How much description is too much?

I would suggest that unless the description actually adds something to the story other than description it is probably too much. If I turn my back, I most likely couldn't tell you what my wife is wearing or how her how is fixed; I can't describe the details of a street I just walked down, or the details of the policeman's uniform I met along the way; I can't recall what pictures are hanging on the wall in my house, or how many steps attached to the deck. But I do remember what an old girlfriend was wearing on a particular date a half century ago because it made an impact. Ordinary detail in ordinary circumstance don't really make an impact so I could care less about reading them in a story; it only bogs it down.

Yes, I'm sure some folks can name famous authors who go on ad nauseum with details which are irrelevant, but I don't read those and I doubt agents/publishers or most casual readers give a flip about them. Our minds fill in details from sparse info. I read somewhere that people were asked what color hair a character had in a story they had read and most came up with a definite color when none was mentioned in the story. That's the type description which is relevant to the reader imho. Take care. Vern

W. E. B. Griffin, an author I greatly admire, tends to add detailed descriptions in certain places if it is pertinent to the story. He does tend to overuse naming the persons involved in a conversation or otherwise engaged in some activity in the story. For instance, he might have a conversation between Lieutenant General Archibald Frogerty Millhouse and Brigadier General Randolph George Whateverhisnameis. He will introduce them at the beginning of the conversation and then use their full names and titles every third or fourth exchange. This, in my opinion, is way over the top. he does this in most every novel he's written.

As for other descriptions, he might start with a rather vague scan of the immediate area, then add more details as the chapter continues and the characters react to surroundings.

I tend to add too much detail and stage direction. I've tried to watch this, and have set "traps" in my writing software to help catch these bits of "fluff".

Bill

I recently received reviews on my latest chapter. General consensus was that it read more like a how-to manual for soccer than a thriller. Managed to rip out most of it and replaced it with an attack by the forces of evil. :-)