Abraham wrote,
I love writing fiction. But when I do it, I see that my descriptive prowess aren't enough. I'm a non-native English speaker and I admit that my vocabulary still needs a fair share of upgrade.
This is the thing. I know the mechanics and rules of writing fiction, and capable of breaking some many of them without problem, but when it comes to
describing a setting in a story, I just kind of stutter in written words. I could hear myself blabbing.
What do you suggest I do? Start eating slices of dictionary every
morning, so I can have a grasp of more descriptive words? Because I do
know that more words means more ability to use less of them.
Or would you rather I do something else?
I hugely admire anyone who can write in a
second language. I learnt a bit of French and German in school, but I'd be lucky now if I could string together a sentence in either.
However, descriptions are tricky for plenty of native English speakers (including me) too. I don't think the answer is necessarily about vocabulary, though finding just the right word can really lift a description.
Be careful about using fancy, unusual words though. They draw too much
attention to themselves and distract the reader from the story.
Instead:
1. Don't worry during the first draft: just get it all down. I normally end up with lots of dialogue and minimal description, which I then go back and fill in.
2. Specific details are always better than general ones. Don't write "the kitchen was a mess" – that doesn't mean much. Try "a dozen mugs were scattered haphazardly across the surface,
all half-full of old coffee".
3. Don't describe everything. Readers just need one or two telling details: they can imagine the rest.
4. If you're writing in the first person or the third person limited, use descriptions as an opportunity to reveal something about your viewpoint character. What do they notice? What judgements do they make? How does their environment make them feel?
5. Don't chuck in huge
slabs of description (unless you're really good at it). This may have worked for Victorian novelists: today's readers aren't so patient. Give us enough to set the scene, and work any other details in between action and dialogue.
6. Use descriptions to foreshadow what's coming in the plot. For instance, if someone's going to burn an important letter, you might introduce the fireplace a few chapters earlier. The tone of a description can also hint at
something bad about to happen.
Descriptive writing is my least favourite part of writing fiction, so if it's a struggle for you too, I feel your pain!
