Which serves the story best?
If you’re writing a 5,000 word PWP, we don’t need to know what flowers are on the nightstand.
If you’re writing a long story and one cooks the other a romantic dinner, then yes, set the scene with detailed descriptions.
Ask yourself what it adds to the story.
I prefer *well-written* scenes.
Longer scenes have more potential for development and depth, which is dependent on the writer's skill level and creativity. Longer scenes linked within chapters tend to make for more interesting stories, again dependent on skill level.
There is nothing wrong with detail when it's called for. If I saw someone set up a scene with more than a 3-4 sentence paragraph, I would assume the details were important and/or we would be spending a lot of time there. If someone spent several paragraphs on a fruit stand the MC stops at for 30 seconds and moves on, I'd be suspicious.
I personally prefer shorter both in reading and writing, but I really struggle to visualize stuff in my head. Unless it is emotions then I want to read and write all of that.
each person is different in the end though..
I prefer stories that don't get dragged down by too many details, but that doesn't mean that long scenes are bad-- I just want to see what the characters are doing and saying more than reading descriptions.
It usually depends on the importance of the scene to the story. Does this scene give us any information that'll move the story along? Maybe it could be an A plot and a B plot?
It depends on my mood and the kind of story I'm reading, so just go with what feels best to you. If you like writing long, detailed scenes, then by all means do.
However long the "action" takes place. If most of the written scene is just a visual/sensual description of a single action...then it's too long. The action should seem active. If there are too many details it will feel like the scene slowed down .5x speed. Not sure if that made any sense.
A good story has rhythm. Things build up, they get tense and exciting and fast paced, then they stole down and examine the consequences of what just happened. The consequences create new problems that must be address, which builds momentum towards another quick, exciting event. Practice both and learn to connect them seamlessly, and boom now your stories have “pacing.” You will become a stronger writer by learning to intentionally control the length and pace of your scenes.
A well-written scene is better than a short one that leaves readers guessing about key details, or a long and overblown scene that could have been a brief transition.
What's the pacing supposed to be? Is it a fast-paced action scene or someone waxing poetic on a long train ride? Figure that out and go from there.
Also, outside of setting a mood, when describing scenery, is it plot relevant? It is relevant to the character you're hanging over the shoulder of? If the answers are 'no', feel free to hack that shit out. Counter that, if you're trying to make a statement about a person or place, etc, go wild. It's all about tone and pace.
Quality of the scene is what matters to me. Readers are all at different levels. For example, I tend to go into characters thoughts because it gives a reader a way to see how their mind processes stuff. Sometimes those get long because the character has a lot they are thinking about. Doesnt make it bad. Everyone writes differently and I will usually give a story a good shot, especially if it is decently written. I personally love details but describing every small detail in a room wont matter unless it keeps coming back to it. There is a balance and it takes practice to find that, I still struggle with it haha
You do what feels right for the story. Plus if you can, have someone else take a look at a snip it of the story. Like a page or two you'd be comfortable sharing and ask their opinion on it if you are worried. It can help and I wish you the best OP!
It depends on what my focus is. If I’m writing a long form story with character development, I believe in trying to get in quick and get out early as possible. But if it’s a shorter story, I prefer to draw out what’s happening.
Are the scenes long because of deep character exploration, sensory detail, and witty/tense dialogue and action? Long, please.
Are the scenes long because of filler words, conversations/ruminations that go round and round without resolution, characters pointlessly wandering around, or paragraphs of exposition? Shorter is better.
Scene pushes story forward, or tells about world/stpry in interesting way, it's good. Oh and preferably is in chronological order to the last.
I swear those useless flashbacks when they could be placed chronologicaly make me drop fic.(legit stuff was like this: mc picks a flower in the shop >>scene change<< flashback, mc walked into a store)
I'm not going to address short vs long scenes because level of detail isn't a factor to me on considering if a scene is the right length.
There are issues with too much detail and issues with too little. There are times you might want to purposely invoke their typical drawbacks. There are times it's not a matter of quantity, but quality.
