So you don't want to write so detailed that your story is "TOO HARD" to read, then again you need to write enough detail so your story isn't "DRY". so where's the balance???

It is hard to try to strike a happy medium between the two. My biggest thing is not boring the reader, so I'll write up some parts and pick the ones that express the most and that are at a reasonable length. Prayer is also a good help.

*waits for more answers because she was wondering the same thing*



That's helpful

I think the main thing is to have details that actually have to do with what you are talking about. I think the boring details are ones that distract from the thread of conversation.

Les Miserables has the most detail I have seen in any book, it has chapters upon chapters of details, but you never lose interest (at least I did not) because they followed naturally from one to the other, and all pursued the ultimate aim of the book.

this is helpful

I err on the side of not including enough detail...I can see it in my head, so why can't you?

I think it's important to provide enough detail that you can "picture" or "imagine" the scene, but the details should all serve the purpose of showing something. For example, in one of my stories, the characters live in a fancy network of "tree houses", and when I go into detail describing them, it is to illustrate the fact that they are intelligent although they are few. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but that's how I see it.

I often "paint" scenes...in a heartfelt sharing scene between an aunt and niece, they are sitting with their feet in the ocean, listening to the sound of the waves lapping against the rocks, it's to adjust the tone of the story as well as paint a picture.

Hope that helps!

In my opinion, this is one issue that is entirely dependent on the style of the writer. I have heard widely varying claims from writers and readers alike, about how much detail to use, how much description, etcetera, and I think it's mostly personal preference.

For instance, Tsahraf might enjoy the loads of detail in Les Miserables, while a lot of other people I've heard dislike that amount and would rather he had skipped most of it.

In high school creative writing class, I used to get into trouble for not being descriptive enough and what I wrote was too short. Well now its the opposite, the writers group at church as told me my stuff is too long!

I have trouble with it, but I think in my story I am balanced.