Nah, this won't get ya banned. However, it sounds like you're askig
for public replies (which is a no-no here). Next time, ask for private.
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?
As for this, it depends on your writing style. Most often, it's not
what you're describng, but how. For example:
Ranma ran through the green grass. The sky was blue and the sun was
shining. The wind was cool and the trees were tall.
See how crappy that is? Now:
Ranma sprinted across the soft blanket of grass, the sea-blue sky
showing not a hint of clouds. A cool wind ripped past him, his body
violently displacing the air as he dodged between the motionless trees.
Mix up your words, but make sure that they flow. For me at least,
the words have to move in a steady stream. Short, choppy sentences and bland
words can instantly kill a story no matter how engaging the plot is.
Delivery is key.
As for when, that depends on what is more important; the scenery or
the action. If the main focus of the passage is a character's thoughts or
actions, descriptions of the scenery should take second to what's actually
happening. When trying to set a mood, or when trying to convey something
important in the scenery, the description should be more important.
Hope this helps, and all this is just my own opinion.
Jed