How to Write Good Scene Description | 6 Tips + Examples

Writing description that helps your readers connect with the characters and story is hard.
I get several messages a week that say something along the lines of: "How do I describe things? Like, getting a character across the room? How do I write stuff happening?" I get it, dude. Writing's hard.
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[@micahklassen7151]

“And Bojack Horseman is playin on his Roku and he’s looking at his hooves and he’s laughin but he looks scared!!” Nothin to add really everyone just appreciate

[@HannahLeeKidder]

thank you for recognizing. i think that's my favorite dumb thing i've ever said on this channel

[@Sammidges]

Hannah sat in her lounge where the air tasted of old wood furniture and the coffee on her counter she'd left to grow cold. She shifted in her chair, swapping legs to sit on as she planned out the video she wanted to shoot. She looked 12 but her poise and dialogue told a different story. Children don't watch Bojack on mushrooms.

[@HannahLeeKidder]

artistry

[@Sammidges]

@@HannahLeeKidder What can I say, I was watching a video about description

[@ivoryas1696]

​@@Sammidges "Much you have learned 🙏🏻"

[@spencerhoadley5723]

Honestly one of my favorite parts of your videos is you give the advice, AND show how to apply it!

[@HannahLeeKidder]

Thanks! I try hard to make it digestible, so I'm so glad you're liking it

[@smilivvy]

I feel like I gain +300 Writing XP after watching these videos

[@HannahLeeKidder]

wow I totally forgot to put my patron name scroll on this one. I love them, I swear

[@lexithan8622]

These videos are really helpful, thank you for making them. ^-^ When we did writing in school they taught us to do as much describing as possible, instead of teaching us to do effective and interesting descriptions.

[@HannahLeeKidder]

Thank you for watching them! They probably also taught you to use as many synonyms for "said" as you could think up

[@lexithan8622]

@@HannahLeeKidder Yes, they did.. xD

[@davewarr3760]

I've been watching writing advice videos for a while now and the live edit is the best form of learning I've come across. Thanks so much!

[@whatareyousayinggirl]

Hannah you're an absolute gem!! These videos are always so helpful - I just edited a draft of a short story using your advice from this video and it definitely reads better. Thank you!! ♡

[@HannahLeeKidder]

Great job! I'm so glad they're helpful.

[@kattzz741]

Hannah! I just discovered your channel after beginning my journey as an author and going through a few writing advice channels that didn't really resonate with me. I love the way you present your ideas and the live editing sessions are a great learning tool. Thanks so much for what you do!

[@HannahLeeKidder]

Thank you! I'm so glad it's helpful

[@writertaylorleecooper9357]

Okay, this was great. I am subscribed and will follow. This is exactly the sort of help my writing needs.

[@HannahLeeKidder]

Thanks! I have a whole series of videos like this. You can find the playlist on my channel. ^_^

[@michaelmattioni4993]

I like your style. Going through someone's work and showing specific examples in action really helps.

[@sadmowd]

Bad advice. Fir trees are actually quite easy to climb.

[@HannahLeeKidder]

First comment in years and it's to say this

[@d.o.p.d.o.p.1775]

Laaaame. But clever, yeesh.

[@furonguy42]

For some reason, I was watching the Netflix promotional slides scroll by in the background of the video, and just as you say "and Bojack Horseman is playing on his Roku TV", the slide changes to one for Bojack and its just the funniest case of good timing.

[@TheBinger033]

I recommend watching this at .75x playback speed. For learning modules like this, it’s easier to digest and actually learn the material, as it’s spoken so quickly at normal playback speed.

[@James.Stark.Ben.Edition]

I love your videos so much. They're super helpful. Wish you didn't speed up the reading though.

[@HannahLeeKidder]

Listen Faster

[@James.Stark.Ben.Edition]

@@HannahLeeKidder oh I already watch everything on 2x speed then rewatch it at 1x if I like the content. I'm a fast listener. But it does feel like you're trying to get it over with. It is your channel so I'm not telling you what to do of course! Just a personal preference.

[@xtonibx5770]

@@HannahLeeKidder 💀 lmao

[@xtonibx5770]

watching you edit is so fun

[@christianvchacon]

This is my favorite KZbin video, thank you!

[@12thDecember]

You're a damn good editor! From now on when I edit, I'm going to put on my "Hannah hat."

[@HannahLeeKidder]

Thank you, friend! Sweet of you.

[@kungfumoviejunkie2311]

I started off listening because you were pretty, but I "continued" to listen because I found that each point you made was more compelling than the next.. Thank you..

[@fionakriner5848]

This channel is so good, I feel that there have to be a few million people who watch it but have found a way to completely mask their online presence.

[@HannahLeeKidder]

🥺🥺

[@mikaylafunck9821]

Thank you, your example really helped me learn what isn't useful in decription.

[@PartridgeQuill]

These are some great tips, especially tip 3, and your notes on characterization!

[@HannahLeeKidder]

Thanks, babe!

[@milkflavored]

What would you call the issue near the end where Hannah pointed out areas of the second draft that could use additional sentences/smoother transitions? It’s something I struggle with but I feel like it doesn’t have a term.

