Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Once you have acquired the skill of close reading, you can use this ability to ‘harvest’ the stylistic features of successful descriptive writing you admire, and use it to ‘seed’ your own original work.

This is NOT cheating – writer’s call it RESEARCH!

This is NOT acceptable!

Be on the look out for striking use of words, imagery and sentence structures. Keep a note of those elements that you feel might have a home in your own writing.

The history of literature is your playground, should you wish to use it!

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light

summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through

the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of

the pink-flowering thorn. From the corner of the divan of Persian saddle-

bags on which he was lying, smoking, as was his custom, innumerable

cigarettes, Lord Henry Wotton could just catch the gleam of the honey-

sweet and honey-coloured blossoms of a laburnum, whose tremulous

branches seemed hardly able to bear the burden of a beauty so flame-like

as theirs; and now and then the fantastic shadows of birds in flight flitted

across the long tussore-silk curtains that were stretched in front of the huge

window, producing a kind of momentary Japanese effect, and making him

think of those pallid, jade-faced painters of Tokyo who, through the medium

of an art that is necessarily immobile, seek to convey the sense of swiftness

and motion.

The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light

summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through

the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of

the pink-flowering thorn. From the corner of the divan of Persian saddle-

bags on which he was lying, smoking, as was his custom, innumerable

cigarettes, Lord Henry Wotton could just catch the gleam of the honey-

sweet and honey-coloured blossoms of a laburnum, whose tremulous

branches seemed hardly able to bear the burden of a beauty so flame-like

as theirs; and now and then the fantastic shadows of birds in flight flitted

across the long tussore-silk curtains that were stretched in front of the huge

window, producing a kind of momentary Japanese effect, and making him

think of those pallid, jade-faced painters of Tokyo who, through the medium

of an art that is necessarily immobile, seek to convey the sense of swiftness

and motion.

The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light

summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through

the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of

the pink-flowering thorn. From the corner of the divan of Persian saddle-

bags on which he was lying, smoking, as was his custom, innumerable

cigarettes, Lord Henry Wotton could just catch the gleam of the honey-

sweet and honey-coloured blossoms of a laburnum, whose tremulous

branches seemed hardly able to bear the burden of a beauty so flame-like

as theirs; and now and then the fantastic shadows of birds in flight flitted

across the long tussore-silk curtains that were stretched in front of the huge

window, producing a kind of momentary Japanese effect, and making him

think of those pallid, jade-faced painters of Tokyo who, through the medium

of an art that is necessarily immobile, seek to convey the sense of swiftness

and motion.

The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light

summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through

the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of

the pink-flowering thorn. From the corner of the divan of Persian saddle-

bags on which he was lying, smoking, as was his custom, innumerable

cigarettes, Lord Henry Wotton could just catch the gleam of the honey-

sweet and honey-coloured blossoms of a laburnum, whose tremulous

branches seemed hardly able to bear the burden of a beauty so flame-like

as theirs; and now and then the fantastic shadows of birds in flight flitted

across the long tussore-silk curtains that were stretched in front of the huge

window, producing a kind of momentary Japanese effect, and making him

think of those pallid, jade-faced painters of Tokyo who, through the medium

of an art that is necessarily immobile, seek to convey the sense of swiftness

and motion.

The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light

summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through

the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of

the pink-flowering thorn. From the corner of the divan of Persian saddle-

bags on which he was lying, smoking, as was his custom, innumerable

cigarettes, Lord Henry Wotton could just catch the gleam of the honey-

sweet and honey-coloured blossoms of a laburnum, whose tremulous

branches seemed hardly able to bear the burden of a beauty so flame-like

as theirs; and now and then the fantastic shadows of birds in flight flitted

across the long tussore-silk curtains that were stretched in front of the huge

window, producing a kind of momentary Japanese effect, and making him

think of those pallid, jade-faced painters of Tokyo who, through the medium

of an art that is necessarily immobile, seek to convey the sense of swiftness

and motion.

The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light

summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through

the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of

the pink-flowering thorn. From the corner of the divan of Persian saddle-

bags on which he was lying, smoking, as was his custom, innumerable

cigarettes, Lord Henry Wotton could just catch the gleam of the honey-

sweet and honey-coloured blossoms of a laburnum, whose tremulous

branches seemed hardly able to bear the burden of a beauty so flame-like

as theirs; and now and then the fantastic shadows of birds in flight flitted

across the long tussore-silk curtains that were stretched in front of the huge

window, producing a kind of momentary Japanese effect, and making him

think of those pallid, jade-faced painters of Tokyo who, through the medium

of an art that is necessarily immobile, seek to convey the sense of swiftness

and motion.

The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light

summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through

the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of

the pink-flowering thorn. From the corner of the divan of Persian saddle-

bags on which he was lying, smoking, as was his custom, innumerable

cigarettes, Lord Henry Wotton could just catch the gleam of the honey-

sweet and honey-coloured blossoms of a laburnum, whose tremulous

branches seemed hardly able to bear the burden of a beauty so flame-like

as theirs; and now and then the fantastic shadows of birds in flight flitted

across the long tussore-silk curtains that were stretched in front of the huge

window, producing a kind of momentary Japanese effect, and making him

think of those pallid, jade-faced painters of Tokyo who, through the medium

of an art that is necessarily immobile, seek to convey the sense of swiftness

and motion.

The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light

summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through

the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of

the pink-flowering thorn. From the corner of the divan of Persian saddle-

bags on which he was lying, smoking, as was his custom, innumerable

cigarettes, Lord Henry Wotton could just catch the gleam of the honey-

sweet and honey-coloured blossoms of a laburnum, whose tremulous

branches seemed hardly able to bear the burden of a beauty so flame-like

as theirs; and now and then the fantastic shadows of birds in flight flitted

across the long tussore-silk curtains that were stretched in front of the huge

window, producing a kind of momentary Japanese effect, and making him

think of those pallid, jade-faced painters of Tokyo who, through the medium

of an art that is necessarily immobile, seek to convey the sense of swiftness

and motion.

