Story VS descriptions

[TheGreatOz]

I don't think there is a right answer. There's no one right way to write because there's no one type of reader.

Personally when reading I tend to just skip long descriptive passages. They rarely hold my interest and few people write them well. If I never again read a description that recites height, hair colour and breast size like a shopping list it's still far too soon.

I like dialogue, characterisation and premise and fill in descriptive blanks with my imagination. Others love description though.

 

[MillieDynamite]

There is a theory that every word in a story should move it forward. But what is meant by that? Reading should have some amount of pleasure beyond getting from point A to D... Some word pictures are necessary, and others probably are not. Leaving some amount of the story to the reader allows them to plug in whatever element their mind cares to add to the story. Drop dead gorgeous paints one picture to one person and another to someone else. Sometimes that's all you need. Other times, a certain amount of minutia might be necessary. I think every writer has to determine what is the right amount for their story of any descriptions. I have always struggled with how much is enough and at what point is what I deem enough well more than enough.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

There is a theory that every word in a story should move it forward. But what is meant by that? Reading should have some amount of pleasure beyond getting from point A to D... Some word pictures are necessary, and others probably are not. Leaving some amount of the story to the reader allows them to plug in whatever element their mind cares to add to the story. Drop dead gorgeous paints one picture to one person and another to someone else. Sometimes that's all you need. Other times, a certain amount of minutia might be necessary. I think every writer has to determine what is the right amount for their story of any descriptions. I have always struggled with how much is enough and at what point is what I deem enough well more than enough.

I agree. I can usually tell on the third or forth readthrough. If I find myself wanting to skip over a certain part, be it descriptive or action, then it might be superfluous and a candidate for rewrite or removal.

 

[Djmac1031]

Just wanted to thank everyone for the feedback and comments so far.

My goal is to put the final edit on it today and submit tonight.

I think it has enough description where needed, especially of characters. The physical settings / surroundings are secondary mostly, not much in any of them is integral to the story itself so it's those that wind up more bare bones.

There's a cabin that's described as "rustic." There's dungeons with stone floors or walls. Enough details to paint a mental image but those details are less important than what's actually happening in those settings so I don't spend all day on them.

 

[StillStunned]

Just wanted to thank everyone for the feedback and comments so far.

My goal is to put the final edit on it today and submit tonight.

I think it has enough description where needed, especially of characters. The physical settings / surroundings are secondary mostly, not much in any of them is integral to the story itself so it's those that wind up more bare bones.

There's a cabin that's described as "rustic." There's dungeons with stone floors or walls. Enough details to paint a mental image but those details are less important than what's actually happening in those settings so I don't spend all day on them.

When I'm reading, I often find that I form a mental picture almost immediately. If the author then gives details that don't fit the picture, I either ignore them, or make a mental note that's separate from the picture in my mind. Either way, it's distracting. I like the pictures in my head better anyway.

 

[ElectricBlue]

.Either way, it's distracting. I like the pictures in my head better anyway.

Matches the voices, huh?

 

[Djmac1031]

For anyone interested; I submitted the story in question. Should be published in a few days.

 

[Melody_Lightdraft2]

They say, "Show, don't tell." Yet many readers done not want to big dragged down with to much detail.
Personally I do think a picture prompt is very useful to readers.

 

[StillStunned]

They say, "Show, don't tell." Yet many readers done not want to big dragged down with to much detail.
Personally I do think a picture prompt is very useful to readers.

Actually, it's "show versus tell". Both techniques have their place, and both serve a purpose. A story that eliminated either entirely would require masterful writing to work properly.

Even Joyce Grenfell's "Nursery School Monologues", which are almost entirely "show" (in that they consist entirely of the speech of the nursery school teacher) need a little "tell" (in the form of an occasional line of explanation that the teacher gives to a parent or another visiting adult).

 

[THBGato]

Even Joyce Grenfell's "Nursery School Monologues", which are almost entirely "show" (in that they consist entirely of the speech of the nursery school teacher) need a little "tell" (in the form of an occasional line of explanation that the teacher gives to a parent or another visiting adult).

"No George, don't do that. Or that."

 

[StillStunned]

"No George, don't do that. Or that."

One of the stories I've been working on off and on over the past six months or so is a monologue of a porn movie director trying to get the cast and crew to do what he wants.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

I think how much detail you add depends on the story. In my story 'Forever Valentine,' the old house and some of the antique furnishings became an integral part of the story. But in other stories I've written I glossed over their surroundings, because where they were, and what they were looking at, didn't really matter.

 

[LonRivers]

SI suppose I'm curious how some of you feel about it. As a reader, do you care what, say, a house the characters are in looks like? What color the walls or or the style of furniture? Does it help immerse you in the story? Or are you more interested in the actual events taking place in the house? What the characters are doing/ saying?

I tend to leave a lot to the imagination when it comes to things like what their homes look like. I find it a bit unnecessary unless there is a reason for it to be described. I describe the characters more, but not is too much detail. Readers are going to picture the characters differently, and that is a good thing. Even published authors leave a lot to the imagination when it comes to their books. Reoccurring characters are always given the same basic description unless changes are made or there is a reason to detail them more.

Every writer writes differently. Once you get used to that, your own writing may not seem so bad. You may even learn a thing or two.

One of the things that I like to do is think about a scene or to mentally work out a character as I am lying in bed and going to sleep. My mind is relaxed and I can focus on the task at hand.