
As a newbie writer, you may be starting to figure out your own personal style of writing. You are discovering what kind of narrator you are best with, what length of books you prefer, what genre you want to write in, along with so many other things that factor into what your books will be like and what audience they will attract. Despite all of these things, one thing that is essential in whatever you explore is descriptive writing. Descriptive writing brings your readership into your writing by taking advantage of their imaginations. In this post, you will find descriptive writing examples that will help you utilize the senses to the best of your abilities as a writer.
3 Descriptive Writing Examples from Fiction
1. “In the late summer of that year we lived in a house in a village that looked across the river and the plain to the mountains. In the bed of the river there were pebbles and boulders, dry and white in the sun, and the water was clear and swiftly moving and blue in the channels. Troops went by the house and down the road and the dust they raised powdered the leaves of the trees. The trunks of the trees too were dusty and the leaves fell early that year and we saw the troops marching along the road and the dust rising and leaves, stirred by the breeze, falling and the soldiers marching and afterward the road bare and white except for the leaves.”
–Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms
If you are looking for advanced descriptive writing examples, then this excerpt fits the bill. Hemingway uses only the sense of sight, but the scene is very easy to imagine. He uses things that everyone can recognize no matter who they are and he uses them to his advantage. This is what you want to strive for when using descriptive language. This is the kind of descriptive writing that would work extremely well in fiction or nonfiction, no discrimination.
2. “It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting […] The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight […] Harry looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with starts […] It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn’t simply open on to the heavens.”
–J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
The Harry Potter series provides lot of great descriptive writing examples due to the fact that it is meant for children. It still teaches a good lesson to newbie writers though. Sometimes, the most obvious descriptive writing is the way to go! You know your story, and sometimes that can lead to you accidently leaving out important details. Once you have finished your writing, it is always a good idea to go back and make sure you didn’t leave any descriptive language out accidentally.
3. “The flowers were unnecessary, for two o’clock a greenhouse arrived from Gatsby’s, with innumerable receptacles to contain it. An hour later the front door opened nervously, and Gatsby, in a white flannel suit, silver shirt, and gold-colored tie, hurried in. He was pale, and there were dark signs of sleeplessness beneath his eyes.”
–F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
This descriptive writing example is short, but it gives a lot of information to the reader in just a few words. The description of Gatsby in this instance is very easy to picture in your mind. Just the idea of him being pale with dark circles under his eyes leads the reader to imagine the face of a very tired man. You don’t always have to exhaust yourself with descriptive writing, keep it short and precise. As long as you can picture your character from your writing, your readers will be able to as well.
Clear descriptive writing is essential for engaging readers, which is why many authors benefit from working with a book writing coach to develop their descriptive skills.
Using Descriptive Writing in Nonfiction
While descriptive writing is often associated with fiction, it’s equally powerful in nonfiction. Effective description helps readers visualize concepts, connects them emotionally to your subject matter, and makes abstract ideas concrete. In nonfiction writing, descriptive language serves several important purposes:
First, it brings credibility to your work by creating vivid, specific details rather than vague generalizations. Second, it helps readers retain information by connecting concepts to sensory experiences. Finally, good description makes your writing more engaging, encouraging readers to continue through even complex or technical content.
For first-time nonfiction authors, balancing descriptive elements with informational content can be challenging. This is where working with a writing coach can be particularly valuable, as they can help you identify where description will enhance your message and where it might distract from your core points.
Descriptive Writing Examples from Nonfiction
Nonfiction writers use descriptive techniques just as effectively as fiction authors. Consider these examples:
1. “Henrietta’s home sat on a hillside corner where the concrete-and-asphalt world of East Baltimore met the lush green fields of Johns Hopkins’s research campus. Her house was one of the smallest on the street—a two-story brick building that once housed three families…”
From “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot
This description does more than set a scene; it establishes the socioeconomic contrast central to the book’s themes while grounding scientific concepts in a specific place and time.
2. “The mountain was veiled in clouds; only its lower flanks were visible. The entire northeast ridge was plastered with snow, making it look like a white carpet unfurled over the peak. But there was no mistaking the massive scale of the mountain. It was a stupefying sight.”
From “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer:
Krakauer’s description helps readers understand both the physical landscape and the psychological impact of seeing Mount Everest, essential for understanding the decisions made later in the book.
Pitfalls to Avoid When Adding Vivid Details
Even experienced writers sometimes struggle with description. Here are common pitfalls to avoid:
- Overwriting: Using too many adjectives or complicated words can overwhelm readers. Aim for precision rather than volume when selecting descriptive language.
- Relying on clichés: Phrases like “dark as night” or “cold as ice” have lost their impact through overuse. Challenge yourself to create fresh, unexpected comparisons.
- Inconsistent perspective: Shifting viewpoints in description can disorient readers. Maintain a consistent perspective when describing scenes or objects.
- Including irrelevant details: Every descriptive element should serve your larger purpose. In nonfiction particularly, description should enhance understanding of your main points, not distract from them.
- Telling instead of showing: Rather than stating “it was beautiful,” describe the specific elements that create that beauty and allow readers to reach that conclusion themselves.
When developmental editing your manuscript, identifying these descriptive writing issues and strengthening your descriptive passages can significantly improve your book’s impact and readability.
Balancing Description in Your Writing
Finding the right balance with descriptive writing takes practice. The goal isn’t to describe everything in exhaustive detail, but to select the most impactful moments for rich description. This is particularly important in nonfiction, where reader engagement must be balanced with clarity and information delivery.
As you work on your book, pay attention to places where readers might benefit from more sensory details or clearer visualization. These are opportunities to use descriptive writing to strengthen your message and create memorable moments for your readers.
If you’re working on a nonfiction book and struggling with how to incorporate effective descriptive writing, professional guidance can help. The right balance of description can transform your manuscript from simply informative to genuinely compelling.
Using descriptive language can be challenging, but descriptive writing matters in all genres. So, bookmark this blog and use these descriptive writing examples as a guide if you ever need a little help with your newest creation!
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