So I'm just knew in writing and in this website, but I, Myself, was able to write a story, more or less, but whenever I read my chapters that involves places and scenery, heck even the character appearance, I couldn't like describe it or visualize like what I initially planned or hoped
Tbh, Even I question myself, I wanted it to describe it so my readers would be able to visualize what I wanted to be visualize.
Overall, I suck at descripting or describing appearances and scenery.
Does anyone have any tips or advice?
Put yourself in the characters shoes and wonder about what you would would feel, see, hear and experience if you were standing in the exact spot they were. If you're only seeing 'blank', fill it in with something interesting until you get to your destination.
Example:
“XX walked down the street to arrive at the garden. The flowers and trees were so beautiful.”
BECOMES
“XX walked down the street. They saw a boy that looked their age. Was he a schoolmate? They couldn't remember. XX brought down the hand that was about to wave and hopped over a crack in the pavement. They ignored the street signs because they had walked this road many times before, and soon they arrived at the garden.
XX saw their favorite flowers first before noticing that the golden gates to the garden were wide open. The air smelt like a floral mix of everything good in the world. Petals decorated the path in every color of the rainbow. Everything was so beautiful.”
[Senses used: Sight and smell]
[Past memory used as experience]
Pretend like your story is real life and you are the character living it. You have eyes to see. Ears to hear. A nose to smell and a tongue to taste.
Put at least two senses into each scene you're describing and your readers will be able to get a good picture.
That's it for scenery.
To describe appearances.... There are 2 general routes: being stereotypical and being detailed.
Stereotypical (generic descriptions that use stereotypes):
1). They looked angelic with blonde hair and blue eyes and a charming smile... [blonde hair and blue/green eyes is mainstream]
2). They had asian eyes/They had crescents for eyes/Their eyes disappeared when they smiled
3). Their skin was pale like they had never seen the sun/ Their skin was tan like they had spent all summer playing outside/ They were pale-skinned/They were dark-skinned
4). They
looked Asian/American/African/European
Detailed (explain what the character looks like/ try not to info dump):
1). Describe skin color creatively. From cream to alabaster to milk chocolate to dark chocolate to brown, etc.
2). Readers aren't experts about the shape of the eyes so use 'color + adjectives + imagery/memory' to make them more memorable. “He had kind green eyes. Green like the emerald sea behind him.” “Her eyes were a shade of red that filled me with warmth and reminded me of the hibiscuses my mother used to leave me every Wednesday.”
3). Length and color for hair, basically.
... A character's description can use stereotypes and detail simultaneously. It's all up to the author. Though, some people find stereotypes offensive so take note of that!
Too much description is a bad thing because the point of reading is to use your imagination to see a story. Things should be left vague enough for the reader to be able to personalize the story. (I hardly remember the color of my characters' eyes unless it's important to the plot so I can only imagine how stressful it can be for readers to remember every detail)
Hope this helps!