Vivid imagery and descriptions in a story will remain in your mind long after reading. While dialogues make a statement to ignite your understanding, descriptive language makes a story come alive to leave a lasting impression. A story should feature dialogues complementing great narratives to make it an immersive read. How does a story capture the interest of a reader? The first few lines in a story are important elements to attract a reader to pick up your book. Readers are interested in reading a story until the end when the descriptions are clear, concise, and engaging enough to pull them into the story. While poets often leave the interpretation of a poem to the reader, narratives must be imparted effectively for understanding. When I delve into a book, I am drawn by the vivid imagery and descriptions in the narratives. If an author has painted a captivating, relatable picture of what the book represents, it would interest me to read the whole story. Here's an example: 'Witnessing their love for each other, were the blue corals and pebbles that lined the seabeds, while the rays from the sun glistened like pearls on the shimmering waters.' Dialogues are important structure-building elements of a story. Dialogues add depth, and realism, and are a vital component to effective storytelling. However, stories can be told without them if the imagery and descriptions ignite an interest in a reader's five senses. ‘The Road' by Cormac McCarthy is a fine example of a successful fiction novel without dialogue that won the Pulitzer Prize in 2007. McCarthy concentrates on rich descriptions to attract the reader's senses, adding depth and rhythm to the story. He was so good that his book exemplified the power of descriptive language to pique a reader's interest and win the coveted title. A dialogue-free novel conveys a character's thoughts and reflections through internal monologues that will provide motivating insights into the story. Descriptions expressed profoundly empower a story. To engage your readers use aesthetic language and metaphors. ‘The lush, breathtakingly beautiful green landscape starkly contrasted the blue of the turquoise waters.' When describing an emotion, make sure the reader feels the story as it unfolds. In a reader's mind, he should be able to see, hear, taste and smell. This way you will engage a reader's senses to respond to your descriptions as you want them to. It is in the hands of the author to align a reader's thoughts with his. For instance, if you are talking about the sea, describe how deeply connected you are to the beauty and vast expanse of the ocean. How do the lapping waves affect you? Or the tides as they rush ashore? Use metaphors to describe nature's phenomenal wonder. ‘The translucent waters covered her feet in lyrical movements.' Write different descriptions of the scenes so you make the story intricately variable. They work wonders to create a lasting impression in the reader's mind. ‘The vivid imagery and descriptions in her writing capture the beauty and magic of the sea, likening the eyes to the breathtaking turquoise waters and exploring the wonders of the underwater world, including the delicate anemones.' In the above description, by referring to the anemones as delicate, the sea creatures' strength, vulnerability, beauty, and resilience are explained as they survive a rough underwater habitat. Through creative figures of speech, the readers will imagine and discover the magic of enchantment and intrigue in the words. ‘With eyes as breathtaking as the turquoise waters of the sea, she discovers the true magic of the island.' Textures, colours, sounds and smells are sensory details to focus on to build a rich setting for a story. Create an awesome emotional experience and add authenticity to your stories so readers will never forget how your book made them feel. Some of the stories I have read have impacted me emotionally to a great extent, and the words and imagery still evoke the same feelings as when I first read them. Authentic writing involves properly researched and truthful narratives incorporated into the story to create a deeper connection with the characters and themes. Storytelling is the ability to emotionally engage the reader and leave them feeling contented with your book at the end. Not only do vivid imagery and descriptions emphasise enrichment and broaden perspectives, but they also inspire personal growth. As an author, your goal is to impress a reader so that he will return to read more of your stories. Isn't that the dream of an author? To have his book recognised as a compelling read so that he attains credibility and is renowned as a writer. Storytelling is the art of weaving narratives and dialogues masterfully to enliven a reader's mind with a well-crafted story. Cheers to the great storytellers of all time.

