tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post7295022870783218029..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: Writing Tip: Describe with Telling Details—SettingGabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-23801107308997156772013-07-12T16:51:10.360-07:002013-07-12T16:51:10.360-07:00It's definitely a balance that takes time to a...It's definitely a balance that takes time to achieve. Too much, and you risk drowning your readers in lengthy description—too little and they can't quite picture where your characters are. Not an easy mid-point to hit, but definitely possible. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-66049770277202563542013-07-11T01:36:39.272-07:002013-07-11T01:36:39.272-07:00I used to do this but I'm a little concerned I...I used to do this but I'm a little concerned I've swung the other way. My setting has such a big part to play in the story and I don't want to leave the reader wondering. That said, I know I should trust them more.Paul Caudellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-17489823578762599642013-07-10T17:06:59.387-07:002013-07-10T17:06:59.387-07:00My writing style changed ever since reading it in ...My writing style changed ever since reading it in the eleventh grade. I realized that the sun can not only be bright, but crude and violently hot as well.Robin Rednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-5319746534671592932013-07-10T17:04:19.787-07:002013-07-10T17:04:19.787-07:00Ahhhhh. Ok. Yes, I did read The Scarlet Letter, bu...Ahhhhh. Ok. Yes, I did read <i>The Scarlet Letter</i>, but it didn't really stick with me, so the Hawthorne reference went over my head a bit. Ha ha.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-57193780401746931742013-07-10T17:01:30.962-07:002013-07-10T17:01:30.962-07:00I'm sure you've had to read The Scarlet Le...I'm sure you've had to read The Scarlet Letter. If you go back to Hawthorne's first description of Pearl, he barely describes her physical features, but compares her to imps, fairies, and aliens to paint the perfect picture of her.Robin Rednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-38920529061024299262013-07-10T16:58:42.363-07:002013-07-10T16:58:42.363-07:00Thank you, Anneqah! Learning to incorporate detail...Thank you, Anneqah! Learning to incorporate details throughout the prose, rather than dumping them all in one spot is hugely important, so it's good to hear that it's something you've been making strides in. :) <br /><br /><br />As for <i>Shadow & Bone</i>, I couldn't agree more. It's a fantastic book, and I was more than happy to share the excerpt as something to learn from.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-62543379222237194852013-07-10T16:56:56.224-07:002013-07-10T16:56:56.224-07:00Metaphysical descriptions, hmm? I'm actually n...Metaphysical descriptions, hmm? I'm actually not entirely sure what that could mean...but I'm guessing it has to do with not over-describing. Which is a good thing. So yes.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-61117774992048992292013-07-10T16:56:22.670-07:002013-07-10T16:56:22.670-07:00Agreed! It's fun to see the differences in eve...Agreed! It's fun to see the differences in every writer's methods. With two notable exceptions, I tend to write pretty lean first drafts, then add in revisions. Whatever works! :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-89457528778253759972013-07-10T15:47:08.961-07:002013-07-10T15:47:08.961-07:00I was one of those writers that stopped everything...I was one of those writers that stopped everything in order to describe a setting, haha. Now however, I've been slowly learning to incorporate the important details to create the bigger picture. I love how you quoted for Shadow & Bone, because Leigh's writing truly is beautiful, and she describes things SO effectively. <br /><br /><br />Lovely post, Ava! <3Aneeqah @ My Not So Real Lifenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-61770538258924917842013-07-10T11:38:37.880-07:002013-07-10T11:38:37.880-07:00It's cool to see how each writer's habits ...It's cool to see how each writer's habits are different, because I do just the opposite - I go overboard with descriptions in my first draft, so that I can build the world for myself and really see it. Then I trim in my revisions. :)Gracenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-34238368027183636172013-07-10T11:24:44.662-07:002013-07-10T11:24:44.662-07:00I always thought I was too metaphysical with my de...I always thought I was too metaphysical with my descriptions a la Nathaniel Hawthorne, but I guess it's not too bad.Robin Rednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-33658500299208154962013-07-10T11:07:09.517-07:002013-07-10T11:07:09.517-07:00I over-described with my first novel, then after t...I over-described with my first novel, then after that I became more character-focused and fell into the way opposite end of the spectrum. Now I tend to beef up my settings in revisions, which I actually find helpful because to me, it's easier to focus on details in little revisions bursts than in the heat of the first draft. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-58054626957790439642013-07-10T11:03:56.503-07:002013-07-10T11:03:56.503-07:00I'm so guilty of over-describing the setting! ...I'm so guilty of over-describing the setting! I've improved a lot, I know, but according to some of the feedback from my critique partners, I can still be too detailed and verbose at times. Or repetitive. :-PGracenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-2461711028190063202013-07-10T10:42:35.647-07:002013-07-10T10:42:35.647-07:00Fantastic points! You're absolutely right—it&#...Fantastic points! You're absolutely right—it's not just about what the description is, but what the character sees. A bodyguard entering a room may see the surroundings very differently from his (or her) charge. <br /><br /><br />And I agree! It's a fantastic book. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-3808405290207892762013-07-10T08:51:42.152-07:002013-07-10T08:51:42.152-07:00The other great thing about the snippet you posted...The other great thing about the snippet you posted is that it wasn't just talking about colors and the flowers on the silk. I can imagine flowers on the silk because of the rich way everything else is portrayed. Even the positioning of the other people in the tent give us a good idea of what it means to be there. And we're not just hearing about the tent we're seeing it through the characters eyes. I might just have to read that book again, it was so dang beautiful!J. A. Bennettnoreply@blogger.com