Resources for help with descriptive writing?

[trancejeremy]

Wasn't sure whether to put this here, since it's book related, or the off-topic forum.


But basically I've started writing a novel. It's actually going surprisingly well. Not that I have any real belief that I will get it published anywhere else but Lulu.com, but still it's something I've always wanted to do. That's actually why I started writing reviews, to be able to write on a consistent basis.

Anyway, my previous efforts were largely short stories. I would like my descriptions to be more detailed and fleshed out in this. But I've having trouble coming up with longer ones. Mostly with people. It's not so coming up with what the characters look like I have a pretty good picture in my mind's eye, it's just I need help in describing them more vividly.

I can simply lay on more adjectives, but that gets silly. Clothing too has proven a bit problematic. I'm not exactly up on fashions, especially what various things are called.

I have a couple "How To" writing books, but one is more of a style guide and the other is mostly on how to sell your work (which is now rather dated, as it was originally written in the 80s) and just the basics. Are there any that focus entirely on the descriptive process of writing? Or maybe some websites that can help?

Thanks. :\

 

[Piratecat]

I'll be interested in this as well.

I recommend Steven King's "On Writing."

 

[papastebu]

Let me start by saying that I have a tremendously difficult time finishing projects, especially long-term ones. That said, I think that this is relevant.
When we are children, everything we do is learned by imitation. We learn speech, our written language(s), music, art, and any other activity--its rudiments, at least--through copying those who have gone before, or trying to mimic the world around us.
I would suggest that you do the same thing with written description of ANY sort. At first your descriptions will perhaps seem too wordy or possibly too sparse, but practice makes perfect. Write a description of your own features, or your parents', siblings', or your parents' siblings'. Just a suggestion.
A book to read for general writing knowledge is Telling Lies for Fun and Profit, by Lawrence Block, deceased, mystery writer and writer about writing. Not only is it very informative, it is amusing enough that I have read it multiple times.
Something that can be done to make a character stand out in the reader's mind is to give them a striking feature. One character that I created had piercing blue eyes in a face that resembled aged leather. His eyes were clear and unblemished in this harshly-weathered face, and I think that it really makes him stand out when he is first introduced in a scene.
One of the major concerns with descriptive passages is to keep them as brief as possible while keeping all of the important stuff evident. If you haven't named the character that scene, yet, or aren't planning to, like when they are being seen through another character's eyes, make sure that all of the tell-tale signs of that character are there, taking into account things like distance and visibility.
Another thing that can be done is to space out the description of a character, giving through description of actions the traits that will later identify him or her. This is particularly effective when describing a character for the first time in a longer work. Given this sort of treatment early on, you can then trot out some mannerism that points to the trait, such as, "Raking slender fingers through shaggy, reddish hair, Jacob steeled himself before placing his pale hand on the icy doorknob. Palmade slickened his grip, and he could smell the camphor from the Carmex he'd just slathered over his chapped and cracking lips."
Also, try and engage as many of the senses in the scene as possible, and keep it in the POV character's perspective while doing so. One thing that has always made action scenes pop off the page for me is minute description of something that is very much a part of what's going on, but might be irrelevant, like the way a character might notice heat suddenly blossoming where he'd been shot, and white-hot sound filling his ears, but not realize that he had even BEEN shot until a few lines later as he picks himself up off the piss-stinking floor of the tenement hall where he fell.
I do go on.

 

[Gab]

Robert J. Sawyer has some info on his website: http://sfwriter.com

(You have to scroll down a bit for the "How to Write" option on the left menu)

 

[Scribe Ineti]

This book is part of a really good series on writing. It might prove useful.

http://www.amazon.com/Description-S...1862529?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189096284&sr=8-6

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

I recommend Steven King's "On Writing."

Fantastic book. Not only is it full of practical advice, but it's an interesting read as well. You may or may not like Stephen King as a storyteller, but he knows his craft and teaches it well. Definitely pick this one up.

 

[trancejeremy]

Let me start by saying that I have a tremendously difficult time finishing projects, especially long-term ones. That said, I think that this is relevant.
When we are children, everything we do is learned by imitation. We learn speech, our written language(s), music, art, and any other activity--its rudiments, at least--through copying those who have gone before, or trying to mimic the world around us.

To a certain exent that's what I'm doing, and what I'm looking for. Like maybe a book that has pictures of objects or people, and then different writers describing that person or object in different ways in a paragraph.

The author I'm mimicking, or at least would like to, is Chandler, to my mind the most vivid author when it comes to describing people. For instance:

He sat behind his desk with his coat off and his sleeves rolled almost to his shoulders. He was a bald as a brick and getting heavy around the waist like all hard-muscled men in middle age. His eyes were fish gray. His big nose was a network of burst capillaries. He was drinking coffee and not quietly. His blunt strong hands had hairs thick on their backs. Grizzled tufts stuck out of his ears.

or

At a flat desk in line with the doors was a tall, lean, dark-haired lovely whose name, according to the tilted embossed plaque on her desk, was Miss Adrienne Fromsett

She wore a steel gray business suit and under the jacket a dark blue shirt and a man's tie of light shade. The edges of the folded handkerchief in the breast pocket looked sharp enough to slice bread. She wore a linked bracelet and no other jewelry. Her dark hair was parted and fell in loose but not unstudied waves. She had a smooth ivory skin and rather severe eyebrows and large dark eyes that looked as if they might warm up at the right time and right place.

Of course, the trouble with Chandler, from my point of view, is most of the people he describes like that are cops, mobsters, or femme fatales.

What also would be helpful are lists of adjectives/words that work well describing various bits of the face and body. Like the nose. I noticed I had used "trapezoidal" to describe one character's nose. Which is probably something I want to change. But I can't think of many way to describe noses. That's the sort of book I'm after. Surely I would think something like that would exist, but maybe not.

 

[Darth Shoju]

Definitely don't just start layering on the adjectives -- that is a quick way to get into "purple prose" and just makes your writing hard to read. Twain and Hemingway both followed the theory that you are far better off finding the right verb and noun than using a bunch of adjectives and adverbs. I think Stephen King said that the road to Hell is paved with adverbs.

I'd like to second the suggestion for Rob Sawyer's advice on his website: I've read every article at least three times. He is a good friend to a couple of the people in my writing group and they rave about him. I'm hoping I get to meet him soon as he is apparently an excellent teacher.

The only other advice I can offer (since I'm really just starting out as a writer myself) is to write as often as you can (practice makes perfect right?), read good books (crap goes in, crap comes out), and try to get into a writing group/writer's workshop, etc.

Good luck! I'd love to hear how things go as you write that novel.

 

[Scribe Ineti]

Also check out Holly Lisle's site for a lot of writing advice. She has a massive free PDF called "Mugging the Muse" that is full of good tips.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Almost all of the recommended books on the WoTC site are worth reading. (The reference books they recommend to prospective novelists.)

I particularly enjoy this one:
Link

It is out of print; you'll have to buy a used copy. The one I got is in excellent condition and arrived (I think) the very next day.

I have to tell you, however, he doesn't think much of adjectives and adverbs.