How to Create a Dominant Impression in Your Writing

A dominant impression is a mood, point of view, or controlling idea that is communicated by an author to a reader. Descriptive writing routinely sets dominant impressions through the use of:

• Vivid adjectives
• Action verbs
• Sensory details
• Figurative language
• Figurative comparisons
• The conscious omission of specific details by the author

An essay establishes its dominant impression via the thesis statement, which lays out the point of view of the author about a specific topic. The essayist then makes deliberate use of concrete details to buttress that thesis.

You can use dominant impressions when writing fiction, such as a novel, short story, or screenplay. In prose fiction, the position of the narrator offers natural opportunities to shape a point of view through sensory description and expository storytelling.

The clearest way to demonstrate the power of dominant impressions is to describe the same scene from two different points of view. Compare these contrasting descriptions of a baseball game:

• Example one: The ballpark was stultifyingly hot, like the asphalt beneath the stiff bench seats might actually melt and give way, sending patrons tumbling into the catacombs of the stadium below—which would have been a respite from the heat. On the field, the heat slowed players to a standstill, as though any superfluous motion would dehydrate them on the spot.
• Example two: The game remained tied—the tension so electric that it seemed to literally transmit heat into the surrounding air. If the stakes were any higher, players and fans might literally roast. As the pitcher toed the rubber, the players stood perfectly still, as though a single false move could be the spark that would ignite an inferno.

Obviously both versions describe a very hot baseball game. However, the first paragraph chooses to emphasize the negative aspects of the heat, namely the physical discomfort. The following paragraph describes the heat as a manifestation of the game’s electric energy. In other words, the heat is positive.

Once you know how to shape a reader’s perspective, you can articulate almost any idea you want in a descriptive essay, narrative essay, or opinionated research paper. From the very first draft of your next writing project, use these descriptive writing strategies to create a dominant impression in your reader’s mind:

• Know your purpose as a writer. In other words, choose a point of view that you want to convey.
• Select a thesis statement. If you’re writing a nonfiction essay, use your thesis statement and the topic sentence of your body paragraphs to reinforce your point of view.
• Choose your words carefully. Make ample use of adjectives and adverbs to convey mood.
• Focus on sensory details. Try to let your reader imagine the physical settings, characters, and events you describe.
• Edit for consistency. Every single word will matter, so make sure there’s unity throughout your writing, and do multiple editing passes to weed out any fluff.

Precision and a unified perspective will always let you shape a dominant impression in your reader’s mind. Stay conscious of these tips and strategies, and you’ll always be able to control and shape your audience’s reading experience.

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