Have you ever read something that sucked the life out of your brain? What did the writer do wrong?
One of the things he/she might've done wrong was adding too many details. Details are great, don't misunderstand me, but it's important to cut the flab and use only the important ones.
Does it really matter what color a guy's socks are when he's about to shoot someone? 
Make sure you use solid, powerful details. It's easy to be lazy and just say something like, "He hopped into his car," but the reader wants to hear, "He hopped into his Lexus" or "He hopped into his Hummer."
Give a general overview of the situations and bring the flavor of it out with some well-aimed details, and you'd be surprised how much writing you can cut!
Are you a detail person, or someone who needs to add more detail?
Monday, July 7, 2008
Mere Details
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4 comments:
I'm a detail person, it's just I usually spill the beans and put TOO much detail when the character is first introduced.
Yeah, I have the same problem. I usually detail the character so much when he's first introduced that it's kind of pitiful.
-Judi
I used to do that. And then I tried reading it and it bored me out of my skull. :)
Oh, yes, I have. Dickens. Describes in parts that have no relevance to the story. I hate it!
~Kiwifruit
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