by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
A friend of mine has a party each summer. Each summer she tells me, “Now, Elizabeth. I know you don’t like parties, but I’m counting on you to come!”
Each year, I forget this party is imminent and when she reminds me about it (always, always in person), I’m sure I look completely stricken before I say, “Of course! I’m looking forward to it.”
The thing about this party is that I usually only know a few people there. This isn’t a big deal because I’m actually more comfortable with strangers—except for the fact that every single year I’m somehow introduced by the people I do know at the party as “their author friend” to the other guests.
Y’all know what I mean. Terrifying. I usually down my fair share of wine at this gathering.
Each year I also forget that everyone else in the world (excepting, perhaps, other writers), enjoys parties. Each year when I visit my friend in the days before the party, she’ll say something like, “What dish are you bringing to the party?” or “What are you wearing to the party?” or “What do you think if we do such-and-such at the party?”
And again I’ll give her this completely startled look. Sometimes I will even have already forgotten about the upcoming party (it would be on my calendar–but not in my head.) I won’t have given a thought what to bring to the party or what I’d wear. Each year it makes her laugh.
Each year I’ll go to the party (I went last week, actually.) I’ll visit with everyone, then leave fairly early with great relief. Without my serving dish.
Yes, I’m really a difficult person to be friends with. :)
There are details, while I’m writing, that are just not particularly important to me. A lot of them have to do with the things I mentioned above.
Setting, clothing descriptions, character descriptions, and dialogue tags come to mind. Details. Even as a reader, I tend to skip over them. I had some description. I had some tags. But obviously, I didn’t have enough.
At first, when I was writing, it took repeated notes from my different editors to point out the problem. Subconsciously, I must have thought that if it didn’t matter to me, it didn’t matter to the reader. And, really, it went deeper than that. These characters and places were so colorful and animated in my head–I think I forgot that others couldn’t see them too.
I’d find notes in Track Changes on the first few books from editors (different publishers, different series): Elizabeth, who is talking here? or Elizabeth, how old is this character? or Can you tell us a little more about what this store looks like? I can’t picture it. or This would be a great opportunity to tell what everyone is eating at the party.
Eventually, I realized I was getting the same notes a lot. Although writing description and other details slows me down while I’m writing (because I do labor over it—it’s not natural for me), I now layer in my details after I’m done with the first draft of the book. That way, everyone’s happy.
Because of course readers want that kind of information! Most people do. But it took my editors to point that out to me.
The point I’m making with this post is a couple of different things. First of all, we could all do with beta readers and editors to help point out what we’re blind to in our own book.
Also, if there are things that take extra effort from us—things that we have to take special care to write well—then layering in the text after the first draft can be a good way to accomplish that goal.
Have you ever found holes like this in your story—or had someone else point them out? Do you enjoy reading or writing details and description?
Image—Flickr Abdallah™’s photostream
I do like reading the little details about description and character. I find one or two small details, well-defined, help fire off my imagination for creating an image in my mind.
It might be just be, but I love the idea of being introduced at a party as somebody’s “author friend.” :-)
First of all, if I say (or post on my blog) that I had fun at a party or social, I did not. I lied. I want to have fun, but I don’t like to be in groups of people. I am not a good friend and yet I have friends. They must be saints.
For a person who is so detailed oriented, I forget details when I’m writing.
T
Elizabeth – Oh, I struggle with this one too. How much detail about clothes, food, etc., to put in and how much to leave out is always an issue. I think it’s because I started out with academic writing that I tend to be too spare. So I’ve had to learn to add in those details. I find it helps if I ask myself questions like: OK, so they’re having lunch together. What did they order? What theme does the restaurant have? I figure if I want to know those things, readers might.
If you want to read a book that is heavy on details given from various characters’ points of view but a great, great read, find “a land more kind than home” (the title is not capitalized) by Wiley Cash. I virtually never recommend books in comments like this, but your comments here made me think of this wonderful book I’m in the middle of reading now.
