Is description a dying art?

Woven · Sep 20, 2008

It saddens me greatly that pop culture seems to demand less frilly books with fewer purple prose. I love to read descriptions, but I am the only person in the real world that I know of who does. Fortunately I'm not prone to writing lengthy descriptions, but it's a skill I wish I could be better at. I'd include them if I was any good at it.

I love Anne Rivers Siddons. She makes me feel like I'm there.

Fenika · Sep 20, 2008

Visual media has left us with no patience for purple prose imo. And that's on several levels...

joyce · Sep 20, 2008

You're not alone. I like to read descriptions too. It's great to read something that makes you feel like you are right there, seeing and feeling everything that's going on. Of course I want the story to be moving along and not lost in descriptions alone. I have a tendency to describe and it's been hard to kill that type of writing off. It will probably be my curse to why I'll never become published.

TheAntar · Sep 20, 2008

Hopefully.

Ever since I was forced to read Lord of the Flies in junior high, I've detested overly descriptive books. I didn't really enjoy LOTR for the same reasons. Don't get me wrong, the stories hidden within the pages and pages of useless description were fantastic.

So many of the classics are all description, no plot that I find them snores.

I know this is probably controversial, but I'm glad to see more character and action, less description in the books I read in modern times.

petronella63 · Sep 20, 2008

I'm another person who likes description and lots of it. I find it makes a story more real for me. And, oddly enough, it makes a story flow better because I don't have to take the time to imagine the background or the characters. I'm a weird reader, that's all I can say.

Yes, as a writer I tend to use lots of description too.

Ageless Stranger · Sep 20, 2008

Description can be very wonderful to read indeed. China Mieville is a master of interesting description in my opinion.

Someone has to fix that dang thread title. It is causing me brain pain.

GLAZE_by_KyrstinMc · Sep 20, 2008

Descriptions aren't dying in my book!

Ageless Stranger · Sep 20, 2008

GLAZE_by_KyrstinMc said:
Descriptions aren't dying in my book!

They're dieting in mine.

kuwisdelu · Sep 20, 2008

Probably.

Personally, I like some description. There's a fine line between too much and too little.

But in general, I like more than most of what gets published today. A lot of the bestsellers I glance through at the bookstore are far too sparse for me to try reading.

Personally, I still describe. I try my best to make my descriptions lively, and make them a part of the action, and I've yet to hear many complain.

Karen Duvall · Sep 20, 2008

I don't think description is dead, I think it's evolved. The days of florid similes and convoluted metaphor are over, giving way to brevity with purpose. Description for the sake of description has become obsolete because in the better stories, it's woven in with other narrative constructs. Seamless. Maybe that's why you don't notice it as much. It's no longer the one in the red dress standing up in the middle of the room. It blends in to actually become part of the story.

brokenfingers · Sep 20, 2008

I think the level of description varies with the genre you're writing in as well as the type of story you're telling. Some genres don't require as much description as others.

There's not much need to describe a car or an elevator or a mall or a train in a thriller, but when dealing with speculative fiction (fantasy and science fiction) you couldn't tell the story the same way if someone had never seen them before.

Mr. Anonymous · Sep 20, 2008

I like description, but not when there's too much of it. In other words, if there's too much I get bored. I find that as a writer I lean towards brief descriptions.

Pike · Sep 20, 2008

There's a level of description that teases the brain and there's too much that it jams up the reading but is it dying? Nah. It varies from writer to writer on how much and where.

Woven · Sep 20, 2008

GLAZE_by_KyrstinMc said:
Descriptions aren't dying in my book!

Argh! One of my typical "search and destroy" errors.

Woven · Sep 20, 2008

Karen Duvall said:
I don't think description is dead, I think it's evolved. The days of florid similes and convoluted metaphor are over, giving way to brevity with purpose. Description for the sake of description has become obsolete because in the better stories, it's woven in with other narrative constructs. Seamless. Maybe that's why you don't notice it as much. It's no longer the one in the red dress standing up in the middle of the room. It blends in to actually become part of the story.

I hope this is true, and I think perhaps you are right. I just hope writing doesn't become just-the-facts or just-the-action.

