Look carefully at the world around you with wide open eyes and describe in writing something special that you observe.
As you ride the bus, or take the train, or walk down the streets to school or your home, look very carefully around you and focus your attention on someone or something. Try to notice something you have never seen before, something that you are glad you saw, something that caught your eye.
Maybe you will observe an interesting looking person who is wearing a beautiful or shabby outfit. Maybe this person has a special tattoo. Maybe you see a special color on a sign that cheers you up.
Maybe you wish to describe someone you already know – help us see what that person looks like, how tall or short they are, their skin and hair color, whether they look sad or happy, whether they are fat or thin.
Try to use adjectives when you describe an object or person. For example, don’t just say, “”I saw an apple.’’ Tell me the color of the apple – was it juicy looking, was it green or red, was it big or tiny? Was it a Chinese apple (a pomegranate) or was it a Delicious apple. What does it say on the label attached to the apple? Where did you see the apple? Was it at home on the table? Was it in a storefront? Was it on the shelf in the store with other apples? Was someone eating that juicy apple, and if so, how did the person look? Did the person look like she or he liked the taste of the apple? What did the apple make you think of? Did it make you remember a time when you were young, in another country, and tasted an apple or some other fruit for the first time?
Make your descriptions so full and clear so that when someone reads your description, they will feel that they saw what you saw, too. Enjoy the experience of observing, and please share with us what you saw?







Hi Bill,
When I opened WRITER’S PROMPTS for the first time this morning, I was delighted to find your letter to student writers about observing the things they see around them and how to write in detail about their observations. As it happens, I’m preparing a curriculum for my new class, which will be a high beginner class of adults, and I’m looking for ways to introduce as much vocabulary as possible and ways to use it. Your treasure chest of writing ideas, and now the WRITER’S PROMPTS blog, will be great tools for my students and for me to use this year.
Thank you for all of your wonderful ideas and creativity that you share with the world in your websites.
Maggie Gilliam