plays and Screenplays

From the short form of poetry, we move into the world of drama — also known as the play. This form is as old as the poem, stretching back to the works of ancient Greek playwrights like Sophocles, who adapted the myths of their day into dramatic form. The stage play (and the more modern screenplay) gives the words on the page a literal human voice, bringing life to a story and its characters entirely through dialogue. 

Interested to see what that looks like? Take a look at these examples:

All My Sons by Arthur Miller

“I know you're no worse than most men but I thought you were better. I never saw you as a man. I saw you as my father.” 

Arthur Miller acts as a bridge between the classic and the new, creating 20th century tragedies that take place in living rooms and backyard instead of royal courts, so we had to include his breakout hit on this list. Set in the backyard of an all-American family in the summer of 1946, this tragedy manages to communicate family tensions in an unimaginable scale, building up to an intense climax reminiscent of classical drama. 

💡 Read more about Arthur Miller and classical influences in our breakdown of Freytag’s pyramid . 

“Everything is Fine” by Michael Schur ( The Good Place )

“Well, then this system sucks. What...one in a million gets to live in paradise and everyone else is tortured for eternity? Come on! I mean, I wasn't freaking Gandhi, but I was okay. I was a medium person. I should get to spend eternity in a medium place! Like Cincinnati. Everyone who wasn't perfect but wasn't terrible should get to spend eternity in Cincinnati.” 

A screenplay, especially a TV pilot, is like a mini-play, but with the extra job of convincing an audience that they want to watch a hundred more episodes of the show. Blending moral philosophy with comedy, The Good Place is a fun hang-out show set in the afterlife that asks some big questions about what it means to be good. 

It follows Eleanor Shellstrop, an incredibly imperfect woman from Arizona who wakes up in ‘The Good Place’ and realizes that there’s been a cosmic mixup. Determined not to lose her place in paradise, she recruits her “soulmate,” a former ethics professor, to teach her philosophy with the hope that she can learn to be a good person and keep up her charade of being an upstanding citizen. The pilot does a superb job of setting up the stakes, the story, and the characters, while smuggling in deep philosophical ideas.

Personal essays

Our first foray into nonfiction on this list is the personal essay. As its name suggests, these stories are in some way autobiographical — concerned with the author’s life and experiences. But don’t be fooled by the realistic component. These essays can take any shape or form, from comics to diary entries to recipes and anything else you can imagine. Typically zeroing in on a single issue, they allow you to explore your life and prove that the personal can be universal.

Here are a couple of fantastic examples:

“On Selling Your First Novel After 11 Years” by Min Jin Lee (Literary Hub)

There was so much to learn and practice, but I began to see the prose in verse and the verse in prose. Patterns surfaced in poems, stories, and plays. There was music in sentences and paragraphs. I could hear the silences in a sentence. All this schooling was like getting x-ray vision and animal-like hearing. 

This deeply honest personal essay by Pachinko author Min Jin Lee is an account of her eleven-year struggle to publish her first novel . Like all good writing, it is intensely focused on personal emotional details. While grounded in the specifics of the author's personal journey, it embodies an experience that is absolutely universal: that of difficulty and adversity met by eventual success. 

“A Cyclist on the English Landscape” by Roff Smith (New York Times)

These images, though, aren’t meant to be about me. They’re meant to represent a cyclist on the landscape, anybody — you, perhaps. 

Roff Smith’s gorgeous photo essay for the NYT is a testament to the power of creatively combining visuals with text. Here, photographs of Smith atop a bike are far from simply ornamental. They’re integral to the ruminative mood of the essay, as essential as the writing. Though Smith places his work at the crosscurrents of various aesthetic influences (such as the painter Edward Hopper), what stands out the most in this taciturn, thoughtful piece of writing is his use of the second person to address the reader directly. Suddenly, the writer steps out of the body of the essay and makes eye contact with the reader. The reader is now part of the story as a second character, finally entering the picture.

Short Fiction

The short story is the happy medium of fiction writing. These bite-sized narratives can be devoured in a single sitting and still leave you reeling. Sometimes viewed as a stepping stone to novel writing, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Short story writing is an art all its own. The limited length means every word counts and there’s no better way to see that than with these two examples:

“An MFA Story” by Paul Dalla Rosa (Electric Literature)

At Starbucks, I remembered a reading Zhen had given, a reading organized by the program’s faculty. I had not wanted to go but did. In the bar, he read, "I wrote this in a Starbucks in Shanghai. On the bank of the Huangpu." It wasn’t an aside or introduction. It was two lines of the poem. I was in a Starbucks and I wasn’t writing any poems. I wasn’t writing anything. 

This short story is a delightfully metafictional tale about the struggles of being a writer in New York. From paying the bills to facing criticism in a writing workshop and envying more productive writers, Paul Dalla Rosa’s story is a clever satire of the tribulations involved in the writing profession, and all the contradictions embodied by systemic creativity (as famously laid out in Mark McGurl’s The Program Era ). What’s more, this story is an excellent example of something that often happens in creative writing: a writer casting light on the private thoughts or moments of doubt we don’t admit to or openly talk about. 

“Flowering Walrus” by Scott Skinner (Reedsy)

I tell him they’d been there a month at least, and he looks concerned. He has my tongue on a tissue paper and is gripping its sides with his pointer and thumb. My tongue has never spent much time outside of my mouth, and I imagine it as a walrus basking in the rays of the dental light. My walrus is not well. 

A winner of Reedsy’s weekly Prompts writing contest, ‘ Flowering Walrus ’ is a story that balances the trivial and the serious well. In the pauses between its excellent, natural dialogue , the story manages to scatter the fear and sadness of bad medical news, as the protagonist hides his worries from his wife and daughter. Rich in subtext, these silences grow and resonate with the readers.

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Perhaps the thing that first comes to mind when talking about creative writing, novels are a form of fiction that many people know and love but writers sometimes find intimidating. The good news is that novels are nothing but one word put after another, like any other piece of writing, but expanded and put into a flowing narrative. Piece of cake, right?

To get an idea of the format’s breadth of scope, take a look at these two (very different) satirical novels: 

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

I wished I was back in the convenience store where I was valued as a working member of staff and things weren’t as complicated as this. Once we donned our uniforms, we were all equals regardless of gender, age, or nationality — all simply store workers. 

Keiko, a thirty-six-year-old convenience store employee, finds comfort and happiness in the strict, uneventful routine of the shop’s daily operations. A funny, satirical, but simultaneously unnerving examination of the social structures we take for granted, Sayaka Murata’s Convenience Store Woman is deeply original and lingers with the reader long after they’ve put it down.

Erasure by Percival Everett

The hard, gritty truth of the matter is that I hardly ever think about race. Those times when I did think about it a lot I did so because of my guilt for not thinking about it.  

Erasure is a truly accomplished satire of the publishing industry’s tendency to essentialize African American authors and their writing. Everett’s protagonist is a writer whose work doesn’t fit with what publishers expect from him — work that describes the “African American experience” — so he writes a parody novel about life in the ghetto. The publishers go crazy for it and, to the protagonist’s horror, it becomes the next big thing. This sophisticated novel is both ironic and tender, leaving its readers with much food for thought.

Creative Nonfiction

Creative nonfiction is pretty broad: it applies to anything that does not claim to be fictional (although the rise of autofiction has definitely blurred the boundaries between fiction and nonfiction). It encompasses everything from personal essays and memoirs to humor writing, and they range in length from blog posts to full-length books. The defining characteristic of this massive genre is that it takes the world or the author’s experience and turns it into a narrative that a reader can follow along with.

Here, we want to focus on novel-length works that dig deep into their respective topics. While very different, these two examples truly show the breadth and depth of possibility of creative nonfiction:

Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward

Men’s bodies litter my family history. The pain of the women they left behind pulls them from the beyond, makes them appear as ghosts. In death, they transcend the circumstances of this place that I love and hate all at once and become supernatural. 

Writer Jesmyn Ward recounts the deaths of five men from her rural Mississippi community in as many years. In her award-winning memoir , she delves into the lives of the friends and family she lost and tries to find some sense among the tragedy. Working backwards across five years, she questions why this had to happen over and over again, and slowly unveils the long history of racism and poverty that rules rural Black communities. Moving and emotionally raw, Men We Reaped is an indictment of a cruel system and the story of a woman's grief and rage as she tries to navigate it.

Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker

He believed that wine could reshape someone’s life. That’s why he preferred buying bottles to splurging on sweaters. Sweaters were things. Bottles of wine, said Morgan, “are ways that my humanity will be changed.” 

In this work of immersive journalism , Bianca Bosker leaves behind her life as a tech journalist to explore the world of wine. Becoming a “cork dork” takes her everywhere from New York’s most refined restaurants to science labs while she learns what it takes to be a sommelier and a true wine obsessive. This funny and entertaining trip through the past and present of wine-making and tasting is sure to leave you better informed and wishing you, too, could leave your life behind for one devoted to wine. 

