By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Description is organic, a harmonious weaving of words that are seamlessly applied in every scene to enhance the story.

Some writers languish over description and create lengthy narratives to enhance their novels. Their readers enjoy passages rich with prose. Their pleasure is intensified in the details—the special features, characterization, and attributes of plot and setting.   

Other writers offer just enough description for readers to create their own story world. These readers value creating part of the adventure. Too much narrative spoils their experience. The few areas featuring details allow readers to use their imaginations, as though they are a part of the writing process.

No matter a writer’s preference of writing style, common guidelines apply to all great novels. Descriptions must reflect plot, genre, setting, emotion, and character. These nuggets are to be shown throughout the story in ways that demonstrate the writer’s voice and style.

• A polished writer searches for nouns and verbs to pack a punch. They aren’t afraid to add an adjective if it enhances the story.
• A devoted writer labors to reflect intimate knowledge of the characters, plot, and setting.
• A diligent writer ensures every word is either necessary or deleted.
• An enthusiastic writer pays close attention to sensory perception, symbolism, and point of view. Each character approaches the story world with their own unique perspective.

The entire process of research to determine how details are handled means lots of time and hard work for the writer. Whenever possible, writers want to physically experience the setting using all five senses.

Look at the following means of using description. Insight into these story building blocks of story pave the way for dynamic description.

Characterization

A writer knows and understands his/her character to the best of her ability before typing the first word. A discovery time begins as the character becomes more real during the writing process. Details about the character’s personality, background, culture, emotion, education, religious beliefs, and a list of other unique traits. Look for the oddity in the character, the idiosyncrasy, the one thing defining the character from all others.

Genre

Each genre contains elements setting it apart from all the others. Those distinctions are the details to include in the story. For example, romance novels engage the feelings of the hero and the heroine in language that uses soft consonants, bantering, and deep feelings. Suspense novels use hard consonants to evoke tension, confrontation, and harshness. Fantasy novels often contain unusual cultures and language to build on a story world. Writers study and continue to read in their genre to master techniques.

Plot

Every story has a plot. But the plots in a romance, historical, fantasy, suspense, thriller, western, mystery, etc. are all different. The goal of the story may be to solve a crime, win the girl, or stop a killer from destroying the world. The method of description corresponds to the type of story.

Setting

Where a scene takes place is an area too many writers fail to see the opportunity to move a story ahead. Describe the setting as though it were an antagonist—attractive, alluring, and then have it turn on the character.

Emotion

Emotion is why a reader turns pages. It represents passion while in the midst of initiating and responding to life. Conflict in emotions is what every person endures, and it’s vital to the impact a story has on the reader.

Description does matter in fiction, not as an engine-additive but as a power-booster to the success of an unforgettable novel.

How do you approach description?

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure? 

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards, the Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. 

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, an active member of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. DiAnn continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. 

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. 

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, LinkedIn. or her website: diannmills.com