I’m a bit sad to see the celebration go! It’s been fun month!! The final giveaway is my debut novel, “The Willow – The Magical Sword Book One”. Leave me a comment with your email address and I’ll enter you in to win a copy. The winner will be drawn Monday at 8:00 A.M. EST.
So, let’s get to it :)
The other night I was reading a mass-market novel and found myself skimming over the pages. I have to admit, I’m guilty of never reading descriptive parts. I find them unbelievably boring, and even though, I feel like I rippin’ the writer off, I just can’t commit to each word.
Sometimes I wonder why they are even there. Why the need to explain each and every detail is necessary―where they sat, how the chair felt, minuet details of the table cloth. For me, I just want dialogue, action and thoughts!! Tell me they’re at a cafe and sitting at a lone table in the corner, then go right into dialogue and I’m happy!!
I’ve always thought I write more like a “reader” then “a writer”. My books are fast paced with enough descriptions for you to imagine the world the character is in, but not enough to make you do the horrid skip through. Is it proper? Probably not. But it’s the way I like to read and ends up being the way I write.
Alright, lay it on me...how many of you are guilty of the same offense??? Or how many of you are shaking their head at me :)
21 comments:
Sometimes the descriptive parts are necessary to set the tone of the scene. While I don't think you should break it down to *every* single detail (the thread count of a tablecloth seems excessive - unless it plays a crucial part of the scene for some reason) there needs to be some. Conveying the images in my head to the reader sometimes necessitates vivid imagery, but personally I try to keep it to only pertinent details. But there again...my descriptive imagery could be why I write 100K word books...LOL. However, that could be attributed to the fact I feel as if paranormal genre books should have more vibrant/lush details say over contemporary, too.
I enjoy the dialogue and action more than long descriptive parts, but it just depends if I'll skim or not. If it's really interesting, I'll read every word. I read RAMPANT by Saskia Walker, and her descriptions of the physical surroundings were just spot on perfect! I was mesmerized. So, it just depends.
bookofsecrets(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hope all goes well!
Chrissy A
carolinagirl88 (@) carolina (dot) rr (dot) com
I totally agree with you. Some authors have way too much description of silly things. I would love to read this and review it for my blog.
weheartreading (@) gmail (dot) com
Aubrey
Completely guilty of the same thing! I find myself skim reading a lot of novels where there's just useless descriptions.
Sometimes they're completely necessary but other times it's just like 'blah get on with it'.
I write the same way, if I re-read it and don't like it; I'll cut it. Descriptions are the same; if it's not crucial, it gets cut.
:)
Can't wait for the debut!
Liia
l.white@iinet.net.au
Me too, if the descriptive parts get too descriptive, I'm skipping them to get to the dialogue and the action!!!
Valerie
valb0302@yahoo.com
in Germany
I sometimes skip, sometimes i don't. there's no real reason either....sometimes i'm in a hurry to get to the story...sometimes i'm bored.
lastrideua AT yahoo DOT com
I’m shaking my head… I can’t skip I’m afraid I might miss some key element that will come into play at a later point. However, if I find the book to be slow and boring it get’s dusty because I leave it and move on to another, which I’ll carry around with me from room to room. Although I agree with you being over descriptive is unnecessary. Give me big picture where their at and minor details, leave out the rest if the setting is not relevant. Who cares what color the carpet is. Not me. Tell me if there is significance is the white pristine carpet going to get blood spattered or are they going land on it and end up with a nasty rug burns. If yes, tell me a little. If no, leave it out, and get on with the action or emotions. Wrap me up in the good stuff so the story does not get left around to collect dust.
Marcie Turner marcie.turner@yahoo.com
It depends on the book sometimes I skip the descriptive parts and sometimes I don't. If I get bored with them I skip but if they get me hanging on the edge of my seat I don't.
sstrode@scrtc.com
It depends on the book really. I generally don't skim over, but if there's just nothing to hold my attention, I might start skimming to find something that will hopefully hold my interest before I stop reading it entirely.
I have to read the whole thing,even if the descriptive parts are long winded.I wish I could skim through those parts but I feel their was a purpose the author went that into to detail but usual end up being wrong and I could have skipped it all.
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
Nope, you're not the only one that does this. I don't feel it necessary to know all about what people are eating or how awe inspiring the scenery is. I just want to get to the good stuff.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
well, for me, I'm a descriptive, emotional writer. It's necessary to all the other elements of the story if you want to draw the reader in. :-) But then, I live for stuff like that so I may be partial LOL
Stacey, I'm like you. Many of my favorite authors are guilty of it. I skim over it like some folks skim the sexy parts (I scarf those up of course!) and continue to enjoy the story if the writing's good. They should write it if it's what they feel as they create their story and characters and those that like knowing those parts still get to enjoy it too!
Everything in moderation. I'll skim but is more because the pacing of the story is too slow or the story itself is boring.
I'm with you. I don't need a three page description of every leaf on a tree. Just tell me there's a tree ...I'll fill in the details. If the description is pertinent for the story, that's fine ...but even then keep it short.
And here I was thinking I was the only one like this :D
Jennifer
jlzeffer@yahoo.com
Thanks for sharing everyone! It's nice to know others are guilty of this too!! Let's just be happy that some authors do this and others don't - keeps everyone happy :)
I'm one of the ones that read every part do not want to miss enything.But each person is diffrent and likes things diffrently.in fact i like most of my books in series the longer the better to me.
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com
I read some novles for the discriptions if there isnt any storyline or anything then i ski[p trhew or just put it down
sometimes ill trya nd repick it back up and try again
mortalsinn@yahoo.com
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