Instantly improve your writing by adding the right kind of detail (with examples).
I will tell you what I tell everybody who wants to write—I tell them—forget it.
That was John D. MacDonald, a prolific writer of his time. He believed there were a thousand easier ways to make a living.
And he’s not wrong.
But here’s the thing: while it’s easier to make a living doing something else, no singular skill will take you further when you get good at it.
Good writing sells products.
Good writing persuades people.
Good writing advances the Gospel.
Good writing puts you in the company of some pretty incredible people.
And if a buffoon like me can learn to write, so can you.
But you have to learn from those a few steps ahead.
Let’s circle back to John D. MacDonald, who, in my opinion, wrote some of the best descriptive passages ever. He had a way of making a scene come alive.
For instance, he once described an old motel air conditioner in two ways.
Here’s the bad example:
❌ The air conditioning unit in the motel room window was old and somewhat noisy.
That’s about where my writing was when I started. Serviceable but flat.
Now, here’s the good example:
✅ The air conditioning unit in the motel room had a final fraction of its name left, an "aire" in silver plastic, so loose that when it resonated to the coughing thud of the compressor, it would blur. A rusty water stain on the green wall under the unit was shaped like the bottom half of Texas. From the stained grid, the air conditioner exhaled its stale and icy breath into the room, redolent of chemicals and of someone burning garbage far, far away.
Do you see the difference?
The second description paints a vivid picture. The air conditioner isn’t just “old and noisy” anymore—it’s unique, specific, and unforgettable.
MacDonald explained what’s happening in the bad example:
See? Because the air conditioning unit has lost its specificity, its unique and solitary identity, the room has blurred also. You cannot see it as clearly. It is less real.
AND WHEN THE ENVIRONMENT IS LESS REAL, THE PEOPLE YOU PUT INTO THAT ENVIRONMENT BECOME LESS BELIEVABLE, AND LESS INTERESTING.
He added the ALL CAPS. I promise I’m not yelling at you.
We all know writers hate adverbs. (Ask anyone who’s read Stephen King’s On Writing: “The road to hell is paved with adverbs.”) Words like very, really, and literally dilute your writing instead of strengthening it.
❌ She very quickly and nervously tiptoed into the really dark and eerily silent room, cautiously looking around.
Could say:
✅ She tiptoed into the dark, silent room, looking around.
Adverbs are dangerous, but MacDonald calls out another villain: subjective words.
What’s a subjective word? Take these:
Old
Noisy
What do they mean? Old compared to what? Noisy by whose standards?
Subjective words leave readers guessing. This, as MacDonald put it, leads to a blurry room.
Look back at that second description.
No longer is the AC unit just ‘old’ and ‘noisy.’ Now, it’s missing a letter in its name, has a stain shaped like Texas, and lets out a terrible smell along with cold air.
From that description, the storyteller leads you to conclude that the unit is ‘old’ and ‘noisy’ without telling you in those exact words. Far more powerful.
MacDonald again:
Do not say a man looks seedy. That is a judgment, not a description. Describe a cracked lens on his glasses, a bow fixed with stained tape, tufts of hair growing out of his nostrils, and an odor of old laundry.
Great descriptions are both specific and unique.
This paints a clear picture that sticks in your readers’ minds. It breathes life into your words, scenes, characters.
This takes time to do well but pays dividends in your writing.
And you only get better through practice. Writing is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.
Most people think becoming a writer requires quitting your job, buying a cabin in the woods, and typing on a vintage typewriter while puffing a pipe.
That’s not true.
Becoming a writer is simple. Sit down and write.
Make a habit of doing those two things in 2025, and it will change your life.
The best habit you can build this upcoming year is a daily writing habit.
And there is no better time to start than now. I want to give you all my secrets with my Write Every Day Habit Starter.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to sell you anything.
From January 3rd to January 9th, I’ll send you one actionable email a day to help you:
Write more.
Write better.
Make writing a lifelong habit.
No fluff. No upsells. You don’t even have to subscribe.
More on that next week.
Today I’d love it if you’d refer a pal. I just launched a referral program that makes sense. Refer two friends to Christian Story Lab, and I’ll mail you a $5 Chick-fil-A gift card. Why didn’t anyone think of this sooner?
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Write on 🤙
Payton