"Dokushinsha" <dokushin@uclink4.berkeley.edu> wrote:
In the middle of providing some C&C for a fic, I was caught wondering how important it is to provide vivid and accurate descriptions of a scene. More precisely, WHEN is it appropriate to give a good description of a scene? It's fairly obvious to me that you can't go around describing everything that happens in a story, but it's equally perplexing to me as to when is a good time to provide descriptions. For example, should they be included when a new character is introduced? Or a new scene/setting? How about at a crucial moment in the story? OTOH, are there times when a detailed description will hurt the story by boring the audience?
There are two very good books that I'd recommend on this subject:
"Description" by Monica Wood, and "Word Painting" by Rebecca McClanahan.
Both are published by Writer's Digest Books, and should be available at
your local bookshop. If you're *really* lucky your library might also
have 'em. (WDB also has a mail-order book club; E-mail me privately if
any of you out there want details on this. Be warned that they seem to
be extremely slow in sending out orders.)
Gary Kleppe (who appreciates all the wonderful response on "For a Dying
Friend," and will reply to people as soon as possible)
http://www.execpc.com/~kleppe/comics.html