How I Write– The 2 Ds

I’ve been on a hiatus for a bit, but I’m starting it back up again now that my blog tour is somewhat settling down (i.e. I don’t have as many posts to write ;P).  I may be a bit slow to get back to all the posts, but I’m going to get there. Promise! I’ve had a fantastic release week so I thought I would jump back into How I Write friday with my awesome accountability friends. And really, I could not have accomplished as much as I have without them. They keep me in line. :p

This week, they brought up the discussion about, out of dialogue, narrative, exposition, or description, which is our favourite part to write and why? What is our least favourite? And what do we do to make our least favourite more attractive or easier?

All very tough questions! I’d like to say my dialogue is my favourite part to write but sometimes, it doesn’t come easily. I’m thinking here about how I try to explain things with science. When I go into the technical, it can take awhile. Also, I do struggle a bit to make sure each character has a distinct voice. That said, when it comes easily and it just clicks, it can be really really awesome. Dialogue is also very revealing about the character so it can give the reader some great glimpses of their internal workings.

Description has to be my least favourite. It’s not that I don’t like reading it, because I do. But getting it into a manuscript, can be a hassle. I don’t mean the basics of description but the layers upon layers upon layers. I’ve worked on this more, making sure to describe each room more, etc. I suppose to make it easier on me, I break it down. I don’t do it all at once, but have the characters make random comments or thoughts throughout.

I don’t necessarily think there needs to be tons of layers of description…I’m not in that camp. I like the reader to have enough to visualize and fill in what they want. If that makes any sense. lol

Want to see how other writers respond to these questions? Check out these sites: Danie Ford, Emma G. Delaney, Kimberly Farris, Kristen Koster