Why do authors use description

Post a Comment. Description and why it's important. May 07, Description is one of the three key elements in fiction, along with narrative and dialogue, which brings your story to life. It means a writer must involve the reader at every level, and he or she can do that through the medium of description. Description creates a vivid picture for the reader, it allows them to open a gateway to your story and imagine themselves within your fictional world.

Probably one of the best ways any writer can achieve this is through the use of the senses. In real life we perceive the world with our senses; we smell, we touch, we taste, we hear and we see, but so too must your reader. They want to feel and touch and taste and see your fictional world. Description is what makes an ordinary story a great story. Next week: How much description? Too much or not enough? Kate Kyle 15 May at Just how long should a chapter be?

And does a novel have to fit into a set amount of words? These are just two of the most common questions asked by writers. They assume they have to work to a strict template of X amount of words and X amount of chapters, usually because most novels have around 30 or 40 chapters and around 80, words.

Depending on the flair of the writer's technique, the description will vary, but all writers who wish to expose the characters or scenes they are introducing and developing must use an expanse of description - not only does this picture the image in the reader's mind, it allows adaptations of the reader's imagination to rest this image in their thoughts.

Heavy description also prevents an overload later on, to allow the flow of the plot; it also, in my case, provides the author with the solid image of what their character is determined to be. Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group. Create a free Team What is Teams?

Learn more. Why do writers sometimes use so much description? Ask Question. Asked 6 years, 7 months ago. Active 6 years, 7 months ago. Viewed 3k times. Improve this question. Standback How does this question relate to writing? It seems to be about existing works, which is off-topic here. Because: A That's how much description the author felt necessary, appropriate, and interesting for that particular bit; taste is subjective, so obviously Your Milage May Differ.

And B The author has many different goals; enabling the user to use their imagination is one among many, and plenty of times it's not the most important one at a particular given moment. Some description is great and can relate to character and plot development.

Too much description can take away from a reader's imagination. So how do you draw a line regarding how much description is necessary? Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Improve this answer. Gavin Gavin 32 2 2 bronze badges. Have there been many well written books that do not have what might be called too much desription about certain characters or places or events?

A well written story should leave a lot to the imagination. I may give general descriptions, such as "male", "forties", etc. David M. David 1, 11 11 silver badges 27 27 bronze badges.

Heythere Heythere 1. I think there is a good answer in here, but after reading it twice I am not sure. You may want to rewrite this answer to make it clearer. Sign up or log in Sign up using Google.