Scene, Setting, Character and Description

One mistake that many writers make is when they attempt to describe anything--scene, setting, character, etc.--they try to rely on catchy simile or airy prose.

Example: Her honey brown hair flowed down to her shoulders like beautiful tresses of the Greek god Helena.

Meh. This does nothing to carry the story.

Instead, you need to use description that helps carry the story as well as sets scene, character, etc. One way to think of it is not what does the bus stop look like, but what does the bus station look like from the perspective of your main character who just arrived in the town he grew up in for his father's funeral. In this context your character might only see one thing, but it's an important one thing that defines the character, his perception f being home, his state of mind, and more.

When you add context to the task of description it becomes much easier to be effective.