I had the great privledge of sitting in the same room as Terry Fallis just yesterday ( he presented a Humour writing workshop) and we had a very similar conversation. It was a true "A-HA" moment for me that instantly made me see how to improve my writing.
An excellent condensed version of the issue of over-description,Graham. TWO rules here, that especially guide my own editing process:
"Let them participate in your work. Allow them to paint their own pictures."
"If [it] is crucial to the story in some way, mention that. If it’s not, don’t."
I learned these lessons from my own reaction as a READER. I feel condescended to when a writer explains or describes everything. I roll my eyes when extraneous details are shared that are not germane. Never having taken a writing course, I find your posts most helpful. Thank you.
I agree, especially about “necessary to the story.” Over-description means I’m yelling “why are you telling me this??” as I go.
And absolutely it’s easier to take out stuff in a revision pass! You really never know what’s going to be important until you’ve read the story all the way through once, at least. Which means writing it all the way through at least once. Drat it all.
👍🏻❤️. It is like packing for a journey. A week before leaving, start throwing things in the case. The night before leaving, take half of it out. Same principal.
This hits the point well for me, and I would add that the principle applies to non-fiction, too. I know, since I catch myself leading my readers by the nose, boring them in the process. Cutting is a release and a blessing.
As with fiction writing, drawing readers through an argument in an essay also requires their imaginative involvement in the intellectual journey you're leading, and too much "spelling everything out" distracts. Enough detail to firmly set the point--and no more. (That's often hard!)
That's interesting -- I'm not sure I've made that connection before! Now you have me wondering if I over-explain in my non-fiction writing too... lol
If not, perhaps this is an opportunity to take more of what I know in non-fiction and apply it to fiction. (I've always been a fan of New Journalism and now creative non-fiction, so it's not that far a leap... Some might argue I've already started down that path!)
I had the great privledge of sitting in the same room as Terry Fallis just yesterday ( he presented a Humour writing workshop) and we had a very similar conversation. It was a true "A-HA" moment for me that instantly made me see how to improve my writing.
An excellent condensed version of the issue of over-description,Graham. TWO rules here, that especially guide my own editing process:
"Let them participate in your work. Allow them to paint their own pictures."
"If [it] is crucial to the story in some way, mention that. If it’s not, don’t."
I learned these lessons from my own reaction as a READER. I feel condescended to when a writer explains or describes everything. I roll my eyes when extraneous details are shared that are not germane. Never having taken a writing course, I find your posts most helpful. Thank you.
I agree, especially about “necessary to the story.” Over-description means I’m yelling “why are you telling me this??” as I go.
And absolutely it’s easier to take out stuff in a revision pass! You really never know what’s going to be important until you’ve read the story all the way through once, at least. Which means writing it all the way through at least once. Drat it all.
If only we could get it all down in one go! Alas, it rarely works that way...
Good thing writing is so fun!
👍🏻❤️. It is like packing for a journey. A week before leaving, start throwing things in the case. The night before leaving, take half of it out. Same principal.
Ha - I like that comparison!
You're not ready to go until you're all packed... and you've unpacked a few things.
Thanks, Sharron! Glad you found it helpful!
I can't claim the rules as my own, but they have definitely been revealed to me... lol
👍🏻
More great insights, Graham. Thanks!
Thanks Terry! Glad you liked it!
I'm reading Dennis Lehane's "Gone Baby Gone" now and the sticky tiles of a bar floor say pretty much all you need.
Ha! Exactly.
I've been to places where the *carpet* is sticky. (Those are the places where you only order beer in a bottle...)
and the light is sparse, in case you get a glass, so you can't see the old lipstick smudges, lol.
Euw!
...or the chipped rims.
This hits the point well for me, and I would add that the principle applies to non-fiction, too. I know, since I catch myself leading my readers by the nose, boring them in the process. Cutting is a release and a blessing.
As with fiction writing, drawing readers through an argument in an essay also requires their imaginative involvement in the intellectual journey you're leading, and too much "spelling everything out" distracts. Enough detail to firmly set the point--and no more. (That's often hard!)
That's interesting -- I'm not sure I've made that connection before! Now you have me wondering if I over-explain in my non-fiction writing too... lol
If not, perhaps this is an opportunity to take more of what I know in non-fiction and apply it to fiction. (I've always been a fan of New Journalism and now creative non-fiction, so it's not that far a leap... Some might argue I've already started down that path!)