In creative writing how do you know if you are overwriting?

Question

And are there ever times when overwriting is appropriate?

Answer 1

One of the worst things you can do as a writer, is to insult the intelligence of the reader by giving them too much information. Laying on adjectives and adverbs with a trowel overwhelms the senses and leaves nothing to the imagination. You want to draw the reader into your story by letting their mind envision how things look, what the characters are really like. what might happen next. There's no mystery left if you pile on things like brand names, colors, textures, motion, etc. etc.

Yes, you need a certain amount of descriptive text to set a scene. But if you think it may be too much, it likely is. Giving it to someone else to read, can help. So can writing classes either in a group or online. You'll get helpful criticism and a chance to see how other writers handle similar problems.

Overwriting is only appropriate in small doses to make a point, usually something that is a farce, tongue in cheek, or in some way designed to be funny/ridiculous.

Eventually with experience, you'll learn exactly where to draw the line on everything from descriptive text, to how many times you can use a particular device (like a quirky habit of a character), without boring your readers.

Answer 2

Make sure that you describe rooms and people and stuff. If you think you are overwriting it try to cut it down or get a friends opinion. Read it a couple of times and think about the audience that would be reading your stories. Don't worry you'll know if your overwriting.

Answer 3

By reading aloud to yourself and listening to how it sounds. If it sounds hokey and corny, it probably is. Some people seem to feel overwriting works in erotic scenes. Personally I think it just sounds dumb. Most romance novels are overwritten. Pax - C.

Answer 4

Ask 2 different people to read a description you've written. Then, ask them questions about the object (person, scene, etc.). If their answers line up with your vision, but are unique in their details, you're on the right track. If their answers are identical, you've probably overwritten your description.

Answer 5

When you're turning a mountain into a mole--by oversymplifying things with your book.

Answer 6

Listen to Carraigcreative. He's right.

Answer 7

Read it out loud to someone else.