Karen Duvall · Sep 20, 2008

Woven said:
I hope this is true, and I think perhaps you are right. I just hope writing doesn't become just-the-facts or just-the-action.

You and me both. How boring would that be? :sleepy:

SPMiller · Sep 20, 2008

It perplexes me that you'd complain about a dearth of description when, in my view, there's still far too much of it. However, I may have that perspective because 1) I read fantasy, and 2) fantasy writers tend to overdescribe stuff. Other genres may not be subject to the same flaw.

GLAZE_by_KyrstinMc · Sep 20, 2008

Ageless Stranger said:
They're dieting in mine.

Ah, but mine are also taking sleeping pills.

maestrowork · Sep 20, 2008

It depends on the kind of books. When I read a thriller, I want action. I want fast pace. I want snappy dialogue. I don't want lots of descriptions -- just enough to get me there.

But there are books that are like a scrumptious dinner. It's not about the quantity but the quality, and you end up savoring every bite slowly... that's when scrumptious descriptions are wonderful treats. Ian McEwan's Atonement, for example. But I can only read these books once in a while, like a gourmet meal, and I must take my time.

GLAZE_by_KyrstinMc · Sep 20, 2008

maestrowork said:
It depends on the kind of books. When I read a thriller, I want action. I want fast pace. I want snappy dialogue. I don't want lots of descriptions -- just enough to get me there.

But there are books that are like a scrumptious dinner. It's not about the quantity but the quality, and you end up savoring every bite slowly... that's when scrumptious descriptions are wonderful treats. Ian McEwan's Atonement, for example. But I can only read these books once in a while, like a gourmet meal, and I must take my time.

*Nodding head in agreement*

ColoradoGuy · Sep 20, 2008

I edited the title so folks won't think spelling is a dying art, either.

gypsyscarlett · Sep 20, 2008

I don't think description has gone anywhere. As others have noted, it really depends on the genre.

Personally, I love it. (and have some in my WIP) But then, I devour 19th c. lit.

I think it's important to know what to describe and what not. A good writer can describe a room and make you feel as though you are right there. They will highlight things. Whereas, another writer will do the "description list" that makes readers' eyes glaze over.

Alice.S · Sep 20, 2008

oh! I know what you mean. I love reading descriptions too, and writing them, although I know I lack the talent to. And I too see it dieing out and I know that in the words of one character that people always relate my name to; "...what's the use of books without conversation and pictures." and although we're never told what that "dim" book was that she discarded before descending down the rabbit hole - that curious 12 year old never did explore the world of descriptions

.

grrrrrshon · Sep 20, 2008

language evolves - put on your big girl panties and get over it.

Woven · Sep 20, 2008

maestrowork said:
It depends on the kind of books. When I read a thriller, I want action. I want fast pace. I want snappy dialogue. I don't want lots of descriptions -- just enough to get me there.

But there are books that are like a scrumptious dinner. It's not about the quantity but the quality, and you end up savoring every bite slowly... that's when scrumptious descriptions are wonderful treats. Ian McEwan's Atonement, for example. But I can only read these books once in a while, like a gourmet meal, and I must take my time.

Mmm, I must agree. "The Thornbirds" is a great one for me. But there are a couple action scenes where I wish for slightly less detail.

Is description a dying art?

Woven

Fenika

joyce

I'm really shy...

TheAntar

petronella63

Ageless Stranger

Dave Brubeck kicks your ass.

GLAZE_by_KyrstinMc

Ageless Stranger

Dave Brubeck kicks your ass.

kuwisdelu

Revolutionize the World

Karen Duvall

Chalice the Hatchet Knight

brokenfingers

Walkin' That Road

Mr. Anonymous

Just a guy with a pen & a delusion

Pike

Chivalry ain't dead

Woven

Woven

Karen Duvall

Chalice the Hatchet Knight

SPMiller

Prodigiously Hanged

GLAZE_by_KyrstinMc

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

GLAZE_by_KyrstinMc

ColoradoGuy

I've seen worse.

gypsyscarlett

Ma fin est mon commencement

Alice.S

just ate all your candy

grrrrrshon

Woven