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Back in high school and my early adult years when I wrote stories they were filled with too much description. But after I fell ill nine years ago I lost the ability and now have trouble not adding enough description in my stories like other authors do.
Do you have any advice on how to pick up on the fault?
Comments
For example, if you have someone entering a room and you want the reader to 'feel' the kind of room it is, maybe the character smells its mustiness, or maybe there is a worn leather chair in the corner or maybe the floorboards creak when she enters or maybe she can taste the smoke from the previous night's log fire or she runs her hand along a mantelpiece and it is covered in dust. Not all of these - choose the one small fact that adds atmosphere to the story you are writing and just slip it in.
Hope that helps.
Yes, something that gives the essence of the scene, although I would say TWO details, rather than one, and use two different senses too.
http://stevenchapmanwriter.blogspot.com/2011/02/devil-is-in-details.html
Too much detail can not only bore, or intimidate, the reader but can also lead to mistakes later on in the novel. The more detail you put in the more you have to remember and the less the reader has to imagine. You have to find that equilibrium, that satisfies both your need to write and the readers enjoyment.
I know what that's like too-and it's difficult to strike the happy medium between describing something and becoming too flowery. As Heather says getting the feel right is key and I find using the character's conversation to convey the surroundings and events is a good way to get any required description across to the reader. It's just finding 'your' voice really, something I stumble across occasionally but can't seem to pin down every time. Good luck Alana and hope you are now recovered.
Yes, that's it exactly.