How can I balance description and action in my writing?

How can I balance description and action in my writing?

Balancing description and action is key to maintaining reader engagement. You can start by using action to drive the plot forward while sprinkling in descriptive elements to enhance the setting and character emotions.

Can you give me an example of that?

Sure! Instead of saying, 'The room was dark,' you could write, 'As John stepped into the room, shadows danced across the walls, swallowing the faint light from the hallway.' This combines action with vivid description.

What if I want to focus more on character emotions?

You can weave character emotions into action. For instance, instead of just describing a character's sadness, show it through their actions: 'She clenched her fists, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she turned away from the crowd.'

How do I know when to describe and when to act?

A good rule of thumb is to use description to set the scene or convey emotions during quieter moments, and to use action to propel the story during tense or pivotal scenes.