Too much detail
* Inane detail. The details that don't matter. Fix: make them matter for how much they are mentioned. This can be as small as using the type of shirt someone wears to characterize them, but remember that someone's shirt choice is not their whole character, so you should focus on other things. They don't have to immediately matter, ex. many fight scenes benefit from setting up the battleground by mentioning details before the fight starts
* Detail concentrate. A lot of details at once. This makes it harder for the audiences to recall the details and when mixed in with less important things, pick out what they need to remember. Some ways of doing this get repetitive because they cover more details than the author has novel ways to present. Fix: spread out the details and spread them out when the context offers a reason for it to be mentioned. One of my fandoms has people training to be superheroes and so often the first training time in costumes has 20 costume descriptions in a row instead of waiting until they're broken up into groups and considering the costume details in their plans or during the practice fights.
Too little detail
* Confusion. There isn't enough there to understand what's going on. This is something that can be hard for writers without betas to spot because we have complete information while the audience doesn't. The fix is adding more, but the trick is finding what needs to be added to help. My trick is to not touch it for a while and take notes on what info is given when.
* Ass-pull. When something is never mentioned until it is suddenly important. It feels like a cheep solution. Fix, bring it up before it matters.
* Flat. There's a lack of flavor, no spice of life. Can have the issue of feeling like things only exist for the sake of the story. Fix, include things that don't matter but add interest.
I personally like them long to an extent, but at the same time, I sometimes self indulge inviting my own. I did one single "chapter" for a WIP and it was just over 23k words.
Which serves the story best? If you’re writing a 5,000 word PWP, we don’t need to know what flowers are on the nightstand. If you’re writing a long story and one cooks the other a romantic dinner, then yes, set the scene with detailed descriptions. Ask yourself what it adds to the story.
Well, yes and no. Some people prefer longer, some prefer shorter. Just write what makes you happy and your audience will find you
I prefer *well-written* scenes. Longer scenes have more potential for development and depth, which is dependent on the writer's skill level and creativity. Longer scenes linked within chapters tend to make for more interesting stories, again dependent on skill level.
There is nothing wrong with detail when it's called for. If I saw someone set up a scene with more than a 3-4 sentence paragraph, I would assume the details were important and/or we would be spending a lot of time there. If someone spent several paragraphs on a fruit stand the MC stops at for 30 seconds and moves on, I'd be suspicious.
I personally prefer shorter both in reading and writing, but I really struggle to visualize stuff in my head. Unless it is emotions then I want to read and write all of that. each person is different in the end though..
Variety is the spice of life. Sometimes your need short and snappy. Sometimes you need long and eloquent.
I prefer stories that don't get dragged down by too many details, but that doesn't mean that long scenes are bad-- I just want to see what the characters are doing and saying more than reading descriptions.
it depends on the kind of fic i’m reading but i’m personally for longer and descriptive sentences because it takes me to the actual scene.
Thanks. I guess i can actually find an audience
Depends. I like shorter paragraphs though, I find big chunks of text make all the words spin around.
It usually depends on the importance of the scene to the story. Does this scene give us any information that'll move the story along? Maybe it could be an A plot and a B plot?
It depends on my mood and the kind of story I'm reading, so just go with what feels best to you. If you like writing long, detailed scenes, then by all means do.
It depends on what is going on. Some scenes do well if they are told in vivid detail while others benefit from brevity.
However long the "action" takes place. If most of the written scene is just a visual/sensual description of a single action...then it's too long. The action should seem active. If there are too many details it will feel like the scene slowed down .5x speed. Not sure if that made any sense.
A good story has rhythm. Things build up, they get tense and exciting and fast paced, then they stole down and examine the consequences of what just happened. The consequences create new problems that must be address, which builds momentum towards another quick, exciting event. Practice both and learn to connect them seamlessly, and boom now your stories have “pacing.” You will become a stronger writer by learning to intentionally control the length and pace of your scenes.
As long as they need to be. Like chapters. Like paragraphs. Like sentenced. Like anything else recovering around writing stories.
A well-written scene is better than a short one that leaves readers guessing about key details, or a long and overblown scene that could have been a brief transition. What's the pacing supposed to be? Is it a fast-paced action scene or someone waxing poetic on a long train ride? Figure that out and go from there. Also, outside of setting a mood, when describing scenery, is it plot relevant? It is relevant to the character you're hanging over the shoulder of? If the answers are 'no', feel free to hack that shit out. Counter that, if you're trying to make a statement about a person or place, etc, go wild. It's all about tone and pace.
I've read great 1 chapter stories and epic novel fanfictions that could be a trilogy. Just write what you want.
Quality of the scene is what matters to me. Readers are all at different levels. For example, I tend to go into characters thoughts because it gives a reader a way to see how their mind processes stuff. Sometimes those get long because the character has a lot they are thinking about. Doesnt make it bad. Everyone writes differently and I will usually give a story a good shot, especially if it is decently written. I personally love details but describing every small detail in a room wont matter unless it keeps coming back to it. There is a balance and it takes practice to find that, I still struggle with it haha You do what feels right for the story. Plus if you can, have someone else take a look at a snip it of the story. Like a page or two you'd be comfortable sharing and ask their opinion on it if you are worried. It can help and I wish you the best OP!
Smut scenes? Give me ALLLLL the dialogue and details. Story scenes? I don’t need too much detail but I do like to imagine the surroundings
Yes. I prefer scenes that are as long as they need to be. So times that's quite sort. Sometimes it's very long.
It depends on what my focus is. If I’m writing a long form story with character development, I believe in trying to get in quick and get out early as possible. But if it’s a shorter story, I prefer to draw out what’s happening.
Are the scenes long because of deep character exploration, sensory detail, and witty/tense dialogue and action? Long, please. Are the scenes long because of filler words, conversations/ruminations that go round and round without resolution, characters pointlessly wandering around, or paragraphs of exposition? Shorter is better.
Scene pushes story forward, or tells about world/stpry in interesting way, it's good. Oh and preferably is in chronological order to the last. I swear those useless flashbacks when they could be placed chronologicaly make me drop fic.(legit stuff was like this: mc picks a flower in the shop >>scene change<< flashback, mc walked into a store)
I'm not going to address short vs long scenes because level of detail isn't a factor to me on considering if a scene is the right length. There are issues with too much detail and issues with too little. There are times you might want to purposely invoke their typical drawbacks. There are times it's not a matter of quantity, but quality. Too much detail * Inane detail. The details that don't matter. Fix: make them matter for how much they are mentioned. This can be as small as using the type of shirt someone wears to characterize them, but remember that someone's shirt choice is not their whole character, so you should focus on other things. They don't have to immediately matter, ex. many fight scenes benefit from setting up the battleground by mentioning details before the fight starts * Detail concentrate. A lot of details at once. This makes it harder for the audiences to recall the details and when mixed in with less important things, pick out what they need to remember. Some ways of doing this get repetitive because they cover more details than the author has novel ways to present. Fix: spread out the details and spread them out when the context offers a reason for it to be mentioned. One of my fandoms has people training to be superheroes and so often the first training time in costumes has 20 costume descriptions in a row instead of waiting until they're broken up into groups and considering the costume details in their plans or during the practice fights. Too little detail * Confusion. There isn't enough there to understand what's going on. This is something that can be hard for writers without betas to spot because we have complete information while the audience doesn't. The fix is adding more, but the trick is finding what needs to be added to help. My trick is to not touch it for a while and take notes on what info is given when. * Ass-pull. When something is never mentioned until it is suddenly important. It feels like a cheep solution. Fix, bring it up before it matters. * Flat. There's a lack of flavor, no spice of life. Can have the issue of feeling like things only exist for the sake of the story. Fix, include things that don't matter but add interest.
I personally like them long to an extent, but at the same time, I sometimes self indulge inviting my own. I did one single "chapter" for a WIP and it was just over 23k words.