Tuesday's Writer's Tip _ A Matter of Detail #MFRWAuthor #BWLPublishing #Details #Revision #amwriting

When we're beginning a story, we've done a lot of research. I know I have pages and pages of material that may or may not have something to do with the finished story. There are times when the use of detail gives a definition to a scene or a story but there are also times when this detail bores the reader. I'll be talking about some areas of detail to be used and when to beware. Descriptions dealing iwth characterization, setting and information gleaned talking about careers are places when a writer can go on and on in great detail. I know because I've done this myself and have had to tear down pieces of the story.

Matters of characterization is the first area I'll discuss. One of these areas of backstory and another is physical data. Often the person who really has to know the backstory in detail is the writer. Beginning writers often start a scene totally in one character's head. They go on and on talking about the things that happened in their past that make them the people they are when the book begins. It's find to write this out but not fine to put all these details in the first chapter of the story. Nothing turns a reader off more than pages of prose with no action happening. Starting the story with detailing all the character has dealt with in their lives is problematic. One way to get the information is through dialogue or perhaps those stray thoughts we all have. It's also stronger to put this information in bits and pieces during the story when the information is important to a scene.

Physical description is another place where detail can slow the reader down. The heroine meets the hero and she begins an appraisal of him. She describes him from head to toes and everything in between. By the time the reader reaches the end of this long-winded description, they know all about the hero but they've also lost the thread of the story and can't remember why he's so important.

Play attention to these two areas as you work on revisions and you'll discover a tighter, and more action filled story.