tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post1852230805996545587..comments2024-03-06T05:24:11.328-05:00Comments on Kelly Hashway: Less is MoreKelly Hashwayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-31195590602510848202013-02-05T17:36:48.555-05:002013-02-05T17:36:48.555-05:00There are some genres that do allow for longer des...There are some genres that do allow for longer descriptions, like high fantasy. It's to be expected.Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-80517281257644401732013-02-05T17:36:05.308-05:002013-02-05T17:36:05.308-05:00Michelle, a trick to making sure you aren't te...Michelle, a trick to making sure you aren't telling instead of showing and a great way to keep the "less is more" mindset is by using dialogue. Much fewer words and your showing instead of telling.Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-71747591672511292572013-02-05T15:44:27.444-05:002013-02-05T15:44:27.444-05:00For me, the genre dictates it, and in my case, it ...For me, the genre dictates it, and in my case, it does call for narrative that can get a bit blocky, visually speaking. I tend to write in paragraphs as a result.William Kendallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00331324250821836822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-40958515759010072252013-02-05T15:18:04.562-05:002013-02-05T15:18:04.562-05:00I am catching up on posts. I like short and to th...I am catching up on posts. I like short and to the point, but for me that usually translates into tell instead of show. Granted you don't have to create a massive paragraph either. I think it comes down to if you have a gift of saying more with less while showing then less is better. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-12648060066437765212013-02-02T17:23:09.552-05:002013-02-02T17:23:09.552-05:00Oh yes, sometimes description is totally needed fo...Oh yes, sometimes description is totally needed for the story. I'm talking more about when writers use many words to say what can easily be said in a few more specific words. Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-12686164515725002472013-02-02T10:18:46.739-05:002013-02-02T10:18:46.739-05:00I believe it depends on the story the writer is wr...I believe it depends on the story the writer is writing, the characters, and if there is a message in the arch, then that plays a part as well in the way the writer spins her/his magic on the page. brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05480258485472568272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-22618191924924396732013-02-01T07:05:24.149-05:002013-02-01T07:05:24.149-05:00I find that happens to me too, Janel. We get used ...I find that happens to me too, Janel. We get used to writing only what's necessary and sometimes adding in some extra to enhance the story is a nice treat.Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-71131355499075880092013-01-31T21:12:45.135-05:002013-01-31T21:12:45.135-05:00I wrote flash fiction almost exclusively for about...I wrote flash fiction almost exclusively for about 2 or 3 years. Now that I'm writing longer pieces I find my word counts increasing in revisions as I add at least some descriptions in that wouldn't be possible in a small, flash story.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00823616282284779390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-12469188243051673242013-01-31T19:07:08.351-05:002013-01-31T19:07:08.351-05:00I know exactly what you mean. Some authors can pul...I know exactly what you mean. Some authors can pull it off well.Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-36496177296279207522013-01-31T18:51:05.937-05:002013-01-31T18:51:05.937-05:00Most of the time I prefer less is more- but at tim...Most of the time I prefer less is more- but at times I can enjoy a lot of description, It depends on the author. I think it is the way it is written. JK Rowling uses quite a bit of decription and I fall right into the story, but with some authors the description is too much. :)<br />Stephanie@Fairday's Bloghttp://thesecretdmsfilesoffairdaymorrow.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-30307745853700300602013-01-31T13:32:13.166-05:002013-01-31T13:32:13.166-05:00:):)Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-21490929259726010042013-01-31T13:26:58.205-05:002013-01-31T13:26:58.205-05:00If I had a motto....LESS IS MORE would be it! :)If I had a motto....LESS IS MORE would be it! :)DL Hammonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02007260062331783715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-74726587549183186182013-01-31T13:19:31.280-05:002013-01-31T13:19:31.280-05:00Sometimes you need someone else to help you figure...Sometimes you need someone else to help you figure that out.Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-34018116261469424132013-01-31T13:15:48.563-05:002013-01-31T13:15:48.563-05:00Kelly, I agree with you that less is more.
