Blogger: Etta Wilson
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After writing about words for three days, I’ve realized that the hardest writing may be description–not dialogue–because description is more visual. It calls for painting pictures with words, and that’s really difficult to do well. It’s hard to evoke the feelings derived from texture, smell and color.
This summer in Nashville we have the most spectacular exhibit of colorful glass sculpture by Seattle artist Dale Chihuly. From the 30-foot tall, massive golden glass spiral at the entrance to the glass balls in the Japanese sand garden to the blue glass crane shapes in the reflecting pool, and on and on, everywhere you look there is one or more entrancing pieces of beautifully colored blown glass. As I listened to the exhibit chief talk about the installation, I was struck by how low-key and plain-spoken he was. Then I realized that he knew the exhibit would speak for itself as it was viewed. Words can’t do it justice.
I make no secret of the fact that my favorite book format is the picture book, that careful design of few words and colorful pictures to convey meaning to young children. Yes, the color printing process makes picture books more expensive to publish and the number of picture books being produced in the last few years has diminished. But when a richly colored book such as this year’s Caldecott Award winner, The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney, hits the market, we know it’s worth sharing for years to come.
Editors and critics often mention the “color” of an author’s work even though no visual element is involved. I think they are referring to a particular vividness of imagery. Most writers do have a mental picture of their protagonists, and it’s often a help if the author keeps close at hand photos or paintings of the setting where the narrative takes place. That way a writer might produce more colorful words, not bogging the manuscript down with description. It’s a tough act to write a colorful piece with only words.
Who are some of your favorite “colorful” authors?
I’m a huge fan of children’s picture books too. Both of my children loved the Carl books–no words, just elaborate pictures of this dog and his day.
As far as descriptive writers, one of my critique partners amazes me with her “color.” She has a gift.
Thanks for posting this series!
Frank Peretti. Reading his novels is like watching a movie. Chris Fabry, Tosca Lee, Lisa Samson, Brandilyn Collins, although Brandilyn does it in almost a wordless way with her staccato prose, Robert Liparulo, Kristen Heitzmann to name a few.
Description is my biggest challenge as a writer. I think it’s because when I read, I do not paint pictures in my mind. I tend to scan or skip over descriptions and concentrate on dialogue, action, and information. I know if I ever write fiction, I will be looking at those pictures you recommend as I write descriptions.
I love writing description! Just a paragraph here or there can do so much to tie the characters to their place and time.
I think description is one of the things that made Louis L’Amour so popular with his readers. Same for Zane Grey. If you love the West, no one described it better than these two!
Nicole, I haven’t read all the authors you name, but you’ve certainly picked winners and from different genres as well. The right amount of good description draws the reader in no matter what kind of story you write.
Ellis Peters creates some of the most vivid imagery of any author I’ve ever read. In The Horn of Roland, she brings the sounds of music so alive on the page that as I read, I think I’m hearing it–an almost impossible technique for a writer to pull off successfully. But I want to learn how!
A marriage of illustration and sparse text makes picture books one of my favorite books ever. When done right, nothing is more magical.
Amen, Cat, amen! It’s truly an art form in itself.