Description

This is an excellent book on how to improve your descriptive skills in writing fiction. The thing is, the concept of description covers multiple aspects of fiction--dialogue, for instance, so the book also substantially and helpfully discusses those aspects. Read it.

This book came recommended by a friend of mine. As description can sometimes give me fits (where to put it, what to say, how much, etc.), I was more than happy to hear her glowing recommendation for this book and to add it to my required reading list for the term.

And I now have to add my glowing recommendation on top of hers. Wood's text takes every aspect of description and ties it in with another element of writing: forward motion, setting, dialogue, style, and point of view. She also discusses particular problems that come up with description, and tackles some of those lessons so many writers hold dear.

For my buck, one of the most enlightening sections was the discussion of showing versus telling, where Wood breaks both down and show more explains what they mean in fiction, and why and when you should choose one over the other. That was gold. I'm particularly a fan of the telling voice when it's engaging, so I'm glad to see someone take "Show, Don't Tell" and put it in its proper place. Not that Wood advocates telling over showing, per se: she simply discusses how telling versus showing can rev up style, pick up the pace, and define the focus of your tale. After all, you don't always need a dramatized flashback to get a key piece of information across. Sometimes, you just need to lay it out like it is.

Flashbacks and flash-forwards are something else Wood discusses in detail, as well as simile and metaphor. I paid particular attention to description through dialogue, since I tend to rely on dialogue more than anything, but I also found her section on point of view particularly useful, as well as her section on setting. Interesting note on point of view, I think my third person tends to be more limited-distant, which is interesting, since my preference in reading is limited-intimate, and that's what I'm trying for. I keep blaming television and film for the measure of distance I can't seem to break out of, so point of view will continue to be something I continue to work at and improve on. And I even found her commentary on setting very useful. That's a particular weakness of mine, and every little bit of advice helps.

Overall, I can't recommend this book enough. It's a smooth read, accessible, and it uses good examples to get the point across. Beginning writers will find this of particular use, but I wouldn't limit this book to only beginners. There's some very good stuff in here, and it gives us plenty of food for thought, no matter what genre you write in. show less

An acquiring editor who had a blog on writing for newbies said that perhaps nothing separated amateur from professional fiction as a paucity of description. That what you find in professional fiction above all is a wealth of sensory details that immerse the reader in the author's world. He even suggested trying to evoke every five senses within every two pages--I've tried it--it's not as easy as it sounds, especially since as Wood puts it, I'm at the Puritan rather than the Baroque end of the description spectrum. So this is a crucial element of writing and the reason I bought this.

Mind you, that editor also told me that if you're going to take advice on writing, take it either from name-bestselling writers or gatekeepers such as show more acquiring editors or agents--not necessarily anyone who writes for Writer's Digest or has taught a writing class. Wood doesn't quality as a "name" writer, but I have liked the Elements of Fiction Writing series Writer's Digest puts out and this is no exception. Wood is good at breaking down the issues effectively. It's interesting how description comes up in every aspect of storytelling. There are chapters on "Description and Forward Motion," "Description and Dialogue," "Description and Point of View," "Description and Style," and "Description and Setting." show less

Definitely one of the best books on writing I've ever read. Effectively describes how to correct common mistakes made in description and gives great examples. I definitely recommend this book to all writers.