Illustrated Narratives (Comics, graphic novels)

Once relegated to the “funny pages”, the past forty years of comics history have proven it to be a serious medium. Comics have transformed from the early days of Jack Kirby’s superheroes into a medium where almost every genre is represented. Humorous one-shots in the Sunday papers stand alongside illustrated memoirs, horror, fantasy, and just about anything else you can imagine. This type of visual storytelling lets the writer and artist get creative with perspective, tone, and so much more. For two very different, though equally entertaining, examples, check these out:

Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson

"Life is like topography, Hobbes. There are summits of happiness and success, flat stretches of boring routine and valleys of frustration and failure." 

This beloved comic strip follows Calvin, a rambunctious six-year-old boy, and his stuffed tiger/imaginary friend, Hobbes. They get into all kinds of hijinks at school and at home, and muse on the world in the way only a six-year-old and an anthropomorphic tiger can. As laugh-out-loud funny as it is, Calvin & Hobbes ’ popularity persists as much for its whimsy as its use of humor to comment on life, childhood, adulthood, and everything in between. 

From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell 

"I shall tell you where we are. We're in the most extreme and utter region of the human mind. A dim, subconscious underworld. A radiant abyss where men meet themselves. Hell, Netley. We're in Hell." 

Comics aren't just the realm of superheroes and one-joke strips, as Alan Moore proves in this serialized graphic novel released between 1989 and 1998. A meticulously researched alternative history of Victorian London’s Ripper killings, this macabre story pulls no punches. Fact and fiction blend into a world where the Royal Family is involved in a dark conspiracy and Freemasons lurk on the sidelines. It’s a surreal mad-cap adventure that’s unsettling in the best way possible. 

Video Games and RPGs

Probably the least expected entry on this list, we thought that video games and RPGs also deserved a mention — and some well-earned recognition for the intricate storytelling that goes into creating them. 

Essentially gamified adventure stories, without attention to plot, characters, and a narrative arc, these games would lose a lot of their charm, so let’s look at two examples where the creative writing really shines through: 

80 Days by inkle studios

"It was a triumph of invention over nature, and will almost certainly disappear into the dust once more in the next fifty years." 

Named Time Magazine ’s game of the year in 2014, this narrative adventure is based on Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. The player is cast as the novel’s narrator, Passpartout, and tasked with circumnavigating the globe in service of their employer, Phileas Fogg. Set in an alternate steampunk Victorian era, the game uses its globe-trotting to comment on the colonialist fantasies inherent in the original novel and its time period. On a storytelling level, the choose-your-own-adventure style means no two players’ journeys will be the same. This innovative approach to a classic novel shows the potential of video games as a storytelling medium, truly making the player part of the story. 

What Remains of Edith Finch by Giant Sparrow

"If we lived forever, maybe we'd have time to understand things. But as it is, I think the best we can do is try to open our eyes, and appreciate how strange and brief all of this is." 

This video game casts the player as 17-year-old Edith Finch. Returning to her family’s home on an island in the Pacific northwest, Edith explores the vast house and tries to figure out why she’s the only one of her family left alive. The story of each family member is revealed as you make your way through the house, slowly unpacking the tragic fate of the Finches. Eerie and immersive, this first-person exploration game uses the medium to tell a series of truly unique tales. 

Fun and breezy on the surface, humor is often recognized as one of the trickiest forms of creative writing. After all, while you can see the artistic value in a piece of prose that you don’t necessarily enjoy, if a joke isn’t funny, you could say that it’s objectively failed.

With that said, it’s far from an impossible task, and many have succeeded in bringing smiles to their readers’ faces through their writing. Here are two examples:

‘How You Hope Your Extended Family Will React When You Explain Your Job to Them’ by Mike Lacher (McSweeney’s Internet Tendency)

“Is it true you don’t have desks?” your grandmother will ask. You will nod again and crack open a can of Country Time Lemonade. “My stars,” she will say, “it must be so wonderful to not have a traditional office and instead share a bistro-esque coworking space.” 

Satire and parody make up a whole subgenre of creative writing, and websites like McSweeney’s Internet Tendency and The Onion consistently hit the mark with their parodies of magazine publishing and news media. This particular example finds humor in the divide between traditional family expectations and contemporary, ‘trendy’ work cultures. Playing on the inherent silliness of today’s tech-forward middle-class jobs, this witty piece imagines a scenario where the writer’s family fully understands what they do — and are enthralled to hear more. “‘Now is it true,’ your uncle will whisper, ‘that you’ve got a potential investment from one of the founders of I Can Haz Cheezburger?’”

‘Not a Foodie’ by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell (Electric Literature)

I’m not a foodie, I never have been, and I know, in my heart, I never will be. 

Highlighting what she sees as an unbearable social obsession with food , in this comic Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell takes a hilarious stand against the importance of food. From the writer’s courageous thesis (“I think there are more exciting things to talk about, and focus on in life, than what’s for dinner”) to the amusing appearance of family members and the narrator’s partner, ‘Not a Foodie’ demonstrates that even a seemingly mundane pet peeve can be approached creatively — and even reveal something profound about life.

We hope this list inspires you with your own writing. If there’s one thing you take away from this post, let it be that there is no limit to what you can write about or how you can write about it. 

In the next part of this guide, we'll drill down into the fascinating world of creative nonfiction.

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Sands of Creativity: Mastering the Art of Describing Sand in Creative Writing

My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

Unleashing Your Imagination: The Intriguing World of Describing Sand

Capturing the essence: exploring the texture and color of different sands, painting a picture with words: crafting vivid descriptions of sand, playing with metaphors: infusing emotion and depth into sand descriptions, mastering the art of sensory detail: evoking sights, sounds, and feelings of sand, choosing the right words: enhancing descriptions through precise vocabulary, going beyond the obvious: uncovering the unique qualities of various sands, inspiring your readers: techniques to bring sand descriptions to life, frequently asked questions, concluding remarks.

Have you ever stopped to truly observe the mesmerizing qualities of sand? This omnipresent substance that effortlessly slips through our fingers is more fascinating than meets the eye. Its texture alone can transport us to a multitude of landscapes, from silky smooth shores to rough and grainy dunes. But describing sand goes far beyond its mere sensation. Join us as we embark on a journey to unravel the intriguing world of sand and let your imagination run wild .

Sand, with its infinite variety, holds a treasure trove of colors. From dazzling white beaches to golden desert expanses, it embraces shades that beckon the wanderlust within us. Each grain tells a unique story, composed of minerals, rocks, and even seashells. Imagine the soft, powder-like feel of finely ground quartz sliding through your fingers, or the coarser, uneven grit of volcanic ash-shaped particles. The diversity of sand is as astounding as the landscapes they form. Palettes of ochre, beige, caramel, or ebony awaken our senses and paint vivid pictures in our minds.

Welcome to a captivating journey where we delve into the mesmerizing world of sands! Join us as we uncover the diverse range of textures and colors found in sands across the globe. From sun-kissed beaches to arid deserts, each grain has its own story to tell.

The texture of sands can vary significantly, providing a truly unique tactile experience. Fine sands, with their powdery consistency, effortlessly slip through your fingers, creating a velvety sensation. In contrast, coarse sands offer a grainier touch that exudes a sense of rawness and ruggedness. Embark on an adventure of touch, allowing your fingertips to explore the vast differences that sands have to offer.

• Jagged Sands: Some sands display jagged edges, formed from elements like crushed shells or volcanic rocks. These rough textures not only add intrigue but also depict the turbulent history of their origin.
• Silky Sands: As smooth as silk, these ultra-fine grains are like caressing a cloud. Often found on serene beaches, their velvety texture feels luxurious beneath your toes.
• Glistening Sands: Certain sands shimmer like precious gems under the sunlight. Infused with tiny crystal fragments, they create a mesmerizing spectacle that sparkles and captivates all who behold their beauty.

Colors also play a significant role in the allure of sands. Some beaches boast pristine white sands, where the pureness reflects the surrounding sunlight, creating an ethereal atmosphere. Other shores embrace warm golden tones, reminiscent of endless summer days. Certain volcanic regions unveil striking black sands, drenched in mystery and history. The kaleidoscope of colors found in sands truly invites us to observe the fascinating tapestry of our planet.

Color: The sand sparkled like golden silk under the bright rays of the sun, spreading hues of warmth and radiance. As the coastline stretched far into the distance, the sand gradually lightened to a delicate shade of beige, reminiscent of a creamy cappuccino. In some areas, where the sea gently lapped against the shore, the sand appeared damp and darker, contrasting beautifully with the dry, powdery texture surrounding it.

