Is this something you should mention? If what happens in the scene is mostly that Sally and Allen talk, maybe not. Perhaps in your mental picture Sally is standing by the window and Allen is standing by the door. As you're writing the story you normally have a picture of the scene in your mind. Too sparse a description can also make the scene difficult to understand. Too short a description and the reader just says, "Oh, too bad for him. " etc., maybe those couple of sentences I threw together aren't all that effective but my point is, if you describe the darkness and his fear you can draw the reader in and help them to see the scene and share his feelings. For somewhere in this room it might be lurking. He felt that irrational fear of the dark that humans have experienced since the dawn of recorded history. George carefully felt his way through the darkness. But if you say, "The room was pitch black. If you just say, "George entered the room. But they didn't.Īt the other extreme, I've read books where the descriptions were too sparse and the story was sterile. If these details had led somewhere, if they had supported some important point, that would be different. I wanted to hear what he saw of Nazi Germany that maybe I wouldn't find in an ordinary history book, not the arrangement of seats in a lecture hall. I'm sure I am not alone in saying, I didn't care. He went on to describe the angle and positioning of the reporters for ten or fifteen minutes. Well, not really beside the podium, but they weren't in front of the podium like most of the audience. They had been placed off to the side of the podium. He said how there were a number of Western reporters in the hall. He started off talking about the first time he saw Hitler speak. When I saw the advertisement for his lecture I thought that sounded like it might be very interesting: someone who was there, in the midst of the enemy camp, while it all was happening. I heard a speech once by an American who was a reporter in Nazi Germany during World War 2. I think the general rule should be, Will the reader care? In the latter cases, it often occurs to me that the author is padding words to increase the length of the story! Note: I am asking the above question in the context of a short story (where words are premium) but it can easily apply to a novella or novel. Question: How does one balance the need for details versus telling a good story? don't treat readers as dumb or bore them to death). In many cases, it appears to me that the author is insulting my level of intelligence (i.e. My question is more about the general details (which are described at great length by the author). I understand intense detailing is necessary if it adds to the story (such as the above in a suspense or a thriller). If a character has to open a door, the description is about how the character feels about going to the door, then the character going to the door, putting the key in the lock, turning the knob, pushing the door and finally stepping inside the room. I have often come across stories where the author has described a particular scene or action of a character in minute details.Į.g.
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