DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS

         Emotion is the stuff of drama. Writing with powerful emotion is harder than it sounds. I want my reader to be a participant in the story rather than an observer. One very important element in writing an emotion packed piece is the use of details.
         Details are what make a scene, a character, or a situation real to the reader. Compare these sentences.
1.Charlotte was a beautiful woman with long black hair.
2.Charlotte's black hair contrasted sharply with her flawless,alabaster skin.
Beautiful is a vague and subjective adjective while flawless, alabaster skin is specific.
Use adjectives and adverbs sparingly. In series they often become weak or wordy.
1.John walked heavily across the porch pounding his feet to shake off the dirt.
2.John's boots pounded on the porch leaving dirt clods.
In this case the second sentence is three words shorter and gives the same information. If you must use more words, at least give more information. Verbs and nouns are cleaner and more powerful than adverbs and adjectives.
         Use details that describe tactile sensations: the sizzle of a fingertip on a hot skillet, the sting of ice, the choking odor of rotting flesh, the sensation of nausea rolling up the throat. The reader will identify with these feelings and experience them with the character.
         Remember, drama is more than just telling the story--it is letting the reader experience it. You, the writer, have lived with and wresteled with the story for a long time. You are emotionally involved with it. The reader needs lots of help to reap the satisfaction you experience.
Come Fly with Me--Kiter