The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light

summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through

the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of

the pink-flowering thorn. From the corner of the divan of Persian saddle-

bags on which he was lying, smoking, as was his custom, innumerable

cigarettes, Lord Henry Wotton could just catch the gleam of the honey-

sweet and honey-coloured blossoms of a laburnum, whose tremulous

branches seemed hardly able to bear the burden of a beauty so flame-like

as theirs; and now and then the fantastic shadows of birds in flight flitted

across the long tussore-silk curtains that were stretched in front of the huge

window, producing a kind of momentary Japanese effect, and making him

think of those pallid, jade-faced painters of Tokyo who, through the medium

of an art that is necessarily immobile, seek to convey the sense of swiftness

and motion.

The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light

summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through

the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of

the pink-flowering thorn. From the corner of the divan of Persian saddle-

bags on which he was lying, smoking, as was his custom, innumerable

cigarettes, Lord Henry Wotton could just catch the gleam of the honey-

sweet and honey-coloured blossoms of a laburnum, whose tremulous

branches seemed hardly able to bear the burden of a beauty so flame-like

as theirs; and now and then the fantastic shadows of birds in flight flitted

across the long tussore-silk curtains that were stretched in front of the huge

window, producing a kind of momentary Japanese effect, and making him

think of those pallid, jade-faced painters of Tokyo who, through the medium

of an art that is necessarily immobile, seek to convey the sense of swiftness

and motion.

The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light

summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through

the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of

the pink-flowering thorn. From the corner of the divan of Persian saddle-

bags on which he was lying, smoking, as was his custom, innumerable

cigarettes, Lord Henry Wotton could just catch the gleam of the honey-

sweet and honey-coloured blossoms of a laburnum, whose tremulous

branches seemed hardly able to bear the burden of a beauty so flame-like

as theirs; and now and then the fantastic shadows of birds in flight flitted

across the long tussore-silk curtains that were stretched in front of the huge

window, producing a kind of momentary Japanese effect, and making him

think of those pallid, jade-faced painters of Tokyo who, through the medium

of an art that is necessarily immobile, seek to convey the sense of swiftness

and motion.

The Picture of a ‘Nobody’

A delicate film of perspiration appeared on the upper lip of the old lady, as she struggled under the burden of her innumerable shopping bags. She paused for a moment for a short rest, and her tremulous hands pushed back a few flame-like strands of hair that had fallen across her face. There was a sudden knock from the window joined to the ledge on which the lady was sitting, and an annoyed face appeared above a body that was telling her to move along.

As the autumn breeze danced amidst the crisp packets and other rubbish on the ground, the weary woman once again gathered her bags. A look of disillusionment with the world flitted across her pallid face as she walked towards her unknown destination.

Spot the influence!

A delicate film of perspiration appeared on the upper lip of the old lady, as she struggled under the burden of her innumerable shopping bags. She paused for a moment for a short rest, and her tremulous hands pushed back a few flame-like strands of hair that had fallen across her face. There was a sudden knock from the window joined to the ledge on which the lady was sitting, and an annoyed face appeared above a body that was telling her to move along.

As the autumn breeze danced amidst the crisp packets and other rubbish on the ground, the weary woman once again gathered her bags. A look of disillusionment with the world flitted across her pallid face as she walked towards her unknown destination.

A delicate film of perspiration appeared on the upper lip of the old lady, as she struggled under the burden of her innumerable shopping bags. She paused for a moment for a short rest, and her tremulous hands pushed back a few flame-like strands of hair that had fallen across her face. There was a sudden knock from the window joined to the ledge on which the lady was sitting, and an annoyed face appeared above a body that was telling her to move along.

As the autumn breeze danced amidst the crisp packets and other rubbish on the ground, the weary woman once again gathered her bags. A look of disillusionment with the world flitted across her pallid face as she walked towards her unknown destination.

Pruning words

A delicate film of perspiration appeared on the upper lip of the old lady, as she struggled under the burden of her innumerable shopping bags. She paused for a moment momentarily for a short rest, and her tremulous hands pushed back a few flame-like strands of hair that had fallen across her face. There was a sudden knock from the window joined to adjoining the ledge on which the lady was sitting resting, and an annoyed irate face appeared above a body that was telling gesticulating for her to move along.As the autumn breeze danced amidst the crisp packets and other rubbish detritus on the ground, the weary woman once again gathered her bags belongings. A look of disillusionment with the world flitted across her pallid face. She walked trudged towards her unknown destination.

A work in progress…

A delicate film of perspiration appeared on the upper lip of the old lady, as she struggled under the burden of her innumerable shopping bags. She paused momentarily for a short rest, and her tremulous hands pushed back a few flame-like strands of hair that had fallen across her face. There was a sudden knock from the window adjoining the ledge on which the lady was resting, and an irate face appeared above a body that was gesticulating for her to move along.

As the autumn breeze danced amidst the crisp packets and other detritus on the ground, the weary woman once again gathered her bags belongings. A look of disillusionment with the world flitted across her pallid face. She trudged towards her unknown destination.

Descriptive writing checklist

Imaginative comparisons which overlay with descriptive details

Use of rich vocabulary

Use of the present participle

Use of contrasting images

Use of anthropomorphism

Structure

Point of view

Strong verb choices

Appealing to the senses

Similes and metaphors

Variety of sentence structures

Concrete details

Human activity to contextualise the setting

Mood or atmosphere