Texture: Running your fingers through the sand felt like sifting through thousands of tiny, velvety granules. It was as if nature had taken the softest down feathers and transformed them into a flooring of delicate particles. The sand was cool to the touch, offering a refreshing respite from the heat of the sun. With each step, the sand gently yielded beneath your weight, leaving behind little footprints and revealing its resilient nature.

When it comes to describing sand, the use of metaphors can add a whole new dimension of emotion and depth to your writing. Metaphors allow you to create vivid imagery and engage the reader’s senses, making your descriptions more captivating and memorable.

One way to infuse emotion into sand descriptions is by comparing the texture of the sand to something familiar yet evocative. For example, you could liken the softness of the sand to a baby’s skin, instantly conjuring feelings of tenderness and delicacy. Alternatively, you might compare the roughness of the sand to a warrior’s calloused hands, evoking a sense of strength and resilience. By using metaphors, you can transform a mundane description into a powerful visual experience that resonates with your readers.

• Compare the warmth of the sand to a cozy fireplace on a winter’s night.
• Describe the color of the sand as golden, like an ethereal sunbeam at sunset.
• Portray the sound of the sand as a gentle whisper, reminiscent of secrets shared between loved ones.

Ultimately, the key to infusing emotion and depth into sand descriptions lies in the artful use of metaphors. By carefully selecting metaphors that resonate with your intended emotions and creating a sensory experience, you can transport your readers to the sandy shores and make your descriptions come alive.

Evoke the beauty and essence of a sandy landscape by mastering the art of sensory detail. By incorporating vivid sights, sounds, and feelings, you can transport your readers to a world of sun-kissed shores and shifting dunes.

When describing the sight of sand, imagine the golden grains glistening in the sunlight like a million tiny stars. The fine texture and undulating patterns create a mesmerizing sight, painting a picture of tranquility and endless possibility. Picture the way the sand stretches out before you, seemingly infinite, inviting you to explore and lose yourself in its soft embrace. To amplify this visual imagery, consider using descriptive adjectives like “powdery,” “radiant,” or “undulating.”

• Sound: Close your eyes and listen closely to the soundscape of sand. As you walk, the grains gently shift under your feet, creating a soothing, rhythmic sound – a gentle dance of nature. The sound of sand blowing in the wind is a whispered melody, harmonizing with the symphony of crashing waves in the background. To convey these auditory sensations, incorporate words like “whisper,” “rustle,” or “murmur.”
• Feelings: The sensation of sand beneath your toes is an unparalleled experience. As you sink your feet into its warmth, you can almost feel its soft caress against your skin. The playful texture lends itself to building sandcastles or creating intricate patterns with your fingertips. Let your readers feel the sensation of sand slipping through their fingers, the gentle exfoliation as it meets their skin. Use words like “gritty,” “grainy,” or “velvety” to transport your audience to the tactile wonderland of sand.

Incorporating sensory detail in your writing enables you to paint a vivid and immersive picture of the sandy landscape. By harnessing the sights, sounds, and feelings of sand, you can evoke a sensory experience that resonates with your readers, enticing them to embark on their own journeys through the mesmerizing world of sand.

The art of effective communication lies not only in the ideas we express but also in the words we choose to convey those ideas. When it comes to descriptions, the use of precise vocabulary can elevate the impact and clarity of our message. By carefully selecting the right words, we can paint a vivid picture in the minds of our readers, capturing their attention and evoking specific emotions.

First and foremost, precision in vocabulary allows us to be more specific with our descriptions. By utilizing words that are exact and concrete, we provide the reader with a clear image of what we are describing. Rather than simply stating that something is “big,” we can use words like “monstrous” or “towering,” providing a much more evocative and memorable depiction. Additionally, precise vocabulary helps us to express nuanced differences. For example, instead of describing an object as “old,” we can choose words like “antique” or “vintage” to convey a sense of history and value. These subtle word choices add depth and richness to our descriptions, making them more engaging and captivating.

• Precision in vocabulary provides clarity and specificity in descriptions.
• Exact and concrete words create clear mental images.
• Evocative vocabulary helps capture the reader’s attention.
• Subtle differences can be expressed through nuanced word choices.
• Precise vocabulary adds depth and engages the reader.

In conclusion, choosing the right words is key to enhancing descriptions. By incorporating a precise vocabulary, we can ensure clarity, evoke emotions, and captivate our readers. So, let us dive into the vast sea of words and select those that best convey our intended meaning, creating descriptions that truly come alive in the minds of those who read them.

When it comes to sand, we often take it for granted as simply a gritty substance beneath our feet. However, delve deeper into the world of sands, and you’ll be amazed by their diverse characteristics and rich histories. From the serene beaches of the Caribbean to the mystical deserts of Africa, sands hold unique qualities that set them apart. Let’s embark on a journey to explore the hidden wonders of these fascinating granules!

1. The Singing Sands of Lovers Beach, Mexico: Have you ever heard sand sing? Well, you can experience this enchanting phenomenon at the pristine Lovers Beach in Cabo San Lucas. As you step on the sand, the friction between the tiny grains produces a gentle melody resembling the sound of a distant flute. This extraordinary occurrence is due to the silica-rich content of the sand particles. It’s truly a magical experience cherished by locals and visitors alike.

2. The Magnetic Sands of Tenerife, Spain: Prepare to be amazed by the magnetic sands of Tenerife’s Playa de las Teresitas. Unlike ordinary sand, these unique black grains are formed from volcanic materials, giving them their magnetic properties. Locals believe that the sand possesses healing powers, and visitors flock to this stunning beach to relax and indulge in its alleged therapeutic benefits. So, next time you’re in Tenerife, don’t miss the opportunity to lounge on these captivatingly magnetic sands!

When describing sandy landscapes, it is crucial to paint a vivid picture in your reader’s mind. By incorporating sensory details and using descriptive language, you can transport your audience to the breathtaking beauty of sandy shores. Here are some techniques to infuse life into your sand descriptions:

• 1. Appeal to the senses: Engage your reader’s senses by describing the texture of the sand – is it powdery, fine, or gritty? Highlight the scent of the ocean breeze as it mingles with the salty sea air. Captivating your reader’s senses creates a more immersive experience.
• 2. Evoke emotions: Describing the sand in a way that elicits emotions can create a deeper connection with your readers. A phrase like “the golden sand shimmered under the sun, inviting you to feel its warmth beneath your toes” sparks feelings of comfort and tranquility.
• 3. Use vibrant comparisons: Enhance your descriptions by drawing comparisons to relatable objects. For instance, you could compare the color of the sand to “pale vanilla” or liken its texture to “sifting through a thousand crushed pearls.”

By employing these techniques, you can revitalize your descriptions of sandy landscapes and transport your readers to coastal paradises. Remember to be creative and let the sand come alive in their minds, enabling them to feel the warmth, smell the sea, and hear the gentle whisper of the waves in the distance.

Q: What is the importance of describing sand in creative writing? A: Describing sand in creative writing can add depth and realism to your storytelling. It helps create vivid imagery and transports readers to different settings, whether it’s a tropical beach or a desert landscape.

Q: How can I effectively describe sand in my writing? A: To describe sand effectively, use sensory language to engage readers’ senses. Focus on the texture, color, temperature, and even the sound of sand to make your description come alive on the page. Be specific and pay attention to small details that can enhance the overall atmosphere of your writing.

Q: What are some ways to capture the texture of sand in descriptive writing? A: To capture the texture of sand, consider its graininess, roughness, or smoothness. You can compare it to other familiar textures, such as silk, granulated sugar, or even the rough skin of a lizard. By using descriptive adjectives and similes, you can effectively convey the unique properties of sand.

Q: How does the color of sand impact descriptive writing? A: The color of sand plays a significant role in setting the scene in creative writing. Whether it is white, golden, or even black, the color of sand can evoke different emotions and moods. For example, white sand may convey a sense of purity or tranquility, while golden sand can symbolize warmth and paradise.

Q: How can I describe the temperature of sand in my writing? A: Describing the temperature of sand can help readers experience the scene more fully. You can convey warmth by mentioning the hot sand beneath one’s feet, or alternatively, describe the coolness of sand in the shade. By incorporating the temperature element, you can accentuate the overall atmosphere of your writing.

Q: Is it important to describe the sound of sand as well? A: Absolutely! Incorporating the sound of sand can make your writing even more immersive. Describe the crunching sound underfoot as someone walks on dry sand, or the gentle swishing sound of sand slipping through fingers. By including auditory details, you engage another sense and make the scene feel more realistic.

Q: How can I avoid generic descriptions when writing about sand? A: To avoid generic descriptions, focus on using unique and specific details. Instead of simply stating “the sand was white,” you could describe it as “powdery white sand, so fine that it slipped right through my fingers.” By using more descriptive language, you make the description more engaging and memorable.

