We would have a much harder understanding of Nora Charles’ personality and social background in The Thin Man series if Dashiell Hammett didn’t point out her flamboyant style dress – her silk dressing gown, her feathered slippers, her coupe glasses. Nora’s walk across a room is a swish not a stomp. Hammett portrays Nora’s personality, her intelligence, and her world without just ‘telling’.
For a sleuth like Jane Marple, Agatha Christie illustrates her intelligence, and underlying talent by demonstrating how the spinster notices details which lead her to solving a case. Little gets past her.
Obvious information can send the reader, and the investigator, in an entirely wrong direction. Agatha Christie was a master at diverting her readers by mentioning more than one detail within one sentence. One is unimportant. Another is critical. It’s what makes a reader sit back, close the book, and chastise themself for guessing wrong. The clue was there all along!
But details can often serve a different purpose. My protagonist Helen Morrisey’s avoidance of cooking and a dependence on Twizzlers hidden in her desk drawer reflects her priorities. Her quick tongue reveals her personality and how she thinks. She has a propensity for blunt responses.
From Murder in the Master: “Who’s David Rickel?” Joe asked. “He’s the kind of client who makes me want to work in a donut shop,” Helen responds.
Dialogue also demonstrates her discomfort with a man hinting at romance.
From Murder in the Master: Helen wiggled a finger at Joe. “Be careful. If you leave the room, when you come back you might find out I’ve rearranged the furniture.” “That’s not good. I hate women who rearrange the furniture.” “Well, then, I guess we don’t have a problem, do we?” She smiled sweetly.
How have you used details to bring your story to life without ‘telling’? I’d love to hear your examples under replies.
Happy writing!
Judy L Murray Author of the award-winning Chesapeake Bay Mystery Series
In one scene a character is questioned about what happened. He has no idea what kind of car it was or whether its plates were in state or foreign, but he can describe in detail what birds were present.
ReplyDeleteNow that's a detail I've never thought of!
DeleteI like a closeup of a character's car interior (what's in the glovebox?) and a woman's handbag.
ReplyDeleteI like that too. My protagonist always hides astash of stale Twizzlers in her glovebox.
DeleteDetails give life and depth to the story as well as help define character.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!
DeleteDetails are fine when they enhance the background or characters.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find not helpful is when the author repeatedly mentions the color or style of hair or car many times within the story. How often do you need different adjectives to describe the same thing.
It sounds more like trying to add to the word count than providing an analogy or description that brings out a character’s personality.
I agree. Repetition bores readers and makes characters one dimensional.
DeleteAgreed! The right details give characters and settings so much depth and texture.
ReplyDeleteThey're also a lot more challenging to write! :)
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