Descriptions
I admit, I skimp them sometimes when I read, especially when the author dwells on describing something mundane. A sunset is a sunset -- I can imagine one just fine -- unless it has some emotional resonance or moves the plot or develops characters.
Good descriptions, like the painstaking details in a movie (such as Titanic), enhance the reading experience. Descriptions can be wonderful. Vivid descriptions put you in a 3-D space and transport you to that world, whether it's an alien planet or your hometown. The trick is to find the balance. In a movie, you don't want to let the set, the landscape, cinematography, etc. dominate the story and characters. Same concept in a story -- you don't want to STOP the story cold just to describe some beautiful sceneries. There has to be a reason, and descriptions should support and enhance the story, not overwhelm it. The best descriptions are those tightly integrated into the story, and the best descriptions always contain movements.
Good descriptions, like the painstaking details in a movie (such as Titanic), enhance the reading experience. Descriptions can be wonderful. Vivid descriptions put you in a 3-D space and transport you to that world, whether it's an alien planet or your hometown. The trick is to find the balance. In a movie, you don't want to let the set, the landscape, cinematography, etc. dominate the story and characters. Same concept in a story -- you don't want to STOP the story cold just to describe some beautiful sceneries. There has to be a reason, and descriptions should support and enhance the story, not overwhelm it. The best descriptions are those tightly integrated into the story, and the best descriptions always contain movements.
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