Q: Are there any pitfalls to avoid when describing sand in creative writing? A: One common pitfall to avoid is overusing cliches or generic phrases. Aim to create original descriptions that paint a vivid picture in readers’ minds. Additionally, be cautious of excessive description that might slow down the pace of your writing. Strike a balance between providing enough detail to engage the reader, while keeping the story flowing smoothly.

Q: Can you provide some examples of effective descriptions of sand in creative writing? A: Certainly! Here are a few examples: 1. “The sand, warm as freshly baked bread, cushioned my every step as I strolled along the beach.” 2. “Golden grains of sand shimmered under the scorching sun, creating a radiant tapestry as far as the eye could see.” 3. “As the wind whispered through the dunes, the fine sand rose and fell like dancing tiny diamonds in a desert waltz.”

Q: Any final tips for mastering the art of describing sand in creative writing? A: Practice observing sand in real-life situations , paying attention to its various characteristics and how it interacts with the environment. This practice will help you develop a keen eye for detail, enabling you to describe sand more authentically in your writing. Remember to engage the reader’s senses and use language that is unique, specific, and evocative.

In conclusion, mastering the skill of describing sand in creative writing is a powerful tool that can take your prose to new heights.

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At Creative Writing Prompts, we believe in the power of words to shape worlds. Our platform is a sanctuary for aspiring writers, seasoned wordsmiths, and everyone. Here, storytelling finds its home, and your creative journey begins its captivating voyage.

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19,898 quotes, descriptions and writing prompts, 4,964 themes

art - quotes and descriptions to inspire creative writing

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In our evolutionary transformation from genocidal ape to empathic humanitarian, it makes sense that aggression is a vital ingredient of passion in all its forms, in all the ways art seeks to bring us to love.

As Aristotle alluded to, as is spoken of in "Nicomachean Ethics," when science and the arts are made subordinate to another aim such as military or money, it fundamentally alters them and changes their results and nature, moving from healthy diversity of discovery to a funnelled narrow view. Yet the sciences and the arts are born out of a feeling of goodness, "The good is that at which all things aim."

True art is channelled through the loving heart, guided by emotions that stir the soul to loving bonds and the sort of imagination that is free and child-like in its sense of wonder and joy. Art is not a technical skill, not one that can be aped by those cold within, yet it can be a path they can take to resuscitate the love they were born with and learn to be brave enough to reconnect with their soul.

This art it pours out of me, as if my heart wishes to sing all day and all night. It is such a chatterbox, this heart of mine. It dances in the words as if it were performing a ballet, loving each tiny movement. It comes as a river, often gentle, yet with a flow that appears to have a sense of where it is going. It comes to be born rather than moulded, to show itself for what it is. It is a lot of me and a lot of divine inspiration, or that is how I see it when the artist truly loves, when the art is the proof of the loving heart.

Our art is our joy, our god-given pathway for natural healing. It is not a thing to judge or measure by imaginary yard-sticks. It is the seeds of our minds that grow and help us navigate our way toward happiness and health. It is our right to be as free as the wind and the bird who plays on the wing. Pain may come out in a painting, or the toll on our being be told in a story, dancing and weaving in the metaphors of dreams. Or it may come as fluid movements that are a song of emotions. Yet this is how the mind unites and creativity becomes a bonfire to illuminate our way.

Art is part of our human soul. It is dreams emerging from a part of ourselves, a way to communicate with the deeper self of both the artist and others. The same piece invokes different emotions depending on the person, their mood, their time of life. Art is pictures; art is sculpture; art is the creative word; art is music. We are all artists in our various ways, all born to be creative.

Our creativity brings our dreams to life; inspiring, enchanting, bringing us closer to God. In art our spirits rise, in stories we are enthralled and elevated. With creativity we make connections between disparate people, we learn that through our many lenses we are seeing the same whole, only the path before our feet is still blurred. Life should never be art vs science, but a beautiful marriage of the two.

The art is coloured glass sculpted by high power water jet, then formed into a mosaic that invites the curiosity of the mind. The flowing blues and greens could be so many things, perhaps like a fading dream it is what you want it to be. For me it is fish in cool waters, swimming freely in their own salty utopia. Maybe that's because I'd love to dive right in with them and feel the soft currents moving past my skin, my hair moving like deep brown kelp. I get lost every time my eyes fall on this piece, it's a place to escape into without leaving these walls, a brief retreat without the massage and pedicures.

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Inspire Thoughtful Creative Writing Through Art

A few years ago, I showed my sixth graders The Gulf Stream by Winslow Homer. It's an epic painting of a young black sailor in a small broken boat, surrounded by flailing sharks, huge swells, and a massive storm in the distance. I asked my students the simple question, "What's happening?" The responses ranged from "He's a slave trying to escape" to "He's a fisherman lost at sea." The common theme with the responses, though, was the tone -- most students were very concerned for his welfare. "That boat looks rickety. I think he’s going to get eaten by the sharks," was a common refrain. Then a very quiet, shy girl raised her hand. "It's OK, he'll be fine," she said. "The ship will save him."

The room got quiet as everyone stared intently at the painting. I looked closely at it. "What ship?" I responded. The young girl walked up to the image and pointed to the top left corner. Sure enough, faded in the smoky distance was a ship.

This revelation changed the tone and content of the conversation that followed. Some thought it was the ship that would save him. Others thought it was the ship that cast him off to his death. Would the storm, sharks, or ship get him? The best part of this intense debate was hearing the divergent, creative responses. Some students even argued. The written story produced as a result of analyzing this image was powerful.

Since this experience, I have developed strategies that harness the power of observation, analysis, and writing through my art lessons.

Children naturally connect thoughts, words, and images long before they master the skill of writing. This act of capturing meaning in multiple symbol systems and then vacillating from one medium to another is called transmediation . While using art in the classroom, students transfer this visual content, and then add new ideas and information from their personal experiences to create newly invented narratives. Using this three-step process of observe, interpret, and create helps kids generate ideas, organize thoughts, and communicate effectively.

Step 1: Observe

Asking students to look carefully and observe the image is fundamental to deep, thoughtful writing. Keep this in mind when choosing art to use in class. Look for images with:

• Many details: If it is a simple image, there's not much to analyze.
• Characters: There should be people or animals in the image to write about.
• Colors: Find colors that convey a mood.
• Spatial relationships: How do the background and foreground relate?

Lead your students through the image. "I like it" is not the answer we are looking for. Ask questions that guide the conversation. Encourage divergent answers and challenge them. Try these questions:

• What shapes do you see? Do they remind you of anything?
• What colors do you see? How do those colors make you feel?
• What patterns do you see? How are they made?
• Do you see any unusual textures? What do they represent?
• What is the focal point of the image? How did the artist bring your attention to the focal point?
• How did the artist create the illusion of space in the image?
• If you were living in the picture and could look all around you, what would you see?
• If you were living in the picture, what would you smell? What would you hear?

Keep your questions open-ended, and record what students say so that they'll have a reference for later. Identify and challenge assumptions. At this point, we are not looking for inferences or judgments, just observations.

Step 2: Make Inferences by Analyzing Art

Once they have discussed what they see, students then answer the question, "What is happening?" They must infer their answers from the image and give specific reasons for their interpretations.

For example, while looking at The Gulf Stream , one student said, "The storm already passed and is on its way out. You can tell because the small boat the man is on has been ripped apart and the mast is broken." That is what we are looking for in their answers: rational thoughts based on inferences from data in the picture. No two responses will be exactly the same, but they can all be correct as long as the student can coherently defend his or her answer with details from the image. When children express their opinions based on logic and these details, they are analyzing art and using critical thinking skills.

Here are some tips to model a mature conversation about art:

• Give adequate wait time. We are often so rushed that we don't give children time to think and reflect.
• Ask students to listen to, think about, and react to the ideas of others.
• Your questions should be short and to the point.
• Highlight specific details to look at while analyzing art (characters, facial expressions, objects, time of day, weather, colors, etc.).
• Explain literal vs. symbolic meaning (a spider's web can be just that, or it can symbolize a trap).

Step 3: Create

After thoughtful observation and discussion, students are abuzz with ideas. For all of the following writing activities, they must use details from the image to support their ideas. Here are just a few of the many ways we can react to art:

For Younger Students:

• Locate and describe shapes and patterns.
• Describe time of day and mood of scene.
• Describe a character in detail with a character sketch. Characters may be people, animals, or inanimate objects.
• Write a story based on this image including a brand new character.
• Give students specific vocabulary that they must incorporate into their story.

For Older Students:

• Write down the possible meaning of the image, trade with a partner, and persuade your partner to believe that your story is the correct one based on details in the image.
• Identify characters and their motives. Who are they and what do they want? Explain how you know based on details.
• Pretend that you are in the image, and describe what you see, smell, feel, and hear.
• Describe the details that are just outside of the image, the ones we can’t see.
• Introduce dialogue into your story. What are they saying?
• Sequence the events of the story. What happened five minutes before this scene, what is happening now, and what happens five minutes later? How do you know?
• Write from the perspective of one of the characters in the image.
• Explain who is the protagonist and antagonist. What is their conflict?

