It is all about the details

This is a follow-up post to the one I posted on sensory lists and the importance of using descriptive words to "show" the reader what you are writing about. I would say one of the hardest things for a writer to do is learn how to describe things and know how much detail to use. I find that reading books about the craft helps, but I think reading the authors in the genre you want to write about is very helpful. You can learn the author's style and how they incorporate scene changes, character development, plot, etc.

Don't tell reader, show reader- how angry are you, write about anger: "red as a tomato" would depict the person was fuming.

Show with words-paint a picture. This will awake feelings within the reader and see what you are trying to tell them. Show as much information as possible but don't do it for too long.

Do not use "about" - go into the writing directly. Listen to how people tell stories, a writer justs needs to embellish and/or exaggerate; people want to hear this.

In writing, you can do what you want to do. Figure out ways to build details from a simple paragraph-this gives the reader more detail of what is happening. Back any statement you make with a concrete picture.

Be as specific as you can-if you mention a flower, give the name of the flower (red rose, pink carnation) Get used to naming things, name people,this brings the reader into your story.

Choose something specific to write about, then hone in on the details, but not so much that it gets claustrophobic and you lose the thread of the scene or story. Writing detail is valuable and the writer should not take this for granted.

See the ex ordinariness in your own life. If you see your life as ordinary, this will come out in your writing. Give your full attention to whatever it is you are writing.