Make an outline. Because a descriptive essay does not require formal elements, such as a thesis statement, you can be creative when considering how best to present your main idea. Could you tell it like a story? It might have a beginning, middle and end and possibly a moral, as in one of Aesop's fables. Could the meaning come out more clearly if you write from the point of view of the object you are describing? You might outline an autobiography, describing the origin, development and significance of the object you are describing, as it relates to your life.
Begin writing based on your outline, and set the scene. Give detailed context for the experience, object, person or place you are describing. Use vivid vocabulary to transport the reader to the place or activity you are describing. Include emotions, impressions and physical sensations. Make full use of the descriptive language at your disposal: use simile and metaphor to further characterize the main point. Make it relevant to your reader. Think about how the reader can best understand the significance of the essay's subject, then use everyday ideas and experiences to communicate its importance to you.
Build a logical flow. Did you learn something from the experience that you are describing? At the beginning, emphasize your state of mind before the experience. At the end, describe how the experience changed you, or how you plan to apply its lessons. Describe the object in isolation at the beginning of the essay, then add more details about your circumstances toward the end. Unite your life experience with the object or experience you are describing to finish the essay powerfully. Give each paragraph a sense of cohesion and purpose. Carefully consider the point of each paragraph - ask yourself what each paragraph adds to the essay. Every section of your descriptive essay should work to communicate the main point.
Evaluate your essay once you have finished writing. How well do you understand the main point? How well does the main point reflect the outline you built? Have someone whose opinion you trust read your essay. Do they understand what you are trying to describe? Do they get a sense of personal development, personal history, or personal preference from reading your essay? Does your descriptive language capture all five senses? Writing and re-writing your descriptive essay may sound daunting, but if you consider it an exercise in introspection, editing your work can become less of a chore.