Thinking and Communicating

We don’t know what the future holds for our students, but we do know that they will have to think critically, make connections, and communicate clearly. Art can help students do that. During this year's commencement speech at Sarah Lawrence College, Fareed Zakaria said, "It is the act of writing that forces me to think through them [ideas] and sort them out." Art can be that link to helping students organize their ideas and produce coherent, thoughtful writing.

As you consider teaching writing through art, I recommend reading In Pictures and in Words by Kate Wood Ray and Beth Olshansky's PictureWriting.org website.

How have you used the arts to inspire creative thinking in your students? Please tell us about it in the comments.

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Need some help to get the creative writing juices flowing? Try starting with some art and the prompts below. Who knows where your imagination will take you …

These activities are great for children ages 7 and up, but can be enjoyed by learners of all ages. Younger children may benefit from the help of an adult.

For related educational resource packets, visit our  educator resource finder .

Exploring Haiku

Although haiku poetry originated in Japan, it is created by poets around the world today. The basic form includes seventeen syllables broken down into a 5, 7, 5 pattern over three lines of verse. Haiku poets often write new poems daily to respond to the ever-changing world around them. To craft your own haiku, begin by creating a word bank with five words that describe what you are noticing in your world today. Use one or more of those words to inspire and structure your poem. Try to keep things simple by using the present tense and avoiding similes, metaphors, or fancy adjectives. And, remember, it can be as silly or serious as you choose! 

Examples of Haiku

Five syllables here. Seven more syllables here. Are you happy now?

Haiku are easy. But sometimes they don’t make sense. Refrigerator.

I Wish I’d Had a Camera

Photographer Robert Frank was known for working in the “street” style, using his small camera to quickly capture fleeting moments in everyday life. Stylistically, his work was tied to that of his friend Beat poet Jack Kerouac (American 1922–1969), who often wrote using stream of consciousness, a way of writing that captures a subject’s thoughts and reactions to an event in a continuous flow. 

Visualize a moment from your life—a fleeting scene or cherished memory—that you wish you had captured in a photograph. Set a timer for five minutes (or less for younger learners). Without stopping to edit, write a stream of descriptive words that evoke the sights, sounds, and feelings of that moment. Share this written memory with a friend. 

Margo Hoff’s 1945 painting, Murder Mystery , portrays a reader propped up in bed late at night with their head buried in the pages of a book. Hoff’s stylized forms, intricate patterns, and dark palette make the scene mysterious, reminding us of how the tone of a good story can affect our experience of the world.

Imagine you are writing a fictional novel that will one day be a bestseller. You think your story is interesting and exciting, but now you need a title. What title would you give your book? What genre does it fall into—mystery, fantasy, science fiction, or something else? What is the conflict that drives your story? How might it be resolved or worked through?  Write a summary of your story for the back cover—but don’t give away the ending! 

Every Day is History

Each day, small moments come together to create history on a large and small scale and in personal and public forms. Japanese artist Noda Tetsuya captures this spectrum of experiences in his multilayered prints, which feature intimate moments with his family as well as monumental global events. His Diary series encourages us to reflect on the accumulation of memories that mark the passage of time—and our own personal place within this history.

Document your own moment in history by creating a daily journal. Jot down the major and minor events of the day, based on the context of your life and experiences. What is important today—to you or in the world? Experiment with using your own voice to tell the history of the week. Clip a photo or add a drawing to build on your written notes. At the end of the week look back at each day’s events and consider what new insights you might take into the following week.

What’s Your Word? 

The varied colors and paint strokes in Joan Mitchell’s City Landscape provide us with multiple points of entry and engagement. The impact of the image may in fact stay with us, jostling our thoughts and taking root. With this and so many works of art, we often wonder: How can I make personal connections? How might an artwork stay with me long after I’ve seen it? 

Spend a moment free writing your own thoughts about this painting. Pay attention to how it makes you feel; what emotions come up; what memories are activated. Free write your thoughts for two minutes; try to let your hand and pen connect. Read back over what you have written, and underline two lines that resonate with you the most. From within those lines, circle three of the words, then place a triangle over just two of your three chosen words, and finally draw a box around just one. You should now have redacted your writing to one simple word. Think about how and where you want to display your word; you may want to cut it out, draw it large, or place it on your bathroom mirror! As you move about your day, keep coming back to this word and the personal connections you’ve made.

Round-Robin Story

Work together with your family to tell the story unfolding in this artwork. Have someone start the story and write down the first sentence. Pass the paper to the next person to write the next sentence. Repeat this process until everyone has gotten a chance to contribute at least once. Put your sentences together and read your thrilling tale for all to enjoy.

Crafting Your Movie Pitch

In this colorful painting, Archibald Motley Jr. depicts the vibrancy of a crowded cabaret in Chicago’s South Side neighborhood Bronzeville. 

Imagine that this painting is the opening scene of a movie that begins with this line: “I knew then that my life would never be the same.” Using clues from the picture, decide who will be the main character of your film and then build out your story. What happened in the days before what we see here? What is happening now? What happens after this moment and what changes happen in the life of the main character? Write out these moments as if you were constructing the plot for a movie and getting ready to sell it to a big-time producer. Share the storyline of your movie with friends and family to see if they would want to watch it on opening night.

A Poem in Five Lines

A five-line poem is also called a cinquain. Some forms of cinquain poetry follow specific rules about the number of syllables or elements in each line. Look closely at this sculpture by German artist Katharina Fritsch and respond to the following prompts to write your own cinquain. 

Line #1: Choose one noun to identify the subject of the artwork. Line #2: Pick two adjectives describing the subject of the artwork. Line #3: Write three verbs ending in –ing that detail the action in the artwork. Line #4: Select four individual words or a four-word phrase to describe emotions related to the artwork. Line #5: End with one noun that is a synonym for the subject of the artwork.

Have a friend or family member also write a cinquain about this sculpture and share your poems with each other!

Conversation in the City

In Dawoud Bey’s Harlem, U.S.A. series, he explored the identities of the people and places of New York City’s Harlem neighborhood in the 1970s. Look closely at this scene from the series. Think about the personalities of the people and the events taking place around them based on details you find in the image. Select two people and imagine the conversation they might be having. How would their discussion unfold and what would they say to each other? What might they say to you if you were in this scene? Write out the conversation, expressing the personality of each character and the story that might occur in this scene.

Dream a Little Dream

Like the works of his Surrealist contemporaries, Cornell’s art is often connected to the world of dreams. Based on what you can see in this Cornell box, write a short story that begins with this line: Last night I had the strangest dream …

A Tale about Things

Philip Guston painted everyday objects like clocks and shoes as if they were characters in a narrative rather than inanimate objects in a still life. Think of two or three everyday objects you’d want to use to create a scene. What sort of personalities do they have? A book, for instance, might be intelligent but shy. Write a short story about these characters.

A Story from the Window

Identify one object, figure, or animal from the windows—this will be the subject of a story. Look closely at its details. Pay attention to surrounding shapes, colors, objects, and figures in the same panel. Write your story from the perspective of the subject, describing what it is like to be a part of the environment of the windows.

Tip: For a closer look at the details of this work, click on the image and zoom in.

Travel Assignment

Imagine that you are a writer for a travel magazine. The editor assigns you to go to Japan and write a report based on your experiences at the cherry blossom viewing festival. Step into the screen and write about what you see, feel, smell, and hear. Where would you want to go? What would you want to see?

The Storyteller’s Story 

This ceramic figure was created in the Ameca Valley of Mexico. The figure appears to be in the midst of telling a story, and in many early societies storytellers told heroic legends and myths that helped people understand their history and their place in the natural world.

Though seated, its pose is energetic and its gestures expressive. Notice that the mouth on the Storyteller Figure is partially open. Is the figure speaking? If so, what is he saying? Write the story Storyteller Figure might be telling. 

What’s in a Title?

Write your own titles for artworks— they can be funny, serious, descriptive, or completely made up. Browse the museum’s collection to find your favorites, or write new titles for works that artists never gave a title to in the first place.

If you are in a group, share your titles with each other to see what creative ideas you all came up with. You can also visit the webpage for your selected artwork to find out if there is a featured title. Look at the artwork again. Why do you think the artist chose this title?

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English and Creative Writing

The Franklin College Department of English and Creative Writing is committed to the careful study of the individual expression and cultural values found in English, American, and world literature.

The department is one of Franklin College’s most exciting intellectual communities. Our faculty of dedicated teacher-scholars share with students their expertise in, and enthusiasm for, literature from a variety of genres, periods, and cultures—works drawn from the traditional canon to the works of emerging artists, from Greek tragedy to graphic novels, from Shakespearean sonnets to postmodern poetry. Small class sizes mean professors get to know their students and can engage with them in intense debates and deep analyses of literary works that continue outside the classroom.