[@HannahLeeKidder]

Mmmmmissing sentences

[@majakrajewska8793]

Hi! I'm a big fan of your videos. They really helped me construct my stories and avoid basic mistakes. I'm a beginner writer so I'm still having lots of troubles. The problem is that I don't have any friends that also take writing as a passion nor do I have a mentor. I happen to be Polish so there aren't many writing classes that I could sign up and potentialy get feedback. I'm trying to find someone that can help me, but I really don't know how. Do you have any advice that I could use in that situation? I also have been working on a story which is very complexed and long. Obviously I'm not going to try to write it right now. I have to get a lot better. (I know that I should write short stories first.) Do you think it's worth to write it down as sort of a concept and then working on it when I get some expierence? How can you tell if a story your making is original? How to make characters unique? I hope you have some time to answer my questions, sending lots of kisses and love from Poland! (My apologies for the grammar mistakes, as you may know. English is not my native language)

[@HannahLeeKidder]

Hi, Maja! Your English is better than mine. Twitter is a great place to meet writers. #WritingCommunity and #AmWriting are popular tags for it. My patrons are invited to a private discord channel and there are over a hundred writers in there, if that's something you would be interested in

[@majakrajewska8793]

@@HannahLeeKidder Okey, thank you so much for answering, it really made my day!

[@jaykay5086]

I didn’t expect the live editing. This is very cool

[@AikiraBeats]

This definitely helpful I'm writing my first scene for a class

[@evilbilbobaggins3590]

Great vid, it is very helpful to see someone edit a manuscript, I would hope to see more of this in the future.

[@Smailjr]

Thank you so much, too bad I didn't watch your video before writing my last movie lol, great tips, keep up the good job

[@BishyFiveSogafi]

This just in, Hannah is psychic. One more piece in the mystery of her immortal life.

[@madhurimadas2616]

Wow amazing video! Learnt a lot from this one:)

[@katielong6718]

So helpful thank you!

[@BlackwellHarper]

I could watch you edit for an entire day. Genuinely super interesting and helpful, I hope you do more. I've just binged your videos for at least two hours instead of going to bed in good time for work. I need more. S u b s c r i b e d

[@HannahLeeKidder]

Thanks, pal! Got one on writing character descriptions coming up this month. :)

[@BlackwellHarper]

@@HannahLeeKidder Excited!

[@lisev415]

Wow. You are great

[@lexin8139]

Someone please write the story about the magical valley with the unicorns tripping on rainbow mushrooms

[@HannahLeeKidder]

You!!

[@me_yessik]

Dude, this video is super helpful. I really like your approach. I have a question, and if you have time, I would love for your input. I have this story I'm writing, and the whole thing takes place in perpetual twilight. I've always fancied myself pretty decent at description, like I've always thought that was my strongest area. It was only when I started writing this story that I realized how much I rely on describing the lighting and how light hits things. Basically because there's only so many times you can show that it's a perpetual twilight world before it gets super repetitive and boring. I'm wondering how would you go about making a world like this immersive? I thought about introducing more smells, tactile senses, Etc.. but somehow it doesn't seem like enough to make it feel like being there.

[@HannahLeeKidder]

Thanks! And yeah, I'd say get tactile with it. You could also have characters working around it? Like finding light to read something by. That could make it feel more immersive.

[@billyalarie929]

a lot of times the details to include in a description i just...... don't know the words for. like 7/10 times i'll read description and go "....what?" how do i get better at THAT? so i can then, in turn, get better at writing my own. is there a shortcut for this of some kind? i feel like the only way i've found to do this is to go to a dictionary every time i come across a word in a novel i don't know (which is a lot, and, again, particularly in descriptions)

[@SoulsJourney]

I am here for the rabid antelope. 🦌

[@HannahLeeKidder]

They're here for you

[@tiarastreetfilms7089]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@elgonzo5]

“Rabid...antelope...” 😂🤣😅😂🤣😂😅

[@MaddieBullock]

I’m having a hard time making this one scene I’m working on feel like it’s happening in slow motion and I’ve heard that I can do that by writing more descriptively. I hate that I struggle with this. I can’t stop laughing about the rabid antelope and rainbow mushrooms 🤣

[@HannahLeeKidder]

It's all about revisions! I underwrite a LOT, so when I need to "pace out" a scene, I just add more and more details with each round. It's a struggle lmao

[@michaeltaylor9344]

would you put much scene description in a short story?

[@d.o.p.d.o.p.1775]

That was interesting. Shit, my sentences are just as wordy. (I've been reading some Edgar Allen Poe)

[@Beau4Nails]

Where is the patron site?

[@HannahLeeKidder]

www.patreon.com/HannahLeeKidder

[@kxrimgh]

tHaNk YoU fOr ThIs My FrIeNd It WaS rEaLlY gOoD

[@YaRememberTHISQuestionmark]

Great tips. Many are usable immediately. However... your eyes distract me with how pretty they are.

[@karosonj1]

I might need an editor......

[@Storyideas81]

You're super pretty.

[@tubbalcain]

You have such, nice expressive eyes.

[@bdstoryltd8641]

you are so beautiful

[@jwstanley2645]

I hate fast voices, let alone those electronically sped. Will not watch another from this person.

[@HannahLeeKidder]

Gottem

[@dianamanley9990]

Good video but that kiddie voice is so annoying.

[@peach0129]

What kiddie voice dude it's called having estrogen lol

[@nancyborgenicht3937]

Your tips are phenomenal you're brilliant you're fast typist wow if you're typing that fast that is it seems to be a forwarding fast anyway I'm going to follow every one of your tips you're brilliant I'm looking to write a screenplay looking for it to be in to become a movie I should say I want this to be extremely effective and done with the utmost urgency and care I'm going to use what you mentioned and I'm also going to ask you to edit anything I do I'll have you proofread it no matter what the cost unless you do it with no charge I'm just looking at your video and I'm must say I must say I'm majorly impressed with your expertise thanks so much I'll be learning and following you and doing my homework based on what you have to say you're quite a talent you're amazing phenomenal In The End by screenplay is going to be to the letter of what you were mentioning I'm going to learn so much and I'm going to once the screenplay is finished it will be turned into a movie and I will be using the most renowned actors if possible as my friend is and does know movie producers and directors who will if they love the script and they will because I myself am a sensational writer I get to the point I don't use extra verbiage so here we go