Yayoi Kusama, Infinity Mirrored Room - Filled with the Brilliance of Life (2011)

1. Be concise. Ain’t nobody got time for frivolous and redundant description. The more simply put, the better. Find a single, strong way to state your points and then leave them be. Don’t be that crazy ex.

2. Descriptions are an extension of your narrator. If your character is a fighter, they’re going to notice people’s weaknesses, where the exits are, that sort of thing. What better way to deepen this character by showing these off in description? Two birds with one stone.

3. Don’t info dump. Your setting is probably badass, but is any setting bad ass enough to read four pages of it? Your reader will fill it in. Give it only what it needs at first and add in details as the story progresses. People get bored sitting in regular rooms for too long. Made up rooms are no different.

4. Show, don’t tell. (I know, I know. But it needs repeating.) Don’t have your narrator say “I saw blah blah,” just make them see it! Not everything is about them. God. Show what’s in front of them, don’t tell your reader. This distances them from the scene and that’s a no no.

5. Read. Find books with great descriptions, find books with bad descriptions. Either way, you’ll end up seeing what you like and don’t like in writing. And guess what? That will help your writing. Someone will always dislike your description style, (too much, too little) but if you’re happy with it, there’s bound to be others that agree.