Descriptive Phrases

When we pack up our houses to move, we label our boxes "kitchen," "bedroom," and "bath." We do similar things when we're moving offices. That is, unless you have my brother working for you. Ken was helping a neighbor pack up her office. Boxes were labeled "stuff." Other boxes were labeled "things." He tells me he even used "more stuff." Can you imagine my neighbor's exasperation when she went to unpack? What the hell does "stuff" mean? And, what "things?"

So, this is what we want to avoid when we right. We want all of our material objects to have the appropriate names and descriptions. We want proper introductions of our characters and their relationships to each other. We don't want to leave anyone guessing what's going on. We must give our readers enough so that their world in our writing makes sense.

We've talked about descriptions before. We don't need pages. We do need adequate descriptions. We need to make sense in what we are saying. We don't have to spell everything out; but if I were to walk toward a bed, you would get the idea that I was in a bedroom. You don't need to say it unless the bed happens to be somewhere that it doesn't belong.

Let's say that the bedroom is being painted and for a couple of days, we're sleeping in the dining room. It would then become important to know that the bed is not in its normal place. It simply takes a little common sense. You wouldn't expect someone to make a cup of coffee in a bathroom. If you were in a motel, though, this would be possible. Those details must be shared.

Think about what you're writing and fill in any detail that is pertinent. If something is out of place, it becomes pertinent. If something is used in a way that varies from the norm, it becomes pertinent. Be descriptive and have fun with it. Just get a sense when you've told us enough.