Do you over-explain actions?

Self-edits to improve your writing: Episode #2

We’ve touched on this topic previously here on A Writer’s Block, but it’s a key point for this series on easy self-edits and building new habits in your writing. So let’s delve in a bit deeper.

I often see writers (and I may or may not have done this myself a few times) over-describe and over-explain actions.

If it’s an action scene, a fight scene, or (heaven forbid!) a love scene, describing each movement can bog down the scene in minutiae. That slows what is supposed to be a fast-paced moment in the story, creating the exact opposite effect of what you’re going for.

If it’s a more sedate scene, an emotional scene, an internal moment for the character to think through her options, then over-explaining minor, unimportant actions detracts from the story and can pull readers out of the character’s point-of-view at the very place you want them fully engaged.

These issues always make more sense with some examples. I made up these examples, not using actual writing from clients or students (or even famous authors—I’m looking at you, Dan Brown), but these are based on real manuscripts I’ve edited and issues I’ve seen dozens or hundreds of times over the years. I may or may not have slightly exaggerated some of these to make the point.