Difference Between Details and Development in Writing Fiction
I’ve been thinking about putting this article together for a little while now. It started when I considered making a post on “show, don’t tell” in your writing, but I feel it is important to know the basics of detail and development before you can discuss how to translate this knowledge into showing and not telling.
So, what is the difference between details and development?
Let’s begin with the definition of both terms. A simple Google search will tell you a detail is an individual feature, fact, or item, while development is the process of being developed or grown. These are accurate definitions, but let’s look at them from a literary perspective.
In writing, a detail can be defined as a particular piece of information which includes description/illustration and supports an idea. Details can also extend to descriptive writing, a more defined or focused way of relating details or information. This means when you describe the sunset and all its warm colors and illuminating glow, you are providing details of illustration to your readers. When you tell us your protagonist has a temper, that is a detail about their character. When you tell readers that your antagonist is a master of dark magic who wants to cloak the world in darkness, that is a detail about your overarching idea for the story.
But what makes these bits of information different from development?
The key to understanding the difference here is to remember that details are bits of information. Nothing more. Even though details can be descriptive and provide imagery and illustration, they are not a replacement for true development. This is where the show, don’t tell concept comes in.
When it comes to writing, development is a process. It is the evolution—or growth—of a character, event, or even a location (think worldbuilding, click here to view my article on worldbuilding Christian fantasy). While details are informative, development is progressive.
Think of it this way, a detail gives you one bit of information at the moment. Your protagonist has a temper. The sunset is pretty. Your antagonist is a dark sorcerer. But these are just a cluster of facts, they do not give us anything more than what is right in front of us. That is what makes development different.
A temper is just a detail. Throwing things across the room, outbursts of anger, seeking vengeance are all pieces of development. Remember, show, don’t tell! Or, I like to say, demonstrate, don’t describe!
When you tell us your character has a temper, we get the information but we don’t see this temper. We have no evidence to support the facts of your details, but the development of that anger can provide us with the process of growth that elevates a good story into a great story.
Now, don’t misunderstand and think that having details is wrong. That’s not what I’m trying to say at all. Details have a role and belong in your story, but development makes the difference between showing and telling, and I believe you can’t have a good book without including them both.
Details are the here and now. Bits of information that typically do not go beyond the page you’re reading. But development is the long run—the journey of growth created through your details.
Saying, Johnny has a temper, is just a detail—one small bit of information about a character with an entire novel on his shoulders, but it is that one, small detail that leads us into the development of a protagonist with an anger issue.
Through process of development, Johnny’s temper becomes an anger issue which then becomes an attitude leading our hero down a raging path of vengeance.
It is best to think of details as puzzle pieces, small fragments that—once cultivated through development—