I am so grateful you posted about this because these things don’t come naturally to me as well. I had to layer them in with my memoir and even more so in the novel I am writing (my first). I do enjoy details but not overly so. I wlll definitely skip long, descriptive paragraphs.
karen
Paul–That’s what I hear about readers. :) Imagine them wanting to know what everything looks like!
Ha! Well, I’m sure you will be. I think the thing that distresses me about it is that usually I’ll take the opportunity at parties to watch *other people.* When the attention shifts to me, I can’t do that very well. Being a writer can be a conversation-shifter, too. Once the cat’s out of the bag, I usually answer a lot of questions. I’m always exhausted by the time I leave!
Teresa–Ha! Yes, and when I tell my hostess I had fun, I mean “I had as much fun as I possibly could, under the circumstances.” :)
I think writers like you and me must have very determined and dedicated friends!
I know what you mean. I’ve been hearing a lot of “What’s your book about?” lately. It’s great that people have the interest, but the more I hear myself repeat the summary, the louder that little voice in my head gets saying “It sucks!” :-p
Paul–That would be one of the questions I get. :) There’s not really a good way to describe a book in progress, so I usually say who the first victim was: “Oh, it’s about a murdered Realtor/TV personality/busybody.” Only problem with that is that during one of the parties, it was a Realtor I was talking with (clueless me). Then she had to ask why someone would want to murder a Realtor….bleh.
Really? Wow. I mean, surely that’s the point of a murder mystery. To figure out the motive as well as the killer. :-)
I start with my protagonist and their immediate situation.
“A man who remembers past lives investigates a supernatural predator killing people in New York.”
I’m like you with this. I used to be horrible about setting. I’d just plop my characters in a scene and hope my readers would see what I saw. Critique partners have certainly helped with this…not seeing what I saw. ;-)
~ Wendy
Layering is our friend!
I’m like you about physical details, though sometimes I warm up a scene by starting with description just to get my word-brain to latch on to visuals. It’s easy enough to cut the description later if it’s boring or wandery.
I also use “layers” for character motivations. In a mystery, people are lying, and sometimes they’re doing a really good job of it. So often I will have to write a scene in which the detective talks to the killer, as if the killer is telling the truth… and then do a separate pass on the scene just to consider what the killer is really thinking or trying to do.
Paul–Nice tagline! Sounds like a book I’d enjoy reading. :)
Margot–Great tip! Approaching it like a reporter might really help with detail work.
Wendy–It’s funny how those readers of ours can’t see in our heads!
Joe–I’ve read it! And I really enjoyed it. My book club selected it for a pick a few months ago. Nice Southern gothic. Great detail in that book, for sure. Reminded me a little of Ron Rash’s stuff.
You sound like me at parties. Funny how I can stand in front of a large crowd and talk but put me in a room full of people and I’m often very quite.
I read where women are better at noticing details, but I guess I’m not normal either.
I’m not a descriptive writer. Thankfully crit buddies are worth more than gold and chocolate combined and they’ll remind me!
Since I use real establishments in my books I do quite a bit of research by visiting them and looking up people’s reviews on Yahoo! Using descriptions from these two sources help paint an accurate descritpion for the reader.
I use Google Earth to zoom in on a place and the surrounding area too.
I am real light on the details and descriptions in the first draft. All right, sometimes the second and third ones as well! Guess I figure everyone else has an imagination and should use it like I do.
Diane–I’m not great speaking in front of groups like you are, but I’m downright awful at parties. :)
Not being normal works for me!
Stephen–Google Earth is an amazing tool! I use it for the Memphis series.
Alex–Ha! Maybe that’s what I’m thinking, too. :)
Karen–I’m glad there’s someone else like me! I think making a special pass for description is easier for me than struggling with it as I go.
You sound like me at a party. I have had to pick up little tricks to get through parties – they are torture for me too.
I also forget a lot of the little details about the characters. I know them so well I expect the reader to as well. I had to especially remember that on my sequel. I had to not assume the reader of the second book will have read the first.
Clarissa–Little tricks are good crutches to make it through parties! Usually I just like to watch people, but couldn’t do it this last time.
