Our “job” as writers is to describe, describe, describe.

This means that we as writers have to take what we are imagining and place it on the written page – share it with our readers.

Sounds easy enough. But writing is hard and often we leave out something that could turn an otherwise okay description into something that is multi-dimensional, from a “drawing” into “flesh.”

During one of our mentoring classes in the Book Writing World, Elizabeth initiated a wonderful exercise that I believe helped us nail down those fine details to make an image come to life. She asked us a series of questions and then a few minutes later asked us to incorporate at least six of the answers into a timed free write.

I’ve come up with a list of questions. Respond to these quickly, without much thought. Then, when you are writing your next scene or a writing exercise, insert some of the answers.

These unexpected images can surprise us in rewarding ways as we write scenes, and describe the characters’ personalities and conflicts, trails and setting, fears and moments of exhilaration:

1. What’s playing on the radio?

2. Time of day?

3. The air smells like?

4. Who cooked the last meal?

5. When was the last time it rained?

6. Something your characters’ parents used to say?

7. Name of favorite childhood toy?

8. Name of favorite childhood pet?

9. Quote from a favorite movie?

10. Something that’s true that you can’t imagine.

What are some important sensate-evoking questions that you use to enable character development?