As you may be able to tell, Writers/Authors come in all different shapes, sizes....genres and styles. What may interest me as a Writer may seem frivolous or tedious to another. Not only can you tell the difference in Writers by their genres, but also by the things they focus on in their books. Some Writers spend more time it seems on the descriptors than the story line. Some spend more time on the story line, but give very few descriptions. I personally like to focus on the story line, but have enough descriptors so that the Reader is not forced to use their imagination for everything. For instance, when reading, I like a description of the characters, places, clothing, but I don't need to know the parts of every flower. That is my taste, and everyone has their own opinions about this.
One thing I spent a good bit of time researching for my book is my Hero's horse. The horse is not a main part of the story, but since I like horses I found myself putting more time into my choice of horse for him. I pictured his horse as a retired racehorse, a Darley Arabian descended from the line of Flying Childers a famous racehorse from the early 18th century. So, I gave my horse the name Flying Brave. That is just an example of how my interest in horses led me down a researching path another Writer may not take. Our likes, dislikes and experiences, good and bad all find their way into our writing. Next time you read a book, if you pay attention, you may be able to learn a little about the Author just by noticing the areas where they place their focus.
Discussion Question-
Do you prefer more story line or more descriptions?
I lean more toward the story line but enjoy some description, but too much description makes me feel a little bored and I tend to want to move on with what is happening in the story.
ReplyDeleteToo many or too few descriptors can make or break a book. There is a fine line there. I'm sure with experience and learning from other Authors, I will get the hang of it. As I am nearing the editing stage of the writing process, I plan to pay close attention to that aspect of writing. Thanks for your input!
ReplyDeleteI prefer a good story line, but need good descriptions as well. I need to be able to picture the characters in order to enjoy the book, and I don't have a very good imagination. -Kayti
ReplyDeleteDescribing the characters, to me is most important, especially the main characters. Not everyone has an imagination that can create the picture in their head with no prompts. So, if a reader needs a description to
ReplyDeleteenhance the story or as a way to help a scene make more sence, then it's important to describe it. Helping a reader understand the character or scene is the goal. Making the descriptions take over the scene, though, is a mistake. Thanks for your input!
I absolutely like more of a story line...however, if there are not descriptors I would feel lost and even cheated out of a good story.
ReplyDelete