Our dedicated faculty of practicing writers and scholars guide students in small classes and workshops that cover a variety of genres, as well as provide students with frequent out-of-class opportunities to exercise and hone their craft. Creative writing students can expect a rigorous yet collegial environment that allows for engaged learning, collaboration and experimentation.

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• Why English and Creative Writing?
• Major Handouts & Course Catalog
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Meet Our People

Why english and creative writing at franklin college.

Dynamic classroom experiences.

Our professors use a variety of approaches that focus on how language and literary forms recreate both individual experiences and the large, impersonal forces that shape cultures and historical periods. In so doing, we seek in our classes to understand the many varieties of the human condition. In addition to taking courses with our award-winning faculty, our creative writing students benefit from the creative writing program’s reading series, which brings talented poets, fiction writers, memoirists, and playwrights to teach and study with them each year.

Experiences beyond the classroom.

Not only do English and creative writing majors learn a great deal in the classroom, they also take part in activities related to the disciplines. Such activities regularly include working on the editorial board of the college literary journal, the   Apogee  (founded in 1961); attending performances and creative-writing readings; and participating in other events in and around Franklin, Indianapolis, Bloomington, Louisville, and elsewhere in the region.

Global engagement.

With opportunities to study abroad during entire semesters, during the college’s four-week Immersive Term, or over the summer, English majors have recently taken courses in England, France, Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Uganda, Japan, and elsewhere.

Interdisciplinary commitment.

In keeping with the college’s strong interdisciplinary character, English and Creative Writing majors frequently choose to pursue a second major or a minor in disciplines such as  elementary education ,  French ,  history ,  multimedia journalism ,  political science ,  philosophy ,  psychology ,  religious studies,  or  Spanish . Recent English courses have been cross-listed in  theatre  and the liberal arts program, and students may count an upper-level course in  French  or  Spanish  literature toward their English degree.

Connecting passion with work.

Our faculty advisers are committed to helping students find careers in fields that excite them. Recent graduates have used their English degrees to pursue rewarding careers in teaching, publishing, health care, marketing, business, the performing and creative arts, communications, technical writing, and non-profit management. Others have gone on to graduate programs in English, law, divinity, library science, and counseling.

Spark your imagination.

Program handouts.

• English Major Handout
• Creative Writing Major Handout

Courses of Study

Students who choose to study english and creative writing at franklin college can pursue two different majors — english and creative writing. both are also available as a minor. in addition, we offer an additional minor in professional writing..

Immerse yourself in literature, history and the human condition as a Franklin College English major.

Experiment with language and style, developing a unique voice.

Creative Writing

Carlson-stauffer visiting writers’ series.

The English and Creative Writing department is proud to sponsor the Carlson-Stauffer Visiting Writers’ Series, which brings nationally recognized authors to campus. All events are free and open to the public.

Series Background

The series is named for two beloved professors emerita, Kathy Carlson and Emily Stauffer, both of whom retired in spring 2015. Together, their combined service at Franklin College spanned close to 70 years. The series began in 2015 and has allowed the department to host dozens of writers from across the country. Writers hold a publicly open reading. Typically, they also interact with creative writing students at a meal, visit creative writing classes to conduct a masterclass in their genre, and/or offer feedback on students’ writing.

Participating Writers

Visiting writers have been poets, fiction writers, YA authors, writers of non-fiction, and multi-genre writers. Some notable names include:

• Marcus Wicker, 2015
• Maggie Messitt, 2016
• Jamaal May, 2017
• David Tomas Martinez, 2018
• Terrance Hayes, 2019
• Nafissa Thompson-Spires, 2019
• Ross Gay, 2019
• Adrian Matejka, 2020 (and 2023)
• Brooke Lauren Davis (’15) — YA novelist and alumna
• Samantha Fain (’20) — poet and alumna
• Eugene Gloria, 2021
• Dan Chaon, 2022
• Saundra Mitchell, 2023
• Angela Jackson-Brown, 2023
• Matthew Minnicucci, 2023
• Brittany Means, 2024
• Monica McClure, 2024

This fall (2024), the department will welcome back Samantha Fain (’20) to celebrate the release of her latest poetry collection,  Are You There .

On Nov. 28, 2023, the department welcomed poet Matthew Minicucci for his second visit in our series. Matthew read from his fourth poetry collection, Dual, which was released by Acre Books. The event was held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 in the B.F. Hamilton Auditorium. A book signing followed the reading.

“I believe that you get a sense of belonging and that you matter. Personally, I enjoy the conversations with professors and other faculty members and getting to know them.”

Emmarae Arensdorff ’22

Express your creativity through apogee, our annual literary journal., apogee is franklin college’s student-run literary magazine that accepts previously unpublished work in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, drama, and visual art. apogee is an annual publication published in late spring. submissions are open during the summer and fall..

Questions about  Apogee ? Contact our Faculty Advisor.

Learn more about English and Creative Writing at Franklin College

Our mission.

By honing a diverse set of reading and writing skills, the English and creative writing department’s majors and minors recognize the artistic achievements, insights, and possibilities inherent in literature to create their own meaningful work as they prepare for professional positions, graduate study, and civic engagement.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students in English and Creative Writing will be able to:

•     Read and communicate effectively through creative and expository writing.
•     Make arguments about texts using literary terms, techniques, history and movements.
•     Access, analyze and synthesize complex information, using diverse perspectives.
•     Solve unstructured problems individually as well as collaboratively.

Our Faculty

In addition to their commitment to the classroom, faculty in the English and creative writing department maintain active scholarly agendas, publishing their research and presenting at major national and international conferences on a wide variety of topics, including the intersections of narrative theory and gender theory; the limitations of humanity in Shakespeare’s  Richard II ; modernist irony as a response to colonial exhibitions; flipped classroom pedagogy; landscape and medieval gender roles; feminist readings of global modernism; and deforestation in contemporary Anglophone Caribbean literature. In addition, our creative writing faculty have won awards and national attention for their work.

Requirements

Introductory courses provide students with an understanding of different creative genres, as well as the fundamentals of creative writing processes, literary citizenship and the contemporary literary landscape. Students learn to read like writers, engaging in literary analysis to appreciate the nuances of text construction. In later courses, students perform genre-specific studies, closely studying, deploying and sharpening particular writing techniques, and engaging in significant revision and experimentation as they hone their unique voices and join ongoing literary conversations.

As creative writers, we untangle texts and cultural contexts to discover new strategies for reading and writing, with students interrogating both the worlds of the texts they read and write, and their own world, understanding how texts communicate, shape and move all of us. Through guided practice, students gain confidence, empathy, and practical critical writing and thinking skills that allow them to make powerful contributions to the world.

Meet the talented professionals who will help guide you on your creative journey.

Emily Banks, MFA, Ph.D.

Katie Burpo, M.F.A.

Susan Crisafulli, Ph.D.

Richard Erable, Ph.D.

Anna James, Ph.D.

George Phillips, Ph.D.

Department of english and creative writing.

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Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridfay, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Creative Biz

Describe Nature Creatively: A Guide to Captivating Descriptions

How to describe nature in creative writing – Welcome to the art of describing nature in creative writing! In this guide, we’ll dive into the techniques and strategies that will transform your nature descriptions from ordinary to extraordinary.

From capturing the sensory details to conveying the emotions evoked by nature, we’ll explore a range of approaches to help you create vivid and immersive nature scenes that will leave your readers spellbound.

Sensory Details

Nature’s beauty lies in its intricate tapestry of sensory experiences. To effectively describe nature in writing, it is essential to engage all five senses to create a vivid and immersive portrayal that transports the reader into the heart of the natural world.

Sensory details provide a tangible and visceral connection to the environment, allowing readers to experience nature through their imagination. By capturing the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures of the natural world, writers can evoke a profound sense of place and connection.

Visual descriptions are the most prominent and often the first sensory detail that comes to mind. When describing nature, focus on the colors, shapes, sizes, and textures of the surroundings. Use specific and evocative language that paints a clear picture in the reader’s mind.

• Instead of writing “there were many trees,” describe the “towering oaks with their gnarled trunks and emerald canopies.”
• Instead of saying “the water was blue,” describe the “azure waters that shimmered like a thousand diamonds under the sunlight.”

Sounds add depth and atmosphere to a natural setting. Describe the cacophony of birdsong, the gentle rustling of leaves in the wind, or the thunderous roar of a waterfall. Use onomatopoeia and sensory verbs to create a vivid auditory experience.

• Instead of writing “the birds were singing,” describe the “melodic chorus of birdsong that filled the air, a symphony of chirps, trills, and whistles.”
• Instead of saying “the wind blew,” describe the “wind that whispered through the trees, carrying the sweet scent of wildflowers.”

