Descriptions, Important and Not-So-Important

[simj26]

I HAD to pick up this lovely, little, self-help book: How NOT to Write a Novel. Now, I know what you're thinking, and it's either


A) Goddammit, it's sim again.


B) But we don't write novels, we write roleplays~


C) I wonder if I left the stove on


D) Hah, he didn't put an All of the Above selection, I win!


E) Oh shit, he just called me out


F) Fuck, gotta act cool, gotta act cool


G) STOP READING MY MIND


H) Some of the above, in sequence


I) All of the above, in no sequence


So, I came across this particular line, where the writers mention that "Unless the protagonist's cat is the one solving the murder mysteries the entire time, the cat should receive about as much attention in the narrative as the couch they are sitting on.". As you know, I abhor purple prose, but people abhor me abhorring purple prose because it's an actual writing style, and people like reading a run-on sentence about how pretty the evening sky looks even as their character is dodging laser beams fired by giant tentacle robot monsters. But I'm not here to diss that. One man's bucket of fried chicken is another man's bucket of moldy bread, or something like that. Today, I'm here to bring up the aforementioned quote.


Do you agree that things, which are, will, and were never important, should receive only the slightest bit of attention in detail? This is of course, exempt if you are building the scene, such as describing the setting of my bedroom, which, coincidentally, includes a super-single sized bed, with drab, grey mattress, white bedsheets, covered by a green blanket with floral patterns and pictures of cute kittens all over it in small grids. A set of a table and chair sits at the corner of my room, pink in colour par the course, sandwiched between the windows and a white bookshelf, which is in turn flanked by both the table and a metal shelf. A blue carpet, adorned with black stripes, like that of a rather cold tiger, lies next to my bed, covering the floor between the bed and the window.


...hm. That having been said, it is pretty simple to create a setting even with the slightest bit of attention paid to the props in the room. I also shouldn't have mentioned that I sleep under a blanket littered with pictures of kittens, but the point is:


TLR


Do you agree that descriptions shouldn't cover too much of a post?


EDIT: I realise I forgot to address option B). I'll address it now. Ahem.


YOU FUCKING LITTLE SHIT, IF YOU'RE LONG POSTING, YOU SHOULD BE WRITING AS SUCH, WITH THE INTENT OF CREATING A NOVEL/STORY WITH A BUNCH OF OTHER SHITHEADS.

 

[Dagfinn]

I really can't say yes or no to this. Attention to detail depends greatly on writing styles. Some people can pull it off, have to be interesting, and feel like it's not a waste of time. Other writers too much detail on 'unimportant' things, makes the story a convoluted mess.


Personally I like detailed writings, but there is always such a thing as too much. This is all really a matter of opinion, and very situational.

 

[simj26]

I really can't say yes or no to this. Attention to detail depends greatly on writing styles. Some people can pull it off, have to be interesting, and feel like it's not a waste of time. Other writers too much detail on 'unimportant' things, makes the story a convoluted mess.
Personally I like detailed writings, but there is always such a thing as too much. This is all really a matter of opinion, and very situational.

Uh huh, yeah, I get your side. That is true.




Now, I do have to emphasize, not just to you, but to others who may be reading this, that this is merely my opinion on the matter, so before someone goes and calls me an elitist asshat, I have to say that my confrontational nature is always there, but I do not necessarily believe everyone must conform to my beliefs.

 

[Bacon is fluffy]

You should start by cleaning up your language a bit if you want to me think you're trying to appeal to reason.

 

[simj26]

[QUOTE="Bacon is fluffy]You should start by cleaning up your language a bit if you want to me think you're trying to appeal to reason.

[/QUOTE]
nope.

 

[JayTee]

I find myself agreeing with Sim, Prose in general should be kept to a minimum in a play by post game. In books it's fine because it's a oneway expreince, but when it comes to a forum posts are an interactive experience, so reducing redundant and unecessary text helps things flow better and speeds the process along, and I think we all know how slow forum posts can be at times.

 

[welian]

Do you agree that descriptions shouldn't cover too much of a post?

I disagree. Since I'm usually acting as GM, I try to be as descriptive as possible in my post so that other players understand how I'm setting up the scene. Sometimes I don't need to be detailed - if it's a hospital or an office building, I can expect everyone to understand there will be tiled floors, florescent lights, a drop ceiling, and the beeping of computers and ringing of phones in the background.


I'll go into full fucking detail if I need to describe an important tapestry, a throne room, ruins, a space ship, a mech, or a forest or something. Like, that's important shit.


I don't really expect my RPers to mimic that amount of detail though, unless their characters are actively thinking about or observing the same item, or are bringing a NEW item or scene into the thread.

