tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post8576291364293501938..comments2024-03-20T02:49:17.606-07:00Comments on Between Fact and Fiction: Writing Shop Talk: How To Use DescriptionNatalie Whipplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-60718479685601949442013-06-12T12:57:10.948-07:002013-06-12T12:57:10.948-07:00I've emphasized certainly more the description...I've emphasized certainly more the description of main characters than a passing character- even if, for a short time, that passing character is the one whose point of view is driving a part of the narrative.William Kendallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00331324250821836822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-55720006279904643302013-06-05T17:24:18.957-07:002013-06-05T17:24:18.957-07:00Hmm, I wish I'd read this about a year ago - o...Hmm, I wish I'd read this about a year ago - over the past year or so I've learned a lot more about what to include/describe. And I've learned that "world building" isn't enough of a reason to include things that you just absolutely love, no matter how sad deleting them makes you. *sigh*<br /><br />But thanks for the great post!<br /><br />Also, I was re-reading the early Harry Potters when I realized that J.K. Rowling is an absolute master of awesome descriptions. Now there is one person who could actually get away with describing just for the sake of world building - b/c it's such a cool world! (Although maybe it's just that works all these cool things into relevancy just so she can describe them.)Sarah Hipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09127310898615441853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-7611415481646756652013-06-04T08:12:58.429-07:002013-06-04T08:12:58.429-07:00Lin, great question. Reminders can be good—not con...Lin, great question. Reminders can be good—not constantly, but perhaps a few at important moments in the novel (if the character has time to notice, of course). Readers tend to lose those kinds of things...or not notice them much at all. Sometimes you can clearly state Brown Eyes or Blond Hair and still the reader will form their own vision of the character without those features. <br /><br />Even I have done this. In MIND GAMES I *know* that James is blond, and yet my brain always wants to give him dark brown hair. It's weird.Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-31804822624529956782013-06-03T21:56:47.052-07:002013-06-03T21:56:47.052-07:00I also have trouble knowing how much description t...I also have trouble knowing how much description to include. But I love this rule: "The amount of description on a certain topic/item/person should be proportionate to their role in the story." My question is knowing when to remind the reader of certain the details of a character. Let's say the story is told in first person. The main character has already mentioned the love interest's brown eyes early in the story. Should the eye color be mentioned again or should we trust that the reader will remember the eye color? LinWashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13041832821260168483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-69578718463321943062013-06-03T16:19:05.200-07:002013-06-03T16:19:05.200-07:00Excellent advice!Excellent advice!Maya Prasadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13095006683729632047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-59128726674437262322013-06-03T11:03:50.746-07:002013-06-03T11:03:50.746-07:00Great advice Natalie, thank you for posting!Great advice Natalie, thank you for posting!Tyler H. Jolleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07570467324150768858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-72632978186683817942013-06-03T10:54:04.236-07:002013-06-03T10:54:04.236-07:00Thank you for posting this! I’ve been struggling w...Thank you for posting this! I’ve been struggling with the opening scene of my story for a while now, and I think you just helped me understand a bit better why it doesn’t feel right.Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12306033411312062146noreply@blogger.com