How To Write BETTER, EASIER Description

How To Write Better, Easier Description | Description Writing Tips Inspired By Mark Haddon
In this video, I talk about a way of writing what I think is easier, better description, that will work in whatever kind of story you're writing.
This is something I picked up from Mark Haddon's short story collection The Pier Falls and I've given it a go myself.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:29 - The Approach
1:10 - Ineffective Description
1:54 - Example 1 and Discussion
3:53 - Example 2 and Discussion
5:13 - Example 3 and Discussion
5:45 - My Challenge
6:18 - My Attempt
7:46 - Top Tips
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MY WEBSITE:
www.kierenwestwood.com/
***
Writing is my passion, and I love to support other writers and help them develop their writing along with me. I want to help you tell your best stories.
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[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

MY EDITING SERVICE: www.kierenwestwood.com/editing

[@opollitico]

without meaning to sound repetitive, but seriously - I really do always find your videos so, so helpful! this one's gold 🤩

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Don’t think I’ll get tired of hearing my videos are helpful any time soon! ☺️

[@klaw2749]

I'm learning so much from your videos, and they aren't over-long, so I really appreciate it!

[@binkz5987]

Bravissimo...that is what I catch myself doing ....over describing...got it

[@shikomizue7498]

This is something I always felt I wasn't getting right in my own stories, but I think this video will help push me in the right direction. Extremely under-viewed channel with amazing insight into what makes writing great. I very much appreciate these videos! Cheers, dude!

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you so much, comments like this make my day!

[@JoeyPaulOnline]

I really do love the way you explain things, you give a unique perspective that also breaks to down so its easy to see where you're coming from!

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

This is something I’ve really tried to work hard on so it’s great to hear that it’s actually coherent ☺️ its hard to explain writing stuff as you’ll well know, and I’m not always sure I’ve done a good job 😂

[@BlackHermit]

Strong descriptions.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you :)

[@warmflash]

Fantastic insight as usual

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you ☺️

[@bozo8603]

This channel deserves more subs.

[@hayleywestwood3432]

I definitely agree that less description, or rather more purposeful description as you've highlighted here, makes for a more immersive and enjoyable reading experience. It gives the reader enough to feel immersed, but also allows them to 'fill in' a little and so experiences it more.

[@opollitico]

Absolutely 🤗

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

That’s exactly my philosophy ☺️ as you know 😁

[@lisareneeauthor]

Great examples. Thanks for sharing.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you, I really appreciate you watching ☺️

[@kenward1310]

Your videos are always helpful. This is one of your best. Thank you for taking the time to create it.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you for watching it! I love hearing that they’re useful ☺️

[@ficklefox2171]

I hope you somehow stumble on this even though I'm late to the party, as I found a gem in the way you described feeling. You said, "The feeling is in the wondering". Bam, there you have it - that is a very memorable, very true (albeit subjectively) way to describe these sometimes ephemeral concepts.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you! I'm never sure I'm communicating these concepts very clearly, so it's great to know there are writers out there that find value in something I said :)

[@chrisroberts8974]

I really like this mate. It makes a real difference doesn’t it? And I really like your piece of micro fiction. The light brush strokes definitely worked in it.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you 😊 I think it does make a big difference yeah, certainly does to me and I’m glad it feels like that for other writers.

[@bignose3639]

Great 👍

[@meliannhawke3318]

1:18 Maybe you could use this style deliberately? I'm outlining and worldbuilding for my very first serious writing project (fantasy novel), and one of the two main characters suffers from depression. I was just thinking I could use this style to convey the hollow, emotionless feeling inside him - and as he is getting better, subtly transitioning into the "Ross" style. Regardless, thank you for your wonderful videos! I discovered your channel only yesterday and it has already been helpful and inspiring beyond words. ❤

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

If used intentionally, sure yeah! It’s a stylistic choice and if it’s linked to your character voice that could work. Thanks so much! I’m so glad the videos have been useful ☺️

[@potatoe5121]

You are very underrated sir! I thought this was a channel with at least 100k subs! Looking forward to the growth of this channel.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you, I really appreciate that! Who knows, maybe one day! 🙂

[@vlad013]

Absolutely loved it mate! Thanks for sharing.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thanks for watching and I'm so glad you enjoyed it :)

[@Dan53196]

Great vid!

[@SonsofLight0]

Thanks man

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thanks for stopping by and watching ☺️

[@SonsofLight0]

You continue teaching and I'll continue watching Thanks again.

