In writing description are used to create an image in the mind of the reader. It should give information to the reader in the same way that the reader would get information directly; using their five senses.
For example, you’re trying to describe a scene. What would a person do to get the image of the scene into their imagination if they were actually there? They would see things; they would hear things, smell things, feel things. They would take these things in either in some kind of sequence or simultaneously. That particular person’s observation of the scene would create a mood in their mind, and the mood would then become the tone of the image for them. That tone would highlight certain parts of the scene and diminish others.
The writer becomes the reader’s eyes, ears, nose, and body. So the first thing to do is to collect this kind of information. What do you see, hear, feel, smell? Write down specific observations. What shape are the various things you see? What colors? What do you smell? What is the scent like? What do you feel? What do you taste? Make the details as specific and concrete as possible. Related to being the reader’s body is the notion that you supply a “point of view” for the reader. Where are you as you describe the scene? Let the reader know.
The reason for bringing this up is because some writers take a short cut by not describing objects or scenes when they should be. They sometimes skimp out the details or are lazy to write any and so they use popular (or not so popular) culture reference in place of explaining the scene. Such a thing isn’t appropriate because not everyone would understand.
For example, a writer describe the ceiling looking, “like a stargate” and that “lightning started crackling from the the opening.”
That is a poorly done description of what’s going on because readers aren’t able to build the image in their mind. What is a stargate? What is it suppose to look like? Does it’s appearance seem threatening? What color is it? Does it feel weird? Is there a odd scent because of it?
Readers can’t form a picture in their mind because they don’t know what a “stargate” is suppose to look like. It’s not a common thing to know like pencils, towels, tables, and so on are. The writer didn’t explain — in this case describe what it really is. It was only at the end of the chapter that the writer made a note mentioning that the stargate is like those used in Stargate SG-1/Stargate Atlantis except it’s flowing in the air and laying flat against the ceiling.
Not every reader will know that. The writer shouldn’t be using such a way to describe an object or an scene, expecting all their readers to understand. That would only alienate them and actually turn them off from reading the rest of the story.
 DamnBlackHeart · Wed Mar 20, 2013 @ 12:47am · 0 Comments |
