In this post, we will looking at how descriptive and creative writing prompts can inspire you to write more, and get readers really engaged and connected to your writing.
The most important part of descriptive writing is to add as many important details and characteristics to the person, place, object or experience in your essay. The more detail you add to your piece, the better it will be.
While we’re on the subject of descriptive writing, take a look at our latest post on the 5 Most Important Literary Devices and find out how to implement them in your writing.
Before you continue reading and see what descriptive writing prompts we’ve prepared for you, check out our website to find out more about our various English Literature and Language courses:
How to choose a Descriptive Writing Prompt?
Before you choose a topic on which you want to write about, see if you can show and not tell about the characteristics, emotions, and actions in your descriptive writing piece. The word ‘show’ here means to portray or illustrate feelings and actions, whilst ‘tell’ is when a writer says what their feelings and actions are.
For example, “The white Maltese dog snarled and growled.” (showing) versus “The white Maltese dog was angry and fierce.” (telling)
Another thing that is very important in descriptive writing and which should be your starting point is to ask yourself these 5 questions:
- What did you see?
- What did you hear?
- What did you taste?
- What did you smell?
- What did you touch?
Depending on what you’re writing about, you don’t have to have answers to all 5 questions. For example, if you’re describing rocks, you shouldn’t be able to answer a question on how that rock tastes.
There are so many ways to practise and improve your writing, so check our post on 5 Image-based Descriptive Writing Prompts to get more ideas!
5 Creative and Descriptive Writing Prompts:
And finally, here are some descriptive writing prompts we’ve prepared for you – these should give you the freedom to develop your content in different ways, with a lot of sensory details.
- Describe an inspiring friend or a family member.
People who inspire us have a huge impact on our lives, and they often make us grow as people. If you’re describing an inspiring person, focus on the impact they have had on your life. What did this person do that was inspiring?
- Describe a spooky or a haunted place.
If you’re describing a spooky place, remember to include a lot of sensory details. What did this place look like? Where it was located? What did you see, feel, hear or smell at this place? Why is this place spooky to you?
- Describe a lucky object.
This could be any object that you consider to be your lucky one. Pick something that you believe brings you good luck. What makes this a lucky object? What are its characteristics?
- Describe a happy memory.
Write about a happy experience you can remember clearly, as this topic includes remembering what occurred and how you felt during that experience. What happened? Who was there? What made this experience a happy one?
- Describe a sad memory.
We all have sad memories in our lives, often one too many of them, and we don’t like to be reminded of them. However, try to describe a memory that has made you feel sad. Maybe your pet has passed away, or you got a lower grade at school that you didn’t think you deserved. What happened? How did you feel at that moment? Was someone there to give you comfort, and who was it? What did they say to you? If you were alone, what did you do?
Here’s a link to a descriptive exercise for you to practise your writing: Descriptive, Creative and Narrative Writing: The Pyramids
Want to learn how to write more vividly? Click here to read an article that will help you turn your next descriptive writing piece into a masterful one!
Thanks for reading, and remember: The key to an excellent descriptive essay is to show or portray to a reader the significant elements of a person, place, object or experience. So, select the topic that you connect with the most and develop it further. Or, even better – try coming up with a topic yourself and turn that into a brilliant descriptive essay!
Check out our full English Language and Literature courses below, and pick the one that is the most suitable for you:
