Writing Advice #1: Imagery
One of the most thing to take into account when writing (in my very humble opinion) is the description. You may possibly think that it’s not that relevant, that the plot and the characters are the most important thing, that I’m crazy. But that’s not the case (I may be a little crazy though). Yes, those are extremely important too, but what’s a great plot and characterization if the reader can’t visualize it?
As a reader, one of the characteristics I have identified that define a great book is how much you can “relate” to the characters and the plot. And this is achieved by descriptions. Not those boring-ass descriptions that become annoying after the first paragraph. I’m talking about descriptions that “create” IMAGERY, descriptions that help you relate to the situation, descriptions that allow you to visualize what’s going on.
And I think, please correct me if I’m wrong, that you need to think about how your readers want to or might feel when reading your writing.
1. When Emily opened her eyes she couldn’t feel anything but the soft fabric of her bedsheets and a good feeling in her gut. Today’s the day.
2. Emily woke up with a smile on her face. She’s getting married today.
How did you feel when reading those sentences? Which one do you prefer? Why? Think about it. Neither of them is wrong, both are acceptable and readable. But there’s a difference between narrating and expressing, the same type of difference between needing and wanting.
So next time you write something please take this into account. Hypnotize your readers with your words, make sure they don’t want to stop reading.