My pr...Kelly, I agree with you that less is more. <br /><br />My problem is deciding what to take out and what to leave in.Terriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14395003560792009919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-131585144056489072013-01-31T12:11:02.415-05:002013-01-31T12:11:02.415-05:00Of definitely! I read a lot of things I don't ...Of definitely! I read a lot of things I don't write. I find it's sometimes easier to read for enjoyment that way.Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-42413946210050255362013-01-31T11:40:32.668-05:002013-01-31T11:40:32.668-05:00Okay, I know I can talk all over the place.
I did...Okay, I know I can talk all over the place.<br /><br />I didn't read much of L.S.'s books (I can only handle so much melancholy outside real life), but I have read Despereaux and I loved it, yet I know I can't write omniscient like some writers can. We can certainly love reading what we can't write ourselves, but sometimes wish we could.<br /><br /><br /><br />Taurean Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604609379930060667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-70258858869376464692013-01-31T11:30:21.332-05:002013-01-31T11:30:21.332-05:00Well said, Anita! I agree. Beautiful description h...Well said, Anita! I agree. Beautiful description has a place but shouldn't be overdone. I'm guilty of restating what I've already said, and that's something I always look for when I revise. Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-84323675195215731752013-01-31T11:27:35.667-05:002013-01-31T11:27:35.667-05:00I think that saying more with less is a real skill...I think that saying more with less is a real skill. When I first started writing, like many first-time writers I used to 'overwrite'. Now when editing I check that consecutive sentences aren't saying the same thing in a different way. (I've just re-read this and think I've done it here!) I do enjoy reading beautiful description, but not too much of it at once-just enough to set the scene.Anita Chapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08643609708390860371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-91872211626510827372013-01-31T11:24:40.262-05:002013-01-31T11:24:40.262-05:00I skim. I admit to it. That's why I love dialo...I skim. I admit to it. That's why I love dialogue in books. It's so easy to read and it tells you what you need to know.Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-71587864644109003242013-01-31T11:21:04.990-05:002013-01-31T11:21:04.990-05:00I don't mind length as long as I feel it's...I don't mind length as long as I feel it's relevant, which is entirely an opinion thing. My husband, for example, loves the long descriptions that come with epic fantasy.<br /><br />I also don't mind skimming through, or skipping a paragraph. Maybe I will enjoy it in a slower, future read, but the first time is for story. :-)Carrie Sorensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10458547954843396305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-4100680413657228402013-01-31T11:11:42.096-05:002013-01-31T11:11:42.096-05:00I think the age group definitely has something to ...I think the age group definitely has something to do with it. Attention spans can play into what readers want.<br /><br />But I do prefer short and sweet myself, so maybe it's both. ;)Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-72185280503198168082013-01-31T10:50:37.443-05:002013-01-31T10:50:37.443-05:00Maybe it's our genre- YA readers are a quick s...Maybe it's our genre- YA readers are a quick study group and they're not going to wade through acres of wordy description. Or maybe it's us - we like it short and sweet?Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-16358909759044877622013-01-31T09:52:47.503-05:002013-01-31T09:52:47.503-05:00Taurean, I knew what you meant. I was talking abou...Taurean, I knew what you meant. I was talking about reading them, too. While I did enjoy A Series of Unfortunate events, which to me seems like 2nd person most of the time because he talks directly to the reader, I couldn't write like that. It's just not my thing. Good for LS, though. :) I think any POV can work if done well. Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-252262727676612872013-01-31T09:38:24.839-05:002013-01-31T09:38:24.839-05:00It can be a challenge sometimes. You're defini...It can be a challenge sometimes. You're definitely right.Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086062096420008519.post-89870693271454679822013-01-31T09:30:25.357-05:002013-01-31T09:30:25.357-05:00This kind of depends on the book for me--some auth...This kind of depends on the book for me--some authors can pull off seriously engaging chunks of prose that I really enjoy, others I just skim past these parts. It might have something to do with the story, my mood, or if the information is necessary. For my own writing though, I definitely shoot for less is more (well, when possible)--though it can be a challenge!Meradeth Houstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06741790047121063893noreply@blogger.com