The Power of Specificity: Ditch Mundane Descriptions for More Impactful Writing

Vague writing is forgettable. Let’s talk about how to sharpen your descriptions, replacing lifeless words with vivid, rich detail to make every sentence hit harder.

Vague writing is borrring and ultimately forgettable. It fades fast, leaving nothing behind (that is, if you can even get through it). But writing that’s specific lingers. It makes a scene feel real, a character come alive, and an argument hit home.

If your writing feels flat, the problem probably isn’t your ideas but how you deliver them.

In this edition of the Writers’ Den, let’s sharpen your descriptions and swap vague, lifeless words for ones that make readers see, hear, and feel every sentence.

Three Quick Fixes to Make Your Writing More Vivid

1. Ditch Generic Words and Get Specific. Weak writing leans on words like thing, stuff, nice, bad, good. These words tell us nothing.

   
   Before: She held a nice drink in her hand.
   After: She sipped a steaming caramel latte, the foam kissing her lip.

   
   Before: It was a bad day.
   After: Rain pounded the pavement, seeping into her socks as she trudged home.

   
   Try this: Find a vague sentence in your writing and swap out the generic words for specific, sensory details.

2. Show, Don’t Tell. Instead of telling the reader how a character feels or what’s happening, let them experience it.

   
   Before: He was nervous before his speech.
   After: His palms were slick, his throat dry. He exhaled, gripping the podium like a lifeline.

   
   Before: The house was old and creepy.
   After: The house sagged under its own weight, its shutters hanging loose, whispering in the wind.

   
   Try this: Take an emotion or setting in your writing and rewrite it using sensory details.

3. Use Strong, Evocative Verbs. A single precise verb can replace an entire weak phrase.

   
   Before: She walked slowly into the dark alley.
   After: She crept into the dark alley.
   
   Before: He looked at her angrily.
   After: He glared at her.

   
   Try this: Scan your writing for weak verbs paired with adverbs (walked quickly, spoke softly, looked angrily). Replace them with one strong, specific verb.

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