Being too graphic
by Marissa
(Cincinnati)
Question: In my book a few of my characters get kidnapped and tortured and I want to be pretty detailed about it so you can really feel what they're going through but I don't know if that will be too graphic. My book idea is more for teens and is about people that hunt supernatural creatures.
Answer: Sometimes less is more. More specifically, sometimes leaving some things up to the reader's imagination (and just including enough detail to stimulate the imagination) can have a bigger emotional impact than lurid details that make the reader want to put the book down. "Too much information," can be counterproductive.
An example that comes to mind... in one of the James Bond films there's a scene where Bond is captured and bound. The villain pulls out a tray of exotic tools and informs Bond that he is about to be tortured with these tools. The detailed look of these instruments and the seriousness of the threat is enough to evoke fear in the audience as they imagine what horrors are about to be inflicted on Bond's body - as well as empathy for Bond and hatred of the villain.
However, what the audience did not need to see (and was thankfully not included in the film) was a 10 minute scene in which these torture tools were put to use, full of close-ups and screaming. That would have crossed the line.
If you really feel some detail of the torture is necessary, I suggest try to find one particular detail that will be enough to convey the horror and let the reader imagine the rest. On the other hand, you may find that just the set-up and aftermath of the violence are enough and you can skip the actual doing of the torture.
Curiously, the same guideline is true for sexual content in young adult books. If sex is important to the story, it can be more effective to give the reader "before and after," but skip the "during." A few details and suggestions may be far more effective and emotionally impactful than lengthy, detailed, pornographic description that turns off your readers and gets your book banned from school libraries.
- Home
- Writing Questions
- Being too graphic
Search this site...
|
||
| site search by freefind |
100% Human Generated Content!
All
articles on this website were written by a human being -- one possessed of flaws and limitations, but also with a personal perspective and a desire to help fellow
writers. No article on this site was written by or with the aid of artificial intelligence (AI).
Popular Articles
Mini-Course
Never be stuck for a great story idea again! This online mini-course will show you how to create simple ideas for original characters and build a plot around each character that contains the essential elements needed for a compelling story.
Recent Postings
-
Writing thoughts and diary entries.
Question: This is my first time trying to write, I constantly imagine fictional scenarios, so I decided to write a novel with them, but in my idea, we -
Synopsis Format
Question: Hello! Thank you for answering my question about how many characters to add in a synopsis! I should have included this question with my last -
How many characters to include in a synopsis
Question: Hello! I'm new to your site, and I love it! I didn't see a question and answer page for synopsis writing, so I wasn't sure where to post this
"I've read more than fifty books on writing, writing novels, etc., but your website has the most useful and practical guidance. Now that I understand how a novel is structured, I will rewrite mine, confident that it will be a more interesting novel." - Lloyd Edwards
"Thanks to your "Create a Plot Outline in 8 Easy Steps," I was able to take a story that I simply just fooled around with and went willy nilly all over, into a clearly defined, intriguing battle where two characters fight to keep their relationship intact, and try to find a balance in control of themselves and their lives. Thanks to you, I'm not ashamed of the poor organization of my writing." - Nommanic Ragus
"I am so glad I found your site. It has helped me in so many ways, and has given me more confidence about myself and my work. Thank you for making this valuable resource, for me and my fellow writers. Perhaps you'll hear about me someday...I'll owe it to you." - Ruth, Milton, U.S.A.
"I never knew what to do with all the characters in my head, but since discovering Dramatica I am writing again in my spare time. Thank you for making this available. Yes, it is a bit complex, and it does take time, but I love it because it works." - Colin Shoeman
"I came across your website by chance. It is a plethora of
knowledge, written in a simplistic way to help aspiring writers. I
truly appreciate all of the information you have provided to help me
successfully (relative term) write my novel. Thank you very much!" - Leo T. Rollins
"I
can honestly say that this is the first website that is really helpful.
You manage to answer complex questions in relatively short articles and
with really intelligent answers. Thank you for taking the time to write
these articles and sharing them so generously." - Chrystelle Nash
"...had no idea that a simple click would give me such a wealth of valuable information. The site not only offered extremely clear and helpful instructions but was a very enjoyable read as well. The education from your wonderful site has made me a better writer and your words have inspired me to get back to work on my novel. I wish to give you a heartfelt thanks for How to Write a Book Now, sir." -- Mike Chiero