Maps, places & observation
Describing a place in five details
Begin with something visible
Choose one shape, one color and one texture. Specific observations give a description a clear starting point without requiring a long introduction.
Include a change
Notice something that moves or changes: light across a wall, people crossing a square or the sound of a door. This gives the description a sense of time.
Choose a final detail
End with the smallest thing that held your attention. Read the five details together and remove a general phrase if a concrete description can take its place.