Adjectives

Nouns share people, places and things important to a story. Verbs show action. Together they form the foundation of any story.

Now, think your adjectives. They are like the petals of a flower; they enhance the core of your story by describing the nouns. Too many will drag down the flow of words, make the story droop with their weight; too few will leave a story petal-less, lacking details that allow the reader to paint their own picture and “see” what and where and to whom events are happening.

Striking a balance means you share the best descriptive words you can find to bring the story to life:

• What physical characteristics distinguish your characters from the rest of the world of people?
• What colors, sights, smells and sounds are part of your characters’ lives?
• What emotions govern their movements, ideas and decisions?
• What people (and how do they look and act) affect the story?

Invite your reader to unfold your story like the first opening of a flower. Invite them to see what you see and feel what you feel.