[@velvetbees]

This is a great video. I like your description using the coyote. That is a clever way of bringing nature into it. I have a story with a little mention of an insect being eaten by another insect. I think the casual mention of wild things being theirselves adds something powerful and atmospheric to stressful or mysterious scenes.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you! Totally agree, a little hint of danger and the power of nature is always a good thing.

[@TheAprilanne]

I love your stuff. I notice a lot of it seems more geared toward 3rd person perspective. I was wondering if you could talk a little about 1st.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you! You're right, I definitely need to do more with first person to try and even things up a bit :)

[@johnterpack3940]

Seems I accidentally figured out "describe through action" on my own. There's a line I'm particularly proud of in a story I'm perpetually "working on"; "The morning sun struggled to find its way through the forest canopy." Kind of a wordy way of saying "dimly lit". But I think it evokes more of a sensation than other options I could have used.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

That’s it, it’s so much more interesting than ‘dimly lit’ though! It has more character and brings in the environment in a visual way. I much prefer that as a reader and a writer.

[@johnterpack3940]

@@KierenWestwoodWriting Eek! I just noticed the errant apostrophe in my comment. Time for a rewrite.

[@empressmondays7109]

There are a lot of videos on about showing vs telling, but I like the way you approached it. Also, I think most people know Bob Ross at this point. You can maybe even start coining the Bob Ross Method in writing.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you 😊 I’ll absolutely be mentioning the ‘Bob Ross method’ again on this channel 😂

[@dacrewordsmith]

I love this: THE BOB ROSS EPISODE!! If Mark Haddon is the Bob Ross of Books... you can be the Bob Ross of WriterTube! This was a powerfully effective video - a very high standard of writer coaching/teaching in this vid KW! Definitely pencil this kind of instruction into your next Udemy course. ^_^ Seriously; when we're reading through the Slush and looking for something to jump out and strike a chord, it can be writing like this, in those precious first 10 pages that an editor/lit agent/writing coach is looking for. LESS IS MORE... as long as it is the right KIND of LESS. That old chestnut ~ "show don't tell," kind. IF you pay for an editor to give you professional feedback (or maybe a really good beta-reader can enunciate just where more of this needs to be in your own writing), this will be one of the key areas they will "pull your work apart," and I don't mean that in a negative sense - it really hones in on the point KW makes above re: feeling the emotion of the setting/getting the five senses involved. LDT

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

This is such fantastic feedback to receive from someone who knows what they’re looking for and what it’s like to read critically in the slush pile - something I’ve no experience in whatsoever. This is the other half of what writers need to know if they’re looking to get published anywhere and it’s info that I just can’t provide ☺️ I make these videos and I’m often nervous to post them because I think ‘what if this is just me? What if this is just my taste and nobody agrees with me?’ so it’s really reassuring that it strikes a chord with other writers. I feel like I’m hitting my stride a bit lately with videos so I’m definitely going to keep on with more like this. As far as another course goes, I’m working on it very slowly but surely! This time I want to cover EVERYTHING in one course 😂 so it may be some time yet. Thank you for your support as always mate 😁

[@koltonheath6073]

Are they all Metfors if they are how do you write something like that if I don't know what it is or means.

[@ilikegames_supercell.artist]

Hey I'm actually trying to become a writer myself and i was curious what is ur viewpoint on what i do. Usually in the stories i write, i always begin speaking about the weather and the season. I dunno if thats bad or should i start differently?

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

It all depends on what you’re writing and your style and such. I tend to get characters in as soon as possible so readers have someone to follow along, but all the building blocks of writing are important in their own way. I’d say write your beginning the best you can for now and move on to the rest of the story, you can always change it later!

[@om6418]

I get what U you say. Why do i Like the First ineffective description example where "U can almost See the Rust etc..." More? whats wrong With me ?:)

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Well, I wrote that one so I’ll take it as a compliment 😁 but really, all I’m demonstrating here is what works for me and my taste, not everyone will be the same, so my answer to that will be - there’s nothing at all wrong with you. And also, there’s more detail to my first version and readers often like detail too, maybe that one part about the rust just brought it alive for you more and that’s fine. There’s no right and wrong , there’s just opinion and yours is every bit as valid as mine!

[@om6418]

@@KierenWestwoodWriting I think ur right with this, u really have a point with this video, and also in long novels its not always pleasent to read long description, just for the sake of description, its just, like sometimes there are some details in storys and maybe u dont know where they come from and what they are good for, and then for some readers it may associate with something (here maybe sunset/transcience/rust something like this) and it resonates and so im not completely against all details which seem to habe no connection to story at first sight. (I also liked that u dont see the rust, but u could almost...) but enough with the rust, great video!