tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post347868515332609822..comments2024-03-16T18:32:15.171-07:00Comments on Writing About Writing (And Occasionally Some Writing): Significant DetailChris Brecheenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819138776404280633noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-66156312429664096772013-08-26T08:03:13.112-07:002013-08-26T08:03:13.112-07:00Got you beat: never read past The Hobbit, because ...Got you beat: never read past The Hobbit, because I couldn't get into the other books. I might as well turn in my nerd badge and slink off in shame...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-12583643647952128392013-05-30T11:06:43.425-07:002013-05-30T11:06:43.425-07:00I have yet to finish Return of the King! How's...I have yet to finish Return of the King! How's that for losing nerd cred?Joe Traunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-82141899182666895192013-05-30T01:10:02.635-07:002013-05-30T01:10:02.635-07:00Yeah, I lose nerd cred every time I admit this, bu...Yeah, I lose nerd cred every time I admit this, but I basically skipped through huge chunks of Lord of the Rings.Chris Brecheenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07819138776404280633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-78716027819269218502013-05-30T01:03:25.601-07:002013-05-30T01:03:25.601-07:00I did read that review, and I agreed with pretty m...I did read that review, and I agreed with pretty much everything you said. It was great for me mostly as a source of inspiration, and it shed a different light on different parts of the writing process. It works well as a *supplement* to the classes I've taken and other writing books I've read.<br /><br />Let me add Tolkien to your list of description-fiends. Though in his defense, he was a linguist. Had to put all those words *somewhere*.Joe Traunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-13365228829789589022013-05-29T15:00:03.716-07:002013-05-29T15:00:03.716-07:00True on all counts. Anyone who's read Anne Ri...True on all counts. Anyone who's read Anne Rice or Umberto Eco knows that there's a line between significant detail and TOO MUCH DAMNED detail. <br /><br />On Writing is a good book. Have you seen my review of it? http://chrisbrecheen.blogspot.com/2012/04/product-review-stephen-kings-on-writing.html<br /><br />I actually think too much description demonstrates that a writer doesn't trust their reader very much.Chris Brecheenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07819138776404280633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-68109476026584354032013-05-29T14:56:52.925-07:002013-05-29T14:56:52.925-07:00Stephen King has talked about leaving out certain ...Stephen King has talked about leaving out certain details in order to keep the reader engaged--that is, to allow the reader to connect to the description with all of their own baggage so that it has that much more weight.<br /><br />You describe a guy with a pony-tail, sandals, and a tie-dyed shirt, and we can come together on who that person is superficially. Go much further than that, and you risk excluding me from your vision. <br /><br />Apologies for the constant King references--On Writing is the most recent writing book I've gotten through, so I'm wearing King-colored glasses at the moment. <br /><br />Joe Trau here, FYI.Joseph Trauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10180001070105273119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-31398435088052720302012-11-14T11:59:50.325-08:002012-11-14T11:59:50.325-08:00Hey, this is like actually helpful. You should do...Hey, this is like actually helpful. You should do more like this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com