| You have been assigned an article to write. You have | | | | mouth of the historic and vital Mississippi River, amid |
| a subject, a keyword or phrase to use and insert a | | | | deltas and bayous that are alive with natural beauty, |
| specific number of times and, of course, a | | | | New Orleans is easily reached by all major airlines, |
| word-count. Your work is expected to be | | | | cruise ships, Amtrak and, of course, by car. You'll be |
| grammatically correct and contain no spelling errors. | | | | happy to hear many of the unique historic landmarks |
| The material covered is to be factual and well | | | | survived the hurricane and are now, once more, open |
| researched. You can meet each of these goals and | | | | to the public. In addition, the great restaurants, bars |
| expectations and still turn out a poorly written article. | | | | and fantastic New Orleans' style hospitality that made |
| It might pass programs designed to detect plagiarism, | | | | the city famous are once more alive and offering |
| but it will still read like the ingredients on a box of | | | | you great food and outstanding accommodations. |
| cereal. Unless you make the material real, give it | | | | Both of these excerpts are factually correct. Both of |
| visual and sensual depth and life, it is just words. Who | | | | them provide information you need to include in a |
| wants to read random words strung together? What | | | | travel article. Which one would you rather read? The |
| you need to flesh out the article is a smattering of | | | | simple use of descriptive words and phrases took |
| good descriptive words and phrases. | | | | something bland and brought it to life, like color can |
| Suppose you are writing a travel article. You can tell | | | | liven up an artist's canvas. So, when you are painting |
| people: where the location is, what planes or boats or | | | | an idea or an image in a reader's mind, make sure |
| trains will take them there, what the geography is | | | | you have a full palette of words to use so that you |
| like and add details about possible lodging. If you do | | | | can create all the vibrant colors and subtle hues |
| all of this in a boring monotone, without giving them a | | | | needed to entertain their minds and spark their |
| glimpse of this location, they will remain unmotivated | | | | imaginations. |
| to visit. Since we are using travel articles as an | | | | Descriptive words and phrases can be as simple as |
| example, lets examine two short excerpts from two | | | | adjectives and adverbs used solo to modify nouns |
| very different articles written regarding the same | | | | and verbs, to the long descriptive phrases inserted to |
| location. | | | | offer shape and texture to the writing. Of course, |
| Example One: The city of New Orleans has | | | | using too much descriptive phrasing can shoot you |
| recovered since Katrina. It is located in the southern | | | | way over your word limit (happens to me all the |
| part of the state of Louisiana and accessible by air, | | | | time) but judicious use of it can add so much style |
| sea, rail and car. The city has a long history and lots | | | | and value to your writing. After all, a well-written |
| of historic sites. There are good hotels and | | | | article is not just words, but it is a work of written |
| restaurants. | | | | art. To be appreciated by your readers, not to |
| Example Two: The bustling city of New Orleans is | | | | mention your clients, you must apply descriptive |
| reborn and, some say, more exuberant than ever as | | | | terminology like paint to canvas and still manage to |
| the last vestiges of Katrina's wrath are bulldozed | | | | cover all the other mandated bases, as well. That's |
| down or patched and repainted. Located at the | | | | what good writers do. |