Burroway: Writing Fiction

I enjoyed this reading the most so far. I enjoy writing fiction as a hobby, and take to heart things like this passage. I am almost always trying to find more ways to make my writing more appealing, make it easier to relate to.

In this part of the book by Janet Burroway, she discusses detail and how to make your writing more interesting with the use of detail. To illustrate the difference, she uses a passage from a book by Thomas Mann. In the excerpt, the author uses vivid imagery to illustrate both the room that the character is in, as well as the specific traits of the character. Burroway then rewrites this passage in a very dry, boring way in which the traits are merely stated, rather than described. This is helpful to my growth as a writer, as I sometimes have problems using detail to convey the characteristics of somebody.

Burroway also talks about how you shouldn't simply describe the character's appearance and expect them to be liked. An example she gives is a blue-eyed, tanned, friendly, twenty-two year old man. The description is very boring and stereotypical - something an author wants to avoid. Unfortunately, this is the type of character description I encounter in lots of modern-day fiction.

The book discusses how, instead of simply stating that someone is in a hurry, you should use the action to show this detail. I personally find that this tactic makes fiction much more interesting to read - it gives it a certain flow.

Burroway's book on writing fiction is incredibly helpful, whether you hope to write professionally or just as a hobby.