 

[Atom]

I think it depends entirely on the situation at hand. Like in Weli's case detail is good like that.


In your average RPers case it can get annoying.

 

[JayTee]

I'd argue that it's a different context with GMing, as you are actively building a scene to set the stage for the players. I think this threads is about more... conventional posts/threads.

 

[simj26]

I'll go into full fucking detail if I need to describe an important tapestry, a throne room, ruins, a space ship, a mech, or a forest or something. Like, that's important shit.

Unless the protagonist's cat is the one solving the murder mysteries the entire time, the cat should receive about as much attention in the narrative as the couch they are sitting on."

That was the intent of the post, b0ss. If the item/person/cat/dog/rubber ball is important somehow, it should be given adequate amount of description, as well as when a setting is being built, if it's supposed to be an observable phenomenon/item of some kind. In any case, that should solidify the topic's discussion even more. Thanks.

 

[welian]

But if I don't stuff my post to the gills with detail, how will I meet the 600 word minimum for my post???


- actual issue I have with a different site.


And Sim, thank you for pointing out my lack of reading comprehension. I'll make sure to egg your house first.

 

[Tipster]

"Unless the protagonist's cat is the one solving the murder mysteries the entire time, the cat should receive about as much attention in the narrative as the couch they are sitting on."

So, from a personal standpoint, this entirely depends on the style of game; I like to see what everyone else is writing and adapt my writing style to fit. That way it flows better, and the voyeuristic amongst us have a much more enjoyable time getting our head around things.


That said, some people are better at the art of describing than others, and in almost every case, relevance is key (even when writing a novel). To use the above analogy, there is a cat, why does the protagonist have a cat? what does it tell us about them? will other people in the scene interact with the cat? if so, how will the cat react? what does the way the cat reacts tell us about the protagonist and the way he treats his cat... and thus his possessions and/or friends?


I agree, when you're writing in an RP you're not writing a novel... because you can't predict what other characters will do in an RP, other players may well choose to make the cat in some way plot important later on and its actions up to that point may well suddenly become relevant.


However, I admit, I've seen RPs where some players have no concept of pacing or tone... talking about Mrs Slocombes pussy and purple rinse mid intense firefight may work for Austin Powers, Blackadder and allo allo . But it seriously won't work in an RP not intended for outright humour and farce.


So, in essence, it's not overly long descriptions I have issues with (although if you could put them in a drop down box or make a TLDR for me that'd be helpful); it's when it completely wrecks the tone. Juxtaposition or comic timing is one thing... crashing a scene is another.

 

[call me rae]

But if I don't stuff my post to the gills with detail, how will I meet the 600 word minimum for my post???
- actual issue I have with a different site.


And Sim, thank you for pointing out my lack of reading comprehension. I'll make sure to egg your house first.

The struggle is real my friend.


I'll be honest I'm the queen of purple prose.


I LIKE MY DESCRIPTIONS OKAY


sorry not sorry


and like you I come come form a site where extensive length is a requirement for all the cool kid roleplays


(coughgaiacough)


hell i'm in a 1x1 now where the average post is two pages typed on word.


so like i like writing


deal with it.


but by the same token i can come here and post like three or five paragraphs - half a page - and be totally awesome.


i like details.


i love for you to give me details.


but as long as your not playing as Sally the Illiterate N00b I don't like NEED details.


much.

 

[welian]

hell i'm in a 1x1 now where the average post is two pages typed on word.

The best RP partners are the ones who write just as much as you do. Cherish that user, and never let go of them.

 

[kibou]

Is your blanket really like that? Can I trade you?


But anyways, I totally agree. Descriptions for the sake of descriptions can get really tiring to read, no matter how much you were previously interested in reading something. If it's not relevant, there's no point. People will get inevitably bored of it and want to quit/skim. Like think Moby Dick- it's a short book page-number-wise, but the extensive descriptions of unimportant things make it so that most of what I've heard of it is "I can't/couldn't/won't finish it. It's too long."

 

[call me rae]

The best RP partners are the ones who write just as much as you do. Cherish that user, and never let go of them.

I know she keeps apologizing for taking a long time to make a post and I'm like


* puts on sassy lisp *


Hoooney listen to me. Listen.


I'm shocked you didn't run screaming after the second reply.


Never mind the introduction ( cuz everyone knows those are monsters anyway )


You gonna post several pages.


Honey you take your time.


I can wait.


She's great - real nice and easy to talk to.


That's the key thing. I can forgive a lot as long as the lines of communication are open.


The big posts are just a bonus cuz it gives me a hilarious look at her character thought process through our epic rom com superhero adventure.

 

[simj26]

Aight, aight, you cool kids are all up in my jam. Imma fite you.


