Description: Letting Readers Fill in the Gaps

Sailboat in background and a man and a woman silhouetted in the foreground, looking out into the sea. The post title, "Letting Readers Fill in the Gaps" by Elizabeth Spann Craig is superimposed on the top.

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I read a nice post by Nils Ödlund, “Don’t Show, Don’t Tell — How to Leave Room for the Reader’s Imagination ” on the Mythic Scribes blog.

As he says in the post: “…I’d like to explain why the reader’s mind is so strong: it’s because they put something of themselves into it. They use their own experiences, expectations, and associations to create the image, and this make it theirs. It becomes more personal; making it easier to understand and to believe in.”

Twice recently, I’ve been surprised by readers with compliments on my character descriptions.

One woman said, “I could see her perfectly. She was just like my Aunt May.”

I strongly suspect that the woman simply filled in the gaps of my description of the character herself. That something in the character’s dialogue or manner revealed itself to be similar to her aunt.

I don’t like to over-describe…anything, really. I was prompted for more detailed description in the Southern Quilting series because that was part of the cozy brand for Penguin’s craft cozies.

I’ve written on this subject before, but the reason I want to again is because writers can worry a lot about descriptions. They can overthink them.

I’m not saying there aren’t books that are better served with a lot more description than mine have. But with a few telling details or broad brushstrokes, you can give the readers more than enough to go on. And you don’t have to stress yourself out in the process.

A couple of telling details are helpful. A sour expression, hooded eyes, a condescending smile, a galloping gait, a braying laugh.

You can also describe characters indirectly, letting readers draw their own conclusions based on character dialogue and other characters’ observations about him. Or by describing the character’s house or car, letting readers know how tidy he is, or whether he owns expensive things, or doesn’t have enough food in the house.

As a reader, I tend to skim over extra character or setting description. I’m not looking for a dump of physical characteristics that I won’t remember.  I’m looking for insight into the character or at least some sort of quirk or detail that will help me to remember him while he’s offstage.

I like this article from writer Ali Luke: “How to Write Character Descriptions that Work” (she also agrees with the minimal approach).  She gives a helpful list of description dos and don’ts, including “try describing one character through another character’s eyes” and “with any kind of description, word choices matter a lot.”

You can find more resources for writing description in the WKB “settings and description” entries.  Or sign up to receive articles on the subject via email.

What’s your view on description as a reader and writer?

Tips for writing minimal character description: Click To Tweet

Photo via Visualhunt

Elizabeth Spann Craig

View posts by Elizabeth Spann Craig
Elizabeth writes the Memphis Barbeque series (as Riley Adams) and the Southern Quilting mysteries for Penguin and writes the Myrtle Clover series for Midnight Ink and independently. She also has a blog, which was named by Writer’s Digest as one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers. There she posts on the writing craft, finding inspiration in everyday life, and fitting writing into a busy schedule.

12 Comments

  1. Shalet JimmyMay 26, 2017

    That was a post even a budding writer like me understood. Thanks for this post….decided to follow your blog religiously…

    Thanks
    Shalet Jimmy

    1. Elizabeth Spann CraigMay 26, 2017

      Great! Hope it helps. :)

  2. Alex J. CavanaughMay 26, 2017

    Insight into the character – exactly! I don’t need a ton of descriptions nor do I write them. I have an imagination and can fill in the details.

    1. Elizabeth Spann CraigMay 26, 2017

      What’s more, I think it engages the reader more.

  3. Margot KinbergMay 26, 2017

    Oh, I couldn’t agree more, Elizabeth! Reading is a form of communication between author and reader. But it doesn’t work if the reader doesn’t get actively involved. And that, to me, means using the imagination. Letting the reader do that gets the reader more invested in reading, which is what we want as authors, I think.

    1. Elizabeth Spann CraigMay 26, 2017

      I think so, too. Hope you have a great weekend!

  4. Deborah Nam-KraneMay 27, 2017

    As a reader, I’m fine with character descriptions, but more than, oh, a paragraph about a setting makes me tune out. Sadly, I think this is the expectation in a couple of genres, particularly fantasy and sci-fi.

    1. Elizabeth Spann CraigMay 27, 2017

      I’ve noticed that, myself, in those genres. That’s too bad…it just makes me want to skim.

  5. Hilary Melton-ButcherMay 27, 2017

    Hi Elizabeth – I definitely agree with you here and with Nils’ comment (after your quoted part) … it is the reader who ‘brings the life’ … if I can ‘see’ it then I’m a very happy bunny reading a book. Lovely and helpful post with links – cheers Hilary

    1. Elizabeth Spann CraigMay 27, 2017

      Thanks, Hilary! Hope you have a nice weekend. :)

  6. Deanne CharltonJune 2, 2017

    Good post and links! Another way to indirectly describe a character is to show how they do things. One is always dashing around, another sits down often to ponder, and a third bellows; the reader fills in based on exposure to real people and how those attributes jibe with other aspects you give them in your writing,

    1. Elizabeth Spann CraigJune 2, 2017

      Excellent point! Yes, readers can tell a lot by observing characters and how they react in numerous situations, or in everyday occurrences.

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