It’s almost like the characters come to life for us and we just expect they come across the same way to readers. :)
The Daring Novelist–I love layering. Best way to write books, I think! (Well, the easiest, anyway.)
I think I’d cut it all together, if it were up to me…good thing it’s not!
Good tip for handling the complexities of mystery writing! Character motivation is so key…that’s a great idea to have a separate pass for it.
Jemi–It’s good to have crit partners like those!
This totally cracked me up! Sounds like your friends are proud of you. You’re humble, so they have to do the bragging for you :)
My agent taught me to “add more fleas,” which she described as adding details. But like you, I definitely do it in later drafts. I’m doing it right now, as a matter of fact!
I’d rather go to the dentist than a party. Ugh.
I think it’s nice to go back and add things in. It’s so much less painful than going back and cutting a lot out!
Hi Elizabeth .. such a fun post – party time horrors … for next year I suggest you label the outfit now – then it’s ready for mid August, add to that post-it note … food required and buy big plastic/foil dish … then you can dash in – perhaps with a scattering of books … and dash out!
I like Julie’s add fleas … great thoughts here ..
Cheers Hilary
Great post – with lots of detail! While I share your fine-tuned avoidance skills about parties, I am a detail collector… probably because I’m also a photographer in equal parts with being a writer. Observing people for portraits and reading body language is something I do all the time (at the grocery store, in cafés, all the time).
And though my work is nonfiction, your point about using beta readers is one I relate to. For previous book, I took the first 2500 words + concluding paragraphs to a creative nonfiction workshop – positive feedback and smart critique: the readers wanted more of my story woven into the observations.
My current WIP is interview-based. I sent what I thought was the introduction to a few trusted beta readers and received golden advice in return: Of all the fascinating characters you’re describing, the one I’m most interested in is YOU. Put more of yourself in this.
Whoa! It’s not about me, I siad… but it is, because I’m the bridge for the reader to get to know the fascinating characters. Took me *months* to come to terms with that. But the work will be better for it.
Thanks – great post. Cheers, Martha
Your post had me with the first paragraph and never let go. I laughed out loud several times, shaking my head in commiseration/recognition as I kept reading. Hope you don’t mind if I add you to my short list of emo-doppelgangers! I’m hard at work on my first novel, which I did have an editor take a look at in second draft (!), and her feedback was invaluable. Now in draft seven I shake my head at myself as I remember her comment that one of my characters had “all the personality of white rice.” I’ve now read many books/chapters on description, and continue to be amazed at how often I need to remind myself to add detail. Thanks for the great post!
Julie–If they only knew how horrified I am when they introduce me that way–ack! They’d be surprised, I’m sure. :)
I love that expression…*adding fleas*!
Wendy–Me too! I’d even rather have dental *work* done than go to a party.
I write very sparely, so there’s never any real cutting–but a whole lot of adding!
Hilary–Very good idea! I think I might wear the same thing I wore this year. :) No pictures were taken at this party, so no one should remember. And…ah…foil. Yes, that will work much better than constantly leaving my serving dishes at this party!
Martha-Wish I were better at reading body language…but I do love to people watch. I just don’t like being watched *back*
The workshop you attended sounds like a wonderful experience–and the fact that they were *positive* was good, too. Beta readers can be critical for getting our story right.
Funny about putting ourselves in our books. I frequently say that I never do that…but that’s not true. I’ve noticed that nearly *all* of the negative traits and flaws that my characters have are mine. Not their good points, but their negative ones! Maybe it’s my way of doing therapy on myself. :)
That’s a lovely way of thinking of it–that we’re a bridge to the characters. Very true, too!
Meredith–Thanks so much! And…ooh…that editor wasn’t afraid to be blunt, was she? Mine tend to be extremely polite, but we do all our revision work through emails. I can’t see what’s going on in their office–for all I know they could be hitting their heads on their desks in frustration over my manuscripts!
While I’m writing, I’ve got the story playing through my head like a movie. Maybe that’s part of my problem right there–no one else can see this movie! I seem to overlook that on my first drafts. :)