WOW: How much description is too much?
Aug. 15th, 2015 09:23 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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writercisesOriginal Posting May 26, 2015
Over here
http://madgeniusclub.com/2015/05/20/a-sense-of-place/
Sarah Hoyt talks about "A Sense of Place" otherwise known as "How much description is too much?" You know, when you're writing a story, just how much do you need to toss in about the shrubbery and other bits and pieces of setting? When? Well...
A bit of a summary -- read Sarah's version for more details!
First, avoid blind-cat syndrome. Only noticing things when you are about to bump into them! Set up the world before you need it, not just as the character stumbles over things.
Other advice? How about some rules for the thumbs? Yes, here they are:
1. Beware empty descriptions. Adjectives and so forth that are a bit too generous. Get specific, mix in similes, and skip the no-fat adjectives.
2. Beware brand names. Watch out for assuming that your reader will recognize those invented brands, and know just where they fit into the social/economic whirl.
3. Don't withhold details and then hit the reader with them later. In particular, watch out for letting the reader imagine some details, and then whacking them with different ones later.
Sometimes...
1. Fit the description to the circumstances. Modern, well-known -- a touch is plenty. Just give us a hint. Ancient, fantastic, or otherwise exceptional, give us more, but make sure that the character would still think about it.
2. Watch out for word choices. They need to fit the tone of the book and the character!
3. Save the details for things that are relevant to the plot. Remember, more words means it must be important, so make sure it really is.
4. Remember that the reader (and character) can't see anything except what you show him/her. So anything that gets described must be important.
5. Don't stop the story for the description. Keep the characters going while you describe the place or whatever.
The Way of Cheating? Aha... Give the reader a sense of the place, then focus on objects. A few points to lay out the setting, then go! If a detail is important, put it up front. Minimal. Add layers in revision for effect, mood, or character.
Avoiding overdoing description? Watch for description that doesn't have a purpose. Just enough to let the reader imagine the rest. If the image is essential, give it sensory details. Otherwise, just enough for the reader to go on.
Now, take something you have written, and check the description. Too much, too little, in the right place? Check the details against Sarah's advice, and see how you do. Then clean it up!
Write!
tink
Over here
http://madgeniusclub.com/2015/05/20/a-sense-of-place/
Sarah Hoyt talks about "A Sense of Place" otherwise known as "How much description is too much?" You know, when you're writing a story, just how much do you need to toss in about the shrubbery and other bits and pieces of setting? When? Well...
A bit of a summary -- read Sarah's version for more details!
First, avoid blind-cat syndrome. Only noticing things when you are about to bump into them! Set up the world before you need it, not just as the character stumbles over things.
Other advice? How about some rules for the thumbs? Yes, here they are:
1. Beware empty descriptions. Adjectives and so forth that are a bit too generous. Get specific, mix in similes, and skip the no-fat adjectives.
2. Beware brand names. Watch out for assuming that your reader will recognize those invented brands, and know just where they fit into the social/economic whirl.
3. Don't withhold details and then hit the reader with them later. In particular, watch out for letting the reader imagine some details, and then whacking them with different ones later.
Sometimes...
1. Fit the description to the circumstances. Modern, well-known -- a touch is plenty. Just give us a hint. Ancient, fantastic, or otherwise exceptional, give us more, but make sure that the character would still think about it.
2. Watch out for word choices. They need to fit the tone of the book and the character!
3. Save the details for things that are relevant to the plot. Remember, more words means it must be important, so make sure it really is.
4. Remember that the reader (and character) can't see anything except what you show him/her. So anything that gets described must be important.
5. Don't stop the story for the description. Keep the characters going while you describe the place or whatever.
The Way of Cheating? Aha... Give the reader a sense of the place, then focus on objects. A few points to lay out the setting, then go! If a detail is important, put it up front. Minimal. Add layers in revision for effect, mood, or character.
Avoiding overdoing description? Watch for description that doesn't have a purpose. Just enough to let the reader imagine the rest. If the image is essential, give it sensory details. Otherwise, just enough for the reader to go on.
Now, take something you have written, and check the description. Too much, too little, in the right place? Check the details against Sarah's advice, and see how you do. Then clean it up!
Write!
tink
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