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Dont fite me


Yes, yes, @readingraebow , descriptions are perfectly fine. I've mentioned this like, a couple (literally) of times on this thread that if you're building a place, a setting, a person, that is highly vital, whether to your character or to your partner, to give them a good grasp of the setting, descriptions are hella welcome. However, and pardon me for being such a loser for this, because I just realised I posed two questions on the OP, the main focus was

Do you agree that descriptions shouldn't cover too much of a post?

Because I don't. If three-quarters of your two-page-on-word post revolves around talking about how your kitten-furnished wallpaper looks like, it, as @Ghost mentioned, becomes a chore to read and pick out the actual movement of the story.


@Tipster , that...is a new pov I've never heard of. That's quite the good one, I must say. Thanks, man.




AGAIN, my opinion, not forcing it on you guys, I don't hate on your preferences, you can do whatever you want, just saying what I think, alright? Pls no bully.

 

[call me rae]

lol i was mostly talking to welian actually @simj22 just adding to her previous post.


that was me laughing about ridiculous post lengths and saying hey i embrace people's stupid expectations.


cuz i like to describe things in ridiculous detail anyway so why not?


but at the same token i'm fine shorting things to my partners comfort level if asked.

 

[Tipster]

I honestly believe that people's personal preference on this topic pretty much boils down to "Why do you RP?".


The players who RP to immerse themselves in another world will, more likely than not, provide more flange than those who are more interested in situation and reaction.


Some (infact, a significant proportion of) RPers see it as joint-writing a story and will treat it as such.


Players who do it for those memorable moments, will probably just go with what everyone else is doing.




This may make me extremely unpopular...


However, if you start describing extensively when aiming to take a shot or in the middle of a fight or something of urgency, I'm going to take that as an in-character daydreaming, flashbacking or whatever's relevant.


If you dawdle during a shootout by talking about the origin of your gun (or whatever it is), I'm going to take that as you staring at your gun intently (in the true Clint Eastwood style); reactions will vary from a colleague nudging you telling you to hurry up to being more likely to get shot (ok, that's a bit severe).


If you're in the middle of an argument, then I'll make the character more likely to be rude or slap you around the face for glazing over.


If you're in the middle of class, I'll make the teacher more likely to tell you off... etc


Long story short, if you're excessive in detail to the point where you're messing with the established tone and pacing... there will be consequences.

 

[The One Called X]

It depends. This is so freaking subjective.


If you're in the middle of action, then your posts should probably be short and snappy without too much description... unless, of course, you're deliberately trying to create that dissonance. For instance, in Renewal *pokes description link* my villain character is a bit detached and dissociated, so I would give him a lot of thinky thoughts/description in the middle of a fight, because it's part of his character.


If you're in a slower pace, you can add in a lot of description... unless, say, your character is a bit of a ditz who doesn't pay much attention to detail.


To sum it up, description, in my mind- especially in this context- should be used as a tool for character building/establishment, not just as a description. It should inform us of how your character sees the world, what they view as important, where their priorities are. Roleplaying is based on character development and interaction, and scenery/wardrobe/food porn has no place here.

 

[Father Gigantor]

Here's an exploitable image for all of you folks pissy about unneeded details.

My stance on this thing is pretty much what has been said by everyone above. Details good, tonal dissonance bad. Situational awareness and proper timings ugg ugg ogg.

 

[Life.]

Most of the time I find myself writing descriptions unconsciously but I believe it is because eventually those details will begin to hint small parts of the character's developing personality or come to have a purpose in the plot. It is very much like mystery genres in which the description and details are the important things they lead to a bigger picture. I write only when I want to hint to the bigger picture of the character or plot. When it comes to actual settings, I enjoy being descriptive because in a way I want to actually physical be in that place or have a beautiful image in my head of it. This usually is with scenary rather than buildings/rooms. Also some of my post may include some descriptions that may seem rather unnecessary but I write them because it reflects me in a way. Sometimes I find myself looking into details or things that are insignificant. Like maybe I would sit on a bench at a park and focus on the ants on the ground rather than the people around me because of the idea how there are small living organisms working hard to survive just walking past my shoes. I just tend to look at some weird details like that and somehow have it incorporated into my responses.

 

[Nobelia]

Situational circumstances is the important factor, personally. I find it hard to envision a world, say, in a sci-fi setting, where the possibilities of design are endless. Towering buildings or underground cities? Is the atmosphere constantly dusty and depraved, or incredibly cool and green? In these cases, some comprehensive illustrating may be needed to develop a sense of setting or mood. Such eloquence I don't find to be as necessary when trying to describe an action scene, for example.


By the way, incredible thread my friend. I have to say, you're quite the intriguing person going by your past threads as well. @simj22