Description is something that definitely is best in the happy medium range, but every reader’s ideal is unique. As writers, our approach will be our own, too.
Like Allison, I lean toward spare rather than ornate, although I have to add description back into my drafts. Beta readers and critique partners are your best friends here.
Anyway, read on. Allison’s got a great 100-word short to illustrate her point. 🙂
One of my favorite books is Stephen King’s On Writing, and one of my favorite parts of that book is when he describes the rabbit. Remember that part? After a few sentences, readers pictured a white rabbit with a blue number eight on it. King used the illustration to describe the telepathic nature of reading and writing.
It’s a pretty cool concept. With just a few words, I can make you think/see/smell/touch certain things.
Smell a box of crayons.
Run your fingers over that sandpaper.
Pick up that bowling ball. Careful, it’s a sixteen pounder.
Admire the glowing sunrise.
Someone’s cooking bacon. The smell is wafting through the house.
If I’m good, I can make you feel things, too. Not with your fingers, but with your emotions.
This is where I think the art of description comes into play. If I over-describe something, it will require you the reader to…
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Avid writer and reader of Faerie tales and noblebright fantasy.
Cathleen Townsend 
Fabulous article! Love that you share quality posts from knowledgable writers. 🙂
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Thanks so much! : )
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