Call me Eliana, a medium height, and smart woman. My flawless dark skin has always been a center of attraction wherever I go. Moreover, my smile is radiant, often painting a ray of sunshine all over my face. My character is, however, unpredictable, mostly dependent on the weather or my schedule. Many from my school would say I am a no-nonsense lady. I do not disagree, I mean work is work, and I don't take anything that concerns my future lightly. My close friends would probably describe me as funny and easy-going. My family would go with hardworking and determined, and lastly, my neighbors might be tempted to use the word lazy and unbothered. Again, the impression you get from me will depend on the Eliana you meet. My confidence makes me outstanding. Everyone at school knows the girl who ‘catwalks' to class, speaks up and is ‘perhaps feared by most men,' Some like her and have nicknamed her ‘the Queen'' others have opposing names for her. Nonetheless, she carries all those titles with pride. Many people look up to her, and now she has the sense of ‘entitlement' of getting whatever she wants. She can be polite, but mostly, her straightforwardness makes her appear commanding. Behind all this ‘strength', however, is a normal human being, who cries when hurt or disappointed, and gets depressed over small issues. Being a Kenyan in Rwanda, COVID-19 has introduced myself to me. Okay, I am an ambivert, and I have a long contact list with only three friends. Four months indoors for me was marked with self-discovery and discipline. Because of the language barrier and trust issues, I am rarely friends with random locals though we talk. Somehow after lockdown eases, I realize I might need a ‘close friend' to talk to, perhaps about my unpaid internships, or the uncomfort that comes with wearing masks or maybe social media and how draining it can get. Sunday 5th July 2020, my birthday month! Well, I have just summarized my thorough cleaning, and now it's time to buy some supper. I stay on my phone when I find a group of people having conversations in a language I do not understand. A girl, probably my age enters the shop, goes straight to the shopkeeper, and speaks English. From her accent, I can already tell she is from my country. You might relate if you were ever in a foreign country and met someone from your country. Me: Are you Kenyan? Her: Silence followed by a smirk Me: (Thinking to myself, maybe she hasn't heard me) Are you Kenyan? Her: A smirk followed by silence She is not deaf, I am sure, and I have never been ignored my entire life, at least not in an obvious way. Someone told me to trust my instincts, and sure they have never failed me. Moments after she walks away, I turn to the shopkeeper, and he confirms my claims,' she is a serious Kenyan.' he says. I am kind of disappointed that she did not answer me, yet we share the same Nationality. For a moment, I forget the ordeal and focus on my purchase. Coincidentally, I see her in the next shop and somehow wait for her to come out so that I can introduce myself, something that I am not used to doing. Me: I asked if you were Kenyan and you ignored me Her: Silence (walking towards the opposite direction) Me: Hello, are you Kenyan? Her: Silence ( continues walking) Me: Well, I was just asking because I am Kenyan too Her: (Walking towards me while smiling) Oh, sorry you could have said that as your first statement, can I have your number? At this moment, I try to re-examine my communication skills. I have learned how to communicate, but then how can I do it effectively when not given a chance? Anyway, we talk a little about school, work and being in a foreign country. My last statement to her is,'be nice' while walking laughing. I understand where she is coming from, only four months old in the country, perhaps still struggling with trust issues. While preparing my supper, I think about the pain I felt while being ignored, then I think of the numerous people I have ignored in my life, perhaps having nothing but pure intentions. Not a good feeling, trust me. Now I decide it is time to descend my throne and get to learn and understand people more. What about her? I wonder how many good people she has turned off with her ignorant nature, which is perhaps understandable, at least for now. But we can be better human beings, can't we? There's a message notification on my phone, and she has invited me over to her house. Moreover, there is an apology for the ‘wrong first impression.'' Wow, I have mixed feelings, and I am still figuring out whether ‘it is worth it.''My ego has been crashed because, usually,' I do not beg anyone' I am independent and always survives. I was okay without any close friends during the quarantine anyway, and now I have to sleep and think things over. The energy I put, the effort and time to get to know someone who had ignored me at first, is it really worth it?

A town where the snow is black, bringing coldness and fear. Old remnants of tears held back, and times too hard to bear. Woven from black sheets of rain, fear covers in disarray. Anguished and frozen with pain, dark petals fall in dismay. Hell has come to Oasis, The Dead and gone at its side. Now hidden behind faces that are well-known far and wide. Who will fall prey to The Dead? I hope it is not me. I'm hiding under my bed. I'm afraid as I can be. Prey for The Dead