http://www.jordansummers.com/2005/08/15/description/ Romance Writer & Urban Fantasy Novelist Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:16:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 http://www.jordansummers.com/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3029 Gabriele Thu, 25 Aug 2005 17:21:18 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3029 I like descriptions in older books (Balzac, anyone?), but I tend to skip them in contemporary genre fiction - I don't know why, perhaps because lengthy descriptions don't fit our time, or because few writers can put off a long description that is not boring... I know I can't. I belong to the club who has to go back and add stuff in, but since I edit while I go I usually do it when I've finished the scene, or even a few paragraphs. :) I like descriptions in older books (Balzac, anyone?), but I tend to skip them in contemporary genre fiction - I don’t know why, perhaps because lengthy descriptions don’t fit our time, or because few writers can put off a long description that is not boring… I know I can’t. I belong to the club who has to go back and add stuff in, but since I edit while I go I usually do it when I’ve finished the scene, or even a few paragraphs.

]]> http://www.jordansummers.com/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3028 Jordan Thu, 18 Aug 2005 03:38:42 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3028 Silma, I hear you, but unfortunately agents and editors call for those things in books. (Not long passages of description, but the internal musings and minor explanations.) Believe me, I know that one firsthand. :-/ Silma, I hear you, but unfortunately agents and editors call for those things in books. (Not long passages of description, but the internal musings and minor explanations.) Believe me, I know that one firsthand. :-/

]]> http://www.jordansummers.com/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3027 Silma Wed, 17 Aug 2005 23:20:29 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3027 Definitively skip descriptive passages! Give me well-written dialogues any time. I'm capable of finding some much about the characters through them. Sadly, I don't read that many novels in which the dialogues flow. They're always interrupted with boring explanations and deep thoughts. Ugh! Definitively skip descriptive passages! Give me well-written dialogues any time. I’m capable of finding some much about the characters through them. Sadly, I don’t read that many novels in which the dialogues flow. They’re always interrupted with boring explanations and deep thoughts. Ugh!

]]> http://www.jordansummers.com/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3026 Jordan Tue, 16 Aug 2005 20:49:49 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3026 Nothing wrong with that. LOL! Nothing wrong with that. LOL!

]]> http://www.jordansummers.com/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3025 Anonymous Tue, 16 Aug 2005 16:21:11 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3025 I totally skim...no attention span whatsoever I totally skim…no attention span whatsoever

]]> http://www.jordansummers.com/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3024 Jordan Tue, 16 Aug 2005 15:42:35 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3024 Peggy, I do too, unless they're VERY well done. (seamless) Peggy, I do too, unless they’re VERY well done. (seamless)

]]> http://www.jordansummers.com/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3023 Jordan Tue, 16 Aug 2005 15:41:53 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3023 Charlene, I strive to be middle of the road with descriptions. I still start to skim if a descriptive passage goes over three paragraphs. As for Woodiwiss and Lindsey, I haven't read them in quite a few years, but their older books ARE on my keeper shelf. :-D Charlene, I strive to be middle of the road with descriptions. I still start to skim if a descriptive passage goes over three paragraphs. As for Woodiwiss and Lindsey, I haven’t read them in quite a few years, but their older books ARE on my keeper shelf.

]]> http://www.jordansummers.com/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3022 Jordan Tue, 16 Aug 2005 15:38:03 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3022 Amy, I'm the same way. I haven't had either editor tell me I needed to add more descriptive detail, but my agent has mentioned it. (wg) Amy, I’m the same way. I haven’t had either editor tell me I needed to add more descriptive detail, but my agent has mentioned it. (wg)

]]> http://www.jordansummers.com/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3021 Jordan Tue, 16 Aug 2005 15:37:07 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3021 Thanks, Trace! I hope that you're right. ;-) Thanks, Trace! I hope that you’re right.

]]> http://www.jordansummers.com/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3020 Peggy Tue, 16 Aug 2005 14:54:23 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2005/08/15/description/#comment-3020 I'll admit it. I skim descriptives. Guilty as charged. For me, I feel like they invade the story. I’ll admit it. I skim descriptives. Guilty as charged. For me, I feel like they invade the story.

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