Smells evoke powerful memories and emotions. Describe the fragrant scent of blooming flowers, the earthy aroma of damp soil, or the salty tang of the ocean breeze. Use evocative language that transports the reader to the heart of the natural world.

• Instead of writing “the flowers smelled nice,” describe the “heady perfume of jasmine that permeated the air, a sweet and intoxicating fragrance.”
• Instead of saying “the forest smelled musty,” describe the “earthy scent of the forest floor, mingled with the fresh aroma of pine needles and the sweet decay of fallen leaves.”

While taste is less commonly associated with nature descriptions, it can add a unique and immersive element to your writing. Describe the tart sweetness of wild berries, the salty tang of seawater, or the earthy flavor of fresh herbs.

• Instead of writing “the berries were sweet,” describe the “sweet and juicy berries that burst in my mouth, releasing a burst of tart and tangy flavor.”
• Instead of saying “the water was salty,” describe the “salty tang of the seawater as it kissed my lips, leaving a lingering taste of the ocean.”

Textures provide a tactile dimension to your writing. Describe the rough bark of a tree, the smooth surface of a lake, or the velvety softness of a flower petal. Use descriptive language that evokes a physical sensation in the reader.

• Instead of writing “the bark was rough,” describe the “rough and gnarled bark of the ancient oak, its deep fissures and ridges creating a tactile tapestry.”
• Instead of saying “the water was smooth,” describe the “smooth and glassy surface of the lake, reflecting the sky like a perfect mirror.”

– Sensory Imagery

Engage the reader’s senses with specific and evocative language that appeals to sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Create a vivid sensory landscape that transports the reader into the heart of nature.

• The emerald leaves shimmered like a thousand tiny mirrors, reflecting the dappled sunlight.
• The wind whistled through the trees, a mournful symphony that stirred the soul.
• The soft moss beneath her feet yielded like a downy pillow.
• The pungent scent of wildflowers filled the air, a heady perfume that intoxicated the senses.
• The tangy sweetness of ripe berries burst between her teeth, a taste of summer’s bounty.

Personification: How To Describe Nature In Creative Writing

Personification is a literary device that gives human qualities to non-human things, such as animals, plants, or objects. It can make nature more relatable and create a deeper connection between the reader and the natural world.

Examples of Personification

Here are some examples of how personification can be used to create a deeper connection between the reader and the natural world:

• The wind whispered secrets to the trees.
• The sun smiled down on the earth.
• The river danced and sang its way to the sea.

These examples give nature human qualities, such as the ability to speak, smile, and dance. This makes nature more relatable and allows the reader to connect with it on a more personal level.

Table of Personification Types and Effects

Here is a table that summarizes the different types of personification and their effects on the reader:

Poem Using Personification

Here is a poem that uses personification to give a voice to a natural object, in this case, a tree:

I am a tree, and I have stood for centuries, My roots deep in the earth, my branches reaching for the skies. I have seen the seasons come and go, And I have witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations. I am a silent observer, But I have a story to tell.

This poem gives the tree a human voice and allows it to share its story with the reader. This creates a deeper connection between the reader and the natural world.

Emotional Impact

Nature writing has the power to evoke a wide range of emotions, from awe and wonder to peace and tranquility. Language plays a crucial role in conveying these emotions to the reader, creating a specific mood or atmosphere that enhances the overall impact of the writing.

Figurative Language

Figurative language, such as metaphors and similes, can create powerful emotional connections between the reader and the natural world. Metaphors compare two seemingly unrelated things, while similes use the words “like” or “as” to make a comparison. Both techniques can bring nature to life, giving it human qualities and making it more relatable and emotionally resonant.

For example, the poet William Wordsworth uses a metaphor to describe the daffodils in his famous poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”:

“A host, of golden daffodils;/ Beside the lake, beneath the trees,/ Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.”

Here, Wordsworth compares the daffodils to a host of dancers, suggesting their joyful and carefree nature. The use of the word “fluttering” also evokes a sense of movement and energy, further enhancing the emotional impact of the poem.

Nature’s Perspective

Adopting the perspective of nature can infuse your writing with a profound sense of empathy and ecological consciousness. By giving nature a voice, you can convey its intrinsic value, resilience, and interconnectedness with humanity.

Imagine nature as a sentient being, possessing its own thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Describe the landscape through its eyes, capturing the intricate details that often go unnoticed by humans. Explore the interconnectedness of all living organisms, highlighting the delicate balance that sustains the natural world.

Voice and Viewpoint

Craft a distinct voice for nature, using language that reflects its vastness, wisdom, and timelessness. Employ sensory imagery and personification to evoke a vivid and intimate connection between the reader and the natural world. Consider the unique perspective of each element of nature, from the towering mountains to the murmuring streams.

Example: “The ancient oak tree stood as a silent guardian, its gnarled roots anchoring it firmly in the earth. Its branches stretched out like welcoming arms, offering shelter to weary travelers and a sanctuary for woodland creatures.”

Fresh Insights and Deeper Understanding

Writing from nature’s perspective offers fresh insights into the human experience and our place within the natural world. By embodying nature, you can challenge anthropocentric viewpoints and foster a greater appreciation for the interdependence of all living beings.

Example: “The river flowed relentlessly, carrying with it the memories and secrets of countless journeys. Its waters whispered tales of distant lands and the lives that had touched its banks.”

Nature’s Rhythm and Movement

Nature is a dynamic entity, constantly moving and changing. To effectively capture this dynamism in writing, pay attention to the rhythms, patterns, and cycles that govern the natural world. Describe the ebb and flow of tides, the waxing and waning of the moon, the seasonal changes, and the life cycles of plants and animals.

Use descriptive language to convey the movement and flow of nature. For instance, instead of simply stating that the wind is blowing, describe how it rustles through the leaves or whips up the waves. Instead of saying that the river is flowing, describe how it meanders through the landscape or cascades over rocks.

Capturing Rhythmic Patterns, How to describe nature in creative writing

• Identify the cycles and patterns that occur in nature, such as the changing of seasons, the movement of the stars, or the ebb and flow of tides.
• Use language that conveys rhythm and repetition, such as alliteration, assonance, or onomatopoeia.
• Pay attention to the tempo and cadence of your writing to create a sense of movement and flow.

Conveying Dynamic Movement

• Use active verbs and strong action words to describe the movement of natural elements.
• Employ sensory details to create a vivid picture of the movement, such as the sound of wind whistling through trees or the feeling of water rushing over your skin.
• Consider using personification or擬人化 to give natural elements human qualities, such as the wind dancing or the river whispering.

Nature’s Scale and Immensity

When describing nature’s scale and immensity, the goal is to convey a sense of awe and wonder at its vastness and grandeur. This can be achieved through the use of language that emphasizes size, distance, and power.

One effective technique is to use words that evoke a sense of scale, such as “colossal,” “towering,” or “expansive.” These words help to create a mental image of the sheer size of natural features, such as mountains, oceans, or forests.

• The towering peaks of the Himalayas stretched up into the sky, their snow-capped summits lost in the clouds.
• The vast expanse of the ocean stretched out before us, as far as the eye could see.
• The ancient forest was a labyrinth of towering trees, their branches reaching up to the heavens.

Nature’s Interconnectedness

Nature is a vast and intricate web of life, where every element plays a crucial role in maintaining the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Describing this interconnectedness requires capturing the relationships between different species, the interdependence of natural processes, and the impact of human activities on the environment.

Symbiotic Relationships

Highlight the mutually beneficial relationships between species, such as pollination, seed dispersal, and nutrient cycling. Explain how these interactions contribute to the survival and well-being of both species involved.

• Describe the intricate relationship between bees and flowers, where bees collect nectar and pollen for food while aiding in the plant’s reproduction.
• Discuss the interdependence of birds and trees, where birds rely on trees for nesting and shelter, while trees benefit from the birds’ seed dispersal and insect control.

Food Webs and Trophic Levels

Explain the concept of food webs and trophic levels, illustrating how energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem. Emphasize the interconnectedness of all organisms, from producers to consumers to decomposers.

• Describe the role of phytoplankton as primary producers in marine ecosystems, providing the foundation for the entire food web.
• Explain how the decline of one species, such as a keystone predator, can have cascading effects throughout the ecosystem, affecting multiple trophic levels.

Biogeochemical Cycles

Discuss the interconnectedness of natural processes, such as the water cycle, carbon cycle, and nitrogen cycle. Explain how these cycles regulate the Earth’s climate, provide essential nutrients, and support life.

• Describe the role of forests in the water cycle, capturing and releasing water vapor into the atmosphere.
• Explain how the carbon cycle links the atmosphere, oceans, and land, regulating the Earth’s temperature and providing the basis for fossil fuels.

Human Impact

Discuss the impact of human activities on the interconnectedness of nature. Explain how pollution, deforestation, and climate change can disrupt natural relationships and threaten the stability of ecosystems.

• Describe the effects of plastic pollution on marine life, entangling and harming animals.
• Explain how deforestation disrupts the water cycle and leads to soil erosion, affecting the entire ecosystem.

Sensory Overload and Immersion

Nature has the power to overwhelm our senses and immerse us in its vastness. To create a sense of sensory overload and immersion in nature using descriptive language, writers can employ the following techniques:

Sensory Overload

Sensory overload is a technique that involves using multiple sensory details to create an overwhelming and immersive experience. By engaging several senses simultaneously, writers can transport readers into the natural world and evoke a vivid and visceral response.For example, consider the following passage:

“The air was thick with the scent of pine needles, the sound of rushing water, and the feel of the wind on my skin. The sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting a dappled light on the forest floor. I could taste the crisp autumn air on my tongue, and the crunch of leaves beneath my feet filled my ears.”

This passage uses a combination of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch to create a sense of sensory overload, immersing the reader in the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures of the natural world.

Envelopment

Envelopment is a technique that describes the feeling of being fully surrounded by and enveloped in nature. By creating a sense of enclosure and immersion, writers can evoke a feeling of awe and wonder in readers.For example, consider the following passage:

“I felt like I was being swallowed up by the forest, the trees towering over me like ancient guardians. The canopy of leaves formed a dense roof above my head, blocking out the sunlight and creating a sense of intimacy and seclusion. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, and the only sound was the gentle rustling of the wind in the trees.”

This passage uses imagery and sensory details to create a sense of envelopment, making the reader feel as if they are surrounded by the forest and enveloped in its sights, sounds, and smells.

Awe-Inspiring

Awe-inspiring is a technique that conveys the overwhelming and awe-inspiring aspects of nature. By using language that evokes a sense of wonder and insignificance, writers can create a powerful emotional response in readers.For example, consider the following passage:

“The sheer size and majesty of the mountains filled me with a sense of wonder and insignificance. I stood at the base of the towering peaks, my head tilted back as I gazed up at their snow-capped summits. The clouds drifted past, casting shadows on the mountain slopes, and the wind howled through the passes, carrying with it the sound of distant thunder.”

This passage uses vivid imagery and sensory details to convey the awe-inspiring aspects of nature, creating a sense of wonder and insignificance in the reader.

Nature’s Symbolism and Meaning

Nature has the ability to evoke powerful emotions and associations, making it a rich source of symbolism in creative writing. Authors can use nature to convey deeper themes and meanings, exploring the human condition and the relationship between humanity and the natural world.

For example, a stormy sea might represent inner turmoil or emotional upheaval, while a blooming flower could symbolize hope or renewal. Nature can also be used to represent human qualities, such as strength, resilience, or fragility.

Nature as a Reflection of Human Emotion

• A gentle breeze can convey a sense of peace and tranquility.
• A raging storm can symbolize anger, passion, or chaos.
• A wilting flower can represent sadness, loss, or vulnerability.

Nature’s Healing and Restorative Powers

Nature possesses an inherent ability to heal and restore our minds and bodies. Spending time in natural environments has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and boost cognitive function. In this section, we will explore how to effectively describe the restorative effects of nature on the human psyche, providing examples and insights to enhance your writing.

Natural Elements and Their Psychological Benefits

Various natural elements offer specific psychological benefits. Consider incorporating the following into your writing:

“Nature has a profound and healing effect on our well-being. It can reduce stress, improve mood, and boost cognitive function.” – Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in the Woods”

Nature’s Threats and Fragility

Nature, in its pristine beauty and intricate balance, faces myriad threats that jeopardize its well-being and the delicate equilibrium it sustains. Human activities, often driven by short-sightedness and unsustainable practices, pose significant risks to the natural world, leaving an imprint of destruction that threatens the very foundation of our planet’s ecosystems.

Industrialization, urbanization, and the proliferation of consumer goods have led to an alarming increase in pollution levels. Pollutants such as greenhouse gases, toxic chemicals, and plastic waste contaminate the air, water, and soil, disrupting ecosystems and endangering countless species. Air pollution, caused by vehicle emissions and industrial processes, contributes to respiratory illnesses and climate change.

Water pollution, resulting from industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and sewage discharge, contaminates water bodies, harming aquatic life and affecting human health.

Deforestation

The relentless destruction of forests, driven by logging, agriculture, and urban expansion, is a major threat to biodiversity and the global ecosystem. Forests play a crucial role in regulating the climate, providing habitats for countless species, and supporting the livelihoods of millions of people.

Deforestation disrupts the water cycle, exacerbates soil erosion, and contributes to climate change by releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Climate Change

Climate change, driven by human activities that release greenhouse gases, is one of the most pressing threats to nature. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events disrupt ecosystems, threaten species, and impact human societies. Coral reefs, essential for marine biodiversity, are particularly vulnerable to rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification.

Conservation and Protection

Recognizing the urgency of these threats, conservation efforts are vital to safeguard nature’s resilience and ensure its long-term survival. Protecting and restoring natural habitats, promoting sustainable practices, and reducing pollution are essential steps towards mitigating these threats. Individuals can contribute by adopting eco-friendly lifestyles, supporting conservation organizations, and advocating for policies that prioritize environmental protection.

Nature’s Resilience and Adaptability

Nature is not just beautiful; it’s also incredibly resilient and adaptable. It has the ability to withstand and overcome challenges, and even thrive in changing conditions.

Nature’s Adaptability

Nature has an amazing ability to adapt to its surroundings. For example, some plants have evolved to thrive in harsh conditions, such as deserts or mountains. Some animals have developed camouflage to help them hide from predators. And some organisms have even learned to live in extreme environments, such as the deep sea or the Arctic.

Nature’s Resilience

Nature is also incredibly resilient. It can withstand natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods. It can also recover from human-caused damage, such as pollution and deforestation. Nature’s resilience is a testament to its strength and adaptability.

How to Describe Nature’s Resilience and Adaptability

When describing nature’s resilience and adaptability, use descriptive language and vivid imagery. Focus on the details that show how nature is able to withstand and overcome challenges. For example, you might describe the way a tree bends in the wind but does not break, or the way a flower blooms in the middle of a barren landscape.You can also use personification to give nature human qualities.

This can help to make nature seem more relatable and to emphasize its strength and resilience. For example, you might describe a river as “fighting” against its banks, or a mountain as “standing tall” in the face of adversity.Finally, don’t forget to evoke emotions in your writing.

Nature’s resilience and adaptability can inspire a sense of awe and wonder. By capturing these emotions in your writing, you can help your readers to appreciate the beauty and strength of the natural world.

Key Questions Answered

How do I choose the right sensory details to describe nature?

Focus on details that evoke a specific sense or emotion. Use vivid language and avoid generic or overused descriptions.

How can I use figurative language to enhance my nature descriptions?

Metaphors, similes, and personification can bring nature to life and create a lasting impression. Use them sparingly and effectively.

How do I convey the emotional impact of nature in my writing?

Use language that reflects the emotions you want to evoke. Consider the tone and mood you’re aiming for and use descriptive language that creates the desired atmosphere.

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826LA@Hammer: Typewriter Tributes & Tribulations

• Sunday Sep 22, 2024 11:00 AM
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Free collaborative workshops, presented with 826LA, combine writing with creative activities for groups of up to 20 students.

Recommended for ages 8–14.

Reservations encouraged. Visit 826la.org or call 310-915-0200.

Work collaboratively to create and perform poetry on typewriters in the RENT Poet tradition, where writing becomes a game and even our mistakes become part of the art we make.

Facilitated by author, Poet Laureate of West Hollywood, and founder of RENT Poet, Brian Sonia-Wallace .

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Ticketing: These free workshops are designed for up to 20 students. Reservations are encouraged: visit  826la.org/programs/workshops  or call 310-915-0200. Drop-ins are welcome, if space allows.  Parking: Under the museum, $8 flat rate on weekends. Cash or credit card.

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♿ Accessibility information The Hammer is dedicated to providing a comfortable and engaging experience for all ages. Children under 12 are welcome to visit with adult companions.

Academic Programs at the Hammer Museum are supported by City National Bank, the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, and Mary Kitchen and Jonathan Orszag. Additional support is provided by the the Brotman Foundation of California, the Sydney D. Holland Foundation, and Ellen and Teddy Schwarzman.

Hammer Kids is supported by City National Bank, Mary Kitchen and Jonathan Orszag, and friends of the Hammer Museum's Kids Art Museum Project (K.A.M.P.), an annual family fundraiser. Additional support is provided by the the Brotman Foundation of California, the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, the Sydney D. Holland Foundation, and Ellen and Teddy Schwarzman.

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