"Word Painting is both a joy to read and terrifically useful, whether you are working on your first short story or your fifth novel. Eloquent, practical, and deeply wise, this is a writing guide full of sense and sensibility, and a work of art in itself."

-- Suzanne Berne, novelist and winner of the Orange Prize for fiction.

A self-guided text for poets and prose writers alike, filled with examples and exercises to strengthen imagery, characterization, setting, plot, and narration through description.

Published by Writer's Digest Books 9781599638683 (paperback)

available on amazon

writing exercises from word painting

Bringing Characters to Life Through Description

If one of your characters doesn't yet have a full name, give him one, including a last name and a middle name or initial. Try out different names to see which one best fits his personality and actions, or give him a completely inappropriate name, one which goes against expectations.. …