Looking for a bit of writing advice.

[DegenDan]

Hey guys I'm writing my second story and ran into a few issues. The basic premise is that two girls(A and B) are going to a Halloween party together. A is going to be gangbanged or something like that idk yet. B is either going to cheer her on or just not be around then show up at the end.

First question: should I describe B's outfit with the same detail I describe A's outfit even thought she won't be having sex or even doing anything sexy? She's pretty much just there for moral support/questionable decisions.

Second question: Normally you put dialogues in quotes. But what if part of a character's dialogue involves them quoting someone? How would you write that?

 

[StillStunned]

First question: should I describe B's outfit with the same detail I describe A's outfit even thought she won't be having sex or even doing anything sexy? She's pretty much just there for moral support/questionable decisions.

My personal approach is not to describe any detail that doesn't add to the story. If it's not necessary for the reader to know it, or if it doesn't help to set the mood, or if it doesn't provide foreshadowing or a call-back, then leave it out. Buttons or a zip? Only relevant if the buttons get torn off in the girl's haste to get undressed, or the zip gets stuck, or something. Heels or flats? Only relevant if you're emphasising innocence or sensuality, for example, or if she tries to run away but goes through ankle because she's in heels.

Remember that your reader will gloss over most of the descriptive text anyway. A few words is usually enough to conjure up a picture in their mind, and adding details later that don't match that picture will be discarded, or make them frustrated.

Second question: Normally you put dialogues in quotes. But what if part of a character's dialogue involves them quoting someone? How would you write that?

Use single quotation marks if you use double for dialogue, or double if you use single for dialogue:
"Life is transitory," he explained, "art is permanent. That's what 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?' is all about."

You could also get away with italicising the quoted text:
"Life is transitory," he explained, "art is permanent. That's what Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? is all about."

Good luck!

 

[sister jenny]

Agree with the writer above.

AND, I wanna read this story!!

 

[DegenDan]

My personal approach is not to describe any detail that doesn't add to the story. If it's not necessary for the reader to know it, or if it doesn't help to set the mood, or if it doesn't provide foreshadowing or a call-back, then leave it out. Buttons or a zip? Only relevant if the buttons get torn off in the girl's haste to get undressed, or the zip gets stuck, or something. Heels or flats? Only relevant if you're emphasising innocence or sensuality, for example, or if she tries to run away but goes through ankle because she's in heels.

Remember that your reader will gloss over most of the descriptive text anyway. A few words is usually enough to conjure up a picture in their mind, and adding details later that don't match that picture will be discarded, or make them frustrated.


Use single quotation marks if you use double for dialogue, or double if you use single for dialogue:
"Life is transitory," he explained, "art is permanent. That's what 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?' is all about."

You could also get away with italicising the quoted text:
"Life is transitory," he explained, "art is permanent. That's what Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? is all about."

Good luck!

Thanks I'll try to keep this in mind when I'm writing.

 

[davion2308]

I think good stories provide enough details to give us an idea but our own brains fill in the specifics. That's what makes a story more enjoyable.

"She wore a black denim skirt that exposed the tops of her knees. She was shy about showing more thigh and wasn't used to the tight fit around her legs."

That's better than giving us dimensions, all kinds of detail on material, fit, cut, how it looked, etc. Give us a how-she-feels-wearing-it instead and that'll let the reader conjure up their image of what's happening. I don't think I've ever given actual measurements for women, like telling the reader she was a 36 D cup, and I would talk about showing nice cleavage or her breasts getting the way of things.

I hope that makes sense.

 

[DegenDan]

I think good stories provide enough details to give us an idea but our own brains fill in the specifics. That's what makes a story more enjoyable.

"She wore a black denim skirt that exposed the tops of her knees. She was shy about showing more thigh and wasn't used to the tight fit around her legs."

That's better than giving us dimensions, all kinds of detail on material, fit, cut, how it looked, etc. Give us a how-she-feels-wearing-it instead and that'll let the reader conjure up their image of what's happening. I don't think I've ever given actual measurements for women, like telling the reader she was a 36 D cup, and I would talk about showing nice cleavage or her breasts getting the way of things.

I hope that makes sense.

I'll try to remember that in the future. Giving breast size is something I've been dreading. I feel like every guide says something different. It's confusing as hell.