this was one of the most suggested topics for my writing guides

and its abstract as all heck. i cant really explain how to write exactly, tbh.

detailing is one of those things you just have to pick up on after a couple years. its a matter of writing style.

but i can offer some tips!

when i describe a setting, i only detail whats necessary. your readers are smart-they can fill in the blanks with a lot of stuff you dont specifically point out.

conservation of detail, i say. too much detail makes things feel cluttered, which isnt good. so, only describe the gun hanging over the mantle if a)it contributes to the mood (showing your dude is a cool hunter or whatever) or b)youre pulling a chekhov's gun moment and the prop comes in handy later

use your five senses to guide you. does the room smell like bleach? is there mold on the walls? do the floors feel rough and hard? can you hear cicadas chirping? can you taste mildew in the air?

dont necessarily use all of the senses at one time, but spread them out along the chapter.

but make sure you establish a mood or tone for the setting. let the audience know if it's gloomy or inviting. that works wonders.

for character descriptions, i go for basic appearance and then draw conclusions from there.

let's take umbra.

i would point out his defining features: thin, beastly, and attractive.

soo,

"Umbra was a slim, suspicious looking man. His wide eyes carried notes of malice, but his toothy grin was almost inviting." is a good starting point. it shows that this character is almost bewitching, but a little scary as well.

go beyond "he had green eyes" and move towards "his green eyes seem to glow in the low light, appearing to me as beacons of hope"

we're big kids here. go a little deeper with your descriptions. dont just say that he had a pearly white smile, say how that smile makes you feel.

does this make any sense? this is super abstract stuff im only just getting a grasp on