tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post6950143584533165722..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Three Things to Consider When Writing Descriptions Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-79683752461661484512017-06-07T16:19:13.107-04:002017-06-07T16:19:13.107-04:00Very usefull, thanks very muchVery usefull, thanks very muchpinejushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00194628460496140814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-53627254139050547512017-06-06T09:06:33.327-04:002017-06-06T09:06:33.327-04:00Absolutely, there's a wide range of "the ...Absolutely, there's a wide range of "the right amount" of description. I love that project! Great way to look at POV as well. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-75021306300264528272017-06-02T10:22:42.833-04:002017-06-02T10:22:42.833-04:00Janice---This is an excellent article. Thanks. I t...Janice---This is an excellent article. Thanks. I think the reader's desire for and tolerance of description depends on the type of book, the genre, etc. In thrillers it's often more minimalist while in more mainstream--whatever that is now days--fiction it is more robust. I often have my students do a little project---visit 10 places you've never been before--write down the first 3 things that strike you--objects, sounds, odors are all fair game--then write down the next 4 or 5 things that jump out. Somewhere in this list will be the things you need to give a quick flavor of the place to the reader. Then trust the reader to fill in the blanks. Since I write thrillers, I find this works to get the feel of the place without stopping the story to give too much description. It's always tricky and in the end each writer has to do what feels best to them. The only rule is that their aren't any rules. Again, thanks for this excellent article.D. P. Lyle, MDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06964859779421623131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-85407394842251467802015-06-25T12:41:11.834-04:002015-06-25T12:41:11.834-04:00Aw thanks! Means a lot to me to hear that.Aw thanks! Means a lot to me to hear that.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-47282625193223669172015-06-12T11:47:22.998-04:002015-06-12T11:47:22.998-04:00Just to let you know these posts don't get use...Just to let you know these posts don't get used or read once and then forgotten. I am reading through all your posts on description and find all of them very helpful. Thank you.Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07755473807044249505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-520148511956382752013-07-07T08:24:00.307-04:002013-07-07T08:24:00.307-04:00Swati, thanks so much! That means a lot to me. Des...Swati, thanks so much! That means a lot to me. Descriptions are often the last thing I do since I dislike heavy descriptions, too. Who cares about the crumbs? LOL The why is more interesting than the what :)Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-68142990671091882612013-07-06T14:26:06.534-04:002013-07-06T14:26:06.534-04:00Great post, especially that part about why they...Great post, especially that part about why they're looking at it.<br /><br />I have a love-hate relationship with descriptions. I often feel that the 'show, don't tell' advice is taken too far, and I find it jarring to read about every little crumb on a table while the character is meeting someone for coffee, unless those crumbs are going to advance the story, or the fact that the character is noticing them at all tells us something about his/her state of mind.<br /><br />On the other hand, description is such a powerful tool when used well. In fact, that was one of the things I enjoyed about The Shifter - all the description was so deftly done that I could feel the setting come alive without a pause in the story.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17288095109846550022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-83452365010404039652011-07-16T17:52:01.219-04:002011-07-16T17:52:01.219-04:00Janice:Thanks!Janice:Thanks!Tressa https://www.blogger.com/profile/14597338496330997137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-52577616807864477202011-07-10T08:04:01.353-04:002011-07-10T08:04:01.353-04:00Tressa: "Show a little that tells a lot."...Tressa: "Show a little that tells a lot." I might just put that as a post it on my monitor. What a great line!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-31605325551203718632011-07-01T18:21:49.363-04:002011-07-01T18:21:49.363-04:00I don't need to be shown every blade of grass ...I don't need to be shown every blade of grass to see the beauty of the garden. Show a little that tells a lot. Good post and comments; inspires thoughts of line-of-sight transfer to POV.Tressa https://www.blogger.com/profile/14597338496330997137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-87448906113079250162011-06-30T15:19:08.293-04:002011-06-30T15:19:08.293-04:00Alex: I'm in the minority, but I've never ...Alex: I'm in the minority, but I've never been a fan of heavy description. Which is so crazy since I write fantasy, which is usually heavy on it. But that does make me really appreciate it when it's done well and doesn't intrude.<br /><br />Stacy: You description junkies you, hehe :) That's great that you're strong at it. I have a crit partner who's always adding "need description here" all over my WIPs. Thanks goodness! <br /><br />Angie: I'm totally with you there. I do that too, and try to make my details mean more than just what something looks like. Those are the types I like as well.<br /><br />Barbara: Show don't tell is one of of the toughest things to get. But when you do, the rest does get easier.<br /><br />Nicole: I agree with the senses. On my description pass during revisions, I make an effort to add non-vision details to help flesh out the world. <br /><br />Jeff: I'm so in the minority here, LOL. But that's good, because now I know that when I feel I've done too much, other probably won't feel that way. <br /><br />Orlando: POV is my go-to device for description. I've found as long as I stay tight, I get in what I need. I'll go take a peek at the new query :)<br /><br />Mahesh: I think that's why I never cared for it. I did the same thing when I was first starting out, and I always felt like I HAD to do it. I wonder if I'll start to like it now that I know I can do whatever I want?Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-16518439508924126172011-06-30T06:52:35.955-04:002011-06-30T06:52:35.955-04:00I never liked writing about description because i ...I never liked writing about description because i would just write it how I would picture it, not how my characters would, so the description feels like its just been thrown in. Again some amazing tips thank you!Maheshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07298830223478755271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-11367503933424216292011-06-29T17:47:09.967-04:002011-06-29T17:47:09.967-04:00I usually keep your post because they help me so m...I usually keep your post because they help me so much. I like being descriptive, but I used to think I didn't do it enough. I usually describe what is important for the story, will come up later, or it details the feelings of the individual as it depicts his POV.<br /><br />By the way Janice, I did a remake of my query per your suggestions. Check it out and tell me what you think.Orlandohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10103458688711351378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-62355158166708182662011-06-29T17:36:48.113-04:002011-06-29T17:36:48.113-04:00I am a description freak… I hope it makes my stori...I am a description freak… I hope it makes my stories instead of detract from them.<br />Great point BTW…Jeff Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00667419764890599092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-8623055889165735852011-06-29T13:49:37.074-04:002011-06-29T13:49:37.074-04:00Description colors the world that our characters, ...Description colors the world that our characters, dialogue and plot fit into. For me, it's both beautiful and essential. <br /><br />I really admire authors who utilize all the senses in their descriptions. The good ones make it seem effortless, without becoming a distraction or slowing the story's pace.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10680066584646789184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-55435988154715228262011-06-29T11:42:11.246-04:002011-06-29T11:42:11.246-04:00The whole 'show don't tell' is tricky....The whole 'show don't tell' is tricky. And I love details and description. So it's a hard balance. Finding reasons for the characters to look around is key, like you said.Barbara Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06547166495514562286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-78850989061471600832011-06-29T11:29:12.432-04:002011-06-29T11:29:12.432-04:00I also LOVE description. It pulls me into a book a...I also LOVE description. It pulls me into a book and sets the mood for me. When I write I try and use description as a mirror to my characters feelings. I find in real life that what I notice is directly based on what my emotional state is.Angela Cothranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09243582290698922119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-89136160170452850012011-06-29T11:18:29.241-04:002011-06-29T11:18:29.241-04:00I love description because I want to see and feel ...I love description because I want to see and feel the setting. This is one thing I can say I do well (and believe me, I fall short on other facets), and probably do too well at times because I'm very visual. That sounds like bragging, but you know what I mean. I've got passages of description I love but have to cut because they're too much. But I think description is key to a successful book, and not just with the setting, but characters as well.Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12032538079815607797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-64207716386927728252011-06-29T10:39:42.120-04:002011-06-29T10:39:42.120-04:00I adore description because I'm a bit of an in...I adore description because I'm a bit of an information junkie, but maybe I just like them because they're well written. I think sometimes authors get a little carried away with the description and in creating a setting or a person to the point that it becomes irrelevant: all that stuff the author should know, but the reader needn't. <br /><br />If lots of description is sort of necessary though, breaking it up with speech can make it flow better and break it up.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530490398283237371noreply@blogger.com