Descriptions, descriptions. - Writers Forum

Domenic · 11-02-2006, 08:17 PM

The greatest way to pull a reader into a story is to be /very/ descriptive, but don't be too descriptive, like Ray Bradbury.
I enjoy his work, and just recently finished Fahrenheit 451 and there were times when I had to go back three pages just to figure out where they were.
There were also certain times when his excessive descriptions somehow turned into reality. It was probably the cause of over-reading a few words, but his books get so descriptive you end up skipping paragraphs describing someone's eyelashes just to get to the actual plot of the scene, which does NOT pull the reader into the story at all.

Make sure you read well on books aimed at what you want your audience to be as well.

aspiring · 11-03-2006, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Make sure you read well on books aimed at what you want your audience to be as well.

Huh?

Not read Fahrenheit 451 but I found the same problem with Thomas Hardy.

rydenthorne · 11-03-2006, 04:52 AM

It's kind of like that whole boggart scene in Harry Potter. If you can see it clearly in your mind, then it's merely choosing the words fittingly so the reader can see it too.

Mike C · 11-03-2006, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiring

Huh?

Not read Fahrenheit 451 but I found the same problem with Thomas Hardy.

Hah! We agree on almost everything, apparently. Most of Hardy's work could quite easily be condensed down to novella length without losing anything.

And be sure to tell Mr Bradbury where he went wrong. That might account for why he never got anything published.

Pat · 11-03-2006, 12:59 PM

I actually need to disagree with you there. I think 451 is one of the finest novels I've read, partly because of the descriptions. It places the story on hold for a minute and pulls you into a perfect vision of the situation, which is the point of his story. When something is described in his story the description is ironic of or pertaining to his theme about censorship. Each description is put in place to give a feeling of that part of the novel. For instance, Clarisse's introduction as a character spanned quite a few paragraphs, but the point of her description was to give you the opposite feeling that the rest of the novel's entirety contradicts. This is a major insight to her character's nature and without that insight, it's difficult to understand her point in the story. The descriptions might be lengthy, but the feeling and understanding they give the reader (no matter how frustrated they be at them) is invaluable to the main theme of the book.

Also, you need to think of the book as it's origin. The book was published in 1951, a time when writing styles were very different. Geoffry Chaucer and Stephen King are going to have drastically different approaches to style simply because of the time difference. Reading takes patience, and not always a pushing plot with action all the time.

Mike C · 11-03-2006, 02:04 PM

All true, F451 is a most excellent novel. As indeed are Hardy's - both products of their time, and should be read, at least partly, with that in mind.

The most amusing aspect, for me, is:

Quote:

The greatest way to pull a reader into a story is to be /very/ descriptive, but don't be too descriptive

So (aside from the fact that the assertion is intrinsically incorrect - the greatest way to pull a reader in is to write well, not to be /very/ descriptive) how descriptive does very descriptive have to be before it becomes too descriptive? Or should we just be aiming at being a bit descriptive, or slightly more, half-way between slightly and extremely?

Please, don't offer advice if it doesn't actually mean anything. Or learn to express yourself more eloquently.

Domenic · 11-03-2006, 08:32 PM

Haha, thanks.

I realize now that was a bit too undescriptive.

mammamaia · 11-04-2006, 10:35 AM

dittoing mike [as usual]... m