DESCRIPTIVE WRITING - WHEN IS TOO MUCH?

[Diamond]

I guess I fall into the less-is-more category when it comes to descriptive work. I have no interest in knowing the color of paint on the walls and the pattern on the drapes unless it's significant to the story somehow. I feel the same when it comes to character description. I've read some books where the hero was said to be handsome but then a detailed description was given of things I didn't find handsome at all! For me, more general terms work best--eye and hair color along with height and build. If he has tats or scars or facial hair then that's fine but a head-to-toe description isn't necessary, for me.

I also think too much description can ruin an intimate scene. I recently read a book where the author described a couple kissing. For some reason she thought it was necessary to tell us all the things the guy's tongue touched in the girl's mouth, with dentist-like terminology and I thought that was completely gross and unnecessary. THOSE type of details ruin a story, in my opinion. So, yes, I'm definitely a less-is-more type reader when it comes to descriptions.

[Diamond]

Hahahaha! No problem.

[Daniel]

Charles Dickens would go into pages describing one piece of furniture. I guess it's enough when your talent says it's enough and too much if the reader thinks it is.

[J.J.]

I don't know... I think that any good storyteller is going to focus on the parts that the listener is engaged in. That's why I enjoy actual storytelling more than authoring - you get that feedback and the listener will ask questions that keep you on your feet.

As I've been writing down some of my favorite stories to tell as well as some of my family's stories, I've had to stop and go through the story with my husband or someone close by to figure out which parts are interesting. I think all of it is interesting. I actually like some of Charles Dickens's work (but then again, I'm also not very picky).

It's an art, so I like to put myself in the story and sometimes think about the value of certain passages to the storyteller's own life.

I am rarely surprised when someone comments on how interesting some story I'm telling them is. I think there is an automatic assumption about authors being really boring and only in it for the money.

Hell, I am quick to correct people on that point. I would much rather be called a "storyteller" than an "author". At this point, I'm also new-ish to the authoring side of storytelling. My stories are interesting not because I'm just super talented; I've had a lot of practice and still engage whenever possible because I'm addicted to hearing. "So, then what happened?"

Storytelling runs in my family. Actually, there is no such thing as a mundane conversation with my circle of people. You cannot ask any person in my family about some event that just took place and expect to leave within the hour.

[Tianna]

Hm, honestly I think it depends on the pacing of the scene. While writing I find there's a time and place for descriptions and it's up to the writer to decide when it is.

I find descriptions tend to slow the pace down a bit. It adds feeling to the scene and can really allow the reader to enter into what the character is experiencing. Sometimes it's beneficial to add the description of the wall color because maybe that soft lilac contributes to the mood of the scene. However, this being said, you probably don't want to describe that soft lilac if you're character is in the middle of a high stakes chase.

Though, as a reader, I don't like reading full page after pages descriptions. I find them a little dry and I find myself going.... WHY?

So,I dunno. It's up to you and your style.