It's All In The Details

 I’ve inadvertently analyzed three of my favorite authors. Normally, I don’t analyze what I read. Reading is my diversion from reality. Considering the tragedy last month at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I have good reason. These authors’ books grabbed me to an extent that when I read their first-in-series, I was hooked. Reading through an author’s series in a short time-span facilitates study. The strengths and weaknesses of their writing become focused. All books must have a good plot, fast pacing and interesting characters. But these authors’ strengths have a commonality—details. I found that the details drew me into a relationship with the main character and set the tone.

Details are written in spurts and show:

·      Intimacy (how the main character thinks and feels showing his priorities/values)

·      Insight (reactions)

·      Backstory (history and experience)

·      Attitudes (conclusions)

The main character, Raine, in one of Donna Ball’s series trains rescue dogs in the mountains of North Carolina. Raine’s dismayed reaction at having to shake hands with a man she just observed picking his nose shows that she values good hygiene and consideration of others. Raine doubts her ability to train her rescue dog and simultaneously doubts the dog’s character. Is it her own or the dog’s fault? This self-doubt erodes her relationship with the dog until the police uncover evidence revealing that the dog did not ramble at an undisciplined whim—her self-doubt and lack of faith in the dog were wrong. She learns to trust her dog(s) and notes their reactions so much that the reader comes to know who is knocking on the door because of the dogs’ individualized reactions to recurring characters, another detail. Raine compares her reactions to the dogs’ reactions knowing that their senses are more acute than her own, which increases her skill as an investigator.

Ball connects the reader to the setting when Raine remembers growing up in the mountains, seeing their beauty and also acknowledging their dangers. In doing so, Ball provides backstory in small spurts that adds to the MC’s experience and increases her professional credibility as a search and rescue victim tracker. It’s a great hook because it initiates the MC’s involvement in cases. Even though her job doesn’t involve investigation, she follows the trail until the case is solved showing that it isn’t only the dog who must have talent.

Leo Waterman’s name is a source of conflict for G. M. Ford’s main character. Leo’s dead father, a ghost of a character (not literally), haunts him. His love/hate relationship with his father is the premise of the series. Leo’s clothing reflects this conflict. In disgust, he throws out a pair of worn flip-flops, which indicates a concession to his father, who was a snappy dresser and a legendary city politician/crook. Leo uses his old man’s personnel, who are now societal misfits, for justice instead of self-enhancement and increased power. His name opens doors at times, but in his heart he despises who and what his father represents. Ford uses Leo’s senses to show backstory. When another character’s breath smells of Sen-Sens, it takes him back to another time and place, allowing the past to emerge. Ford’s descriptions of settings through Leo’s eyes put attitude on that place in one instance by describing a car to that of a depraved Christmas ornament. His reaction to characters reveals his history with the character or reminds him of someone like the character tainting his perception and provides a reason as to why he is glad or wary.  Ford also shows Leo’s sense of humor, a favorite of mine, through observation. When a car is parked in a particularly inappropriate place, Leo observes that the driver’s lack of foresight would make a UPS driver blush.       

Maggie Barbieri’s main character, Alison Bergeron, also takes issue with clothing. Hers is one of frustration, which she overcomes by borrowing her wealthy BF’s wardrobe. But what Alison obsesses with is thinking, an appropriate trait for a college English professor. Most of the time, she concludes that she must be dense because with the same information she comes to a different conclusion than others. Barbieri details Alison’s comparisons as Alison wonders if she suffers from illogical thinking. What Alison doesn’t do is assume. She defines the elements of equations better than others, which enables her to solve the mystery. These details about thinking could drive the reader neurotic, but Barbieri solves that problem through Alison’s martini-drinking habit taking her mind off her obsession. The details Barbieri includes test Alison’s hypothesis proving that there is nothing illogical about her thinking. Alison is brilliant. 

What are my conclusions about employing details? Details make for interesting reading if the plot isn’t lost or delayed in their showing. They must be inserted while furthering the plot. But, writers must be consistent in their use. If a character values good hygiene, she must wash her hands before cooking. When there are contradictions to established traits, they must be explained. It’s nitpicking, but adds credibility to the character. If not, the reader’s trust is blown. Any one detail may not add up to a plot point, but in sum they can provide for a character-driven story, full of rich details that connect the reader to the main character establishing a relationship that the reader wants to continue.

As a writer, it is that relationship that I want to foster. As a reader, I’ve connected to each main character. I’ve caught up to these authors now and must await their next releases, a disappointing situation for me. I hope that in understanding their use of detail, I might push my writing to a new level. I can only hope that in the future readers also will be disappointed when my next book-in-series has yet to be released—my dream.

Have you found other ways that authors use detail? What technique do you use to establish a relationship between your readers and the main character?