WHY AM I SPENDING MY EVENING LIKE THIS.

How to Make Your Descriptions Less Boring

We’ve all been warned about the dangers of using too much description. Readers don’t want to read three paragraphs about a sunset, we’re told. Description slows down a story; it’s boring and self-indulgent. You should keep your description as short and simple as possible. For those who take a more scientific approach to writing fiction, arbitrary rules abound: One sentence per paragraph. One paragraph per page. And, for god’s sake, “Never open a book with weather” (Elmore Leonard).

But what this conventional wedding wisdom fails to take into account is the difference between static and dynamic description. Static description is usually boring. It exists almost like a painted backdrop to a play. As the name suggests, it doesn’t move, doesn’t interact or get interacted with.

There were clouds in the sky. Her hair was red with hints of orange. The house had brown carpeting and yellow countertops.

In moderation, there’s nothing wrong with static description. Sometimes, facts are facts, and you need to communicate them to the reader in a straightforward manner.

But too much static description, and readers will start to skim forward. They don’t want to read about what the house looks like or the stormy weather or the hair color of each of your protagonist’s seventeen cousins.

Why? Because they can tell it’s not important. They can afford to skip all of your description because their understanding of the story will not be impacted.

That’s where dynamic description comes in. Dynamic description is a living entity. It’s interactive, it’s relevant. It takes on the voices of your narrators and characters. In short, it gives us important information about the story, and it can’t be skimmed over.

So how do you make your description more dynamic so that it engages your readers and adds color and excitement to your story? Here are a few tips.

(I have a TON more tips about setting and description. These are just a few. But I’m trying to keep this short, so if you have any questions or want more advice about this, please feel free to ask me.)

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From YouTube vid “ritsus depression”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR3S7n4ASx8 (Heads up: cussing)

If a Pinata doesn’t break, is it broken?

So when will the second season start?

i’m gonna keep doing these edits until someone tells me to stop tbh

What even is that stock photo. Is it a stock photo? Whatever, I laughed

l e a v e

• Also, reblogging blog, currently posting at least twice a day! Fanart, fun stuff, and cool facts usually. As of this edit August 2022, it’s got a big focus on Dracula Daily.

• And I’ve got a rambly / doodles blog! I’m active over there too. Also mostly Dracula Daily at the moment lol.

I didn’t know this account (cazaui-rexan) would get stuck as a permanent base account the way I did it, but o well tha’s jus’ how it goes lol :D (Seriously, though, that’s a terrible design, tumblr. Booooo.) See you at my main blog, hopefully! I draw memes and make gifs.

(I’m not pinning this post for a reason: If there are ever any posts after this one here, it was an accident and will get moved and deleted when I notice it haha oops that happens sometimes)

If there is a cloud above you, you are under water.

More art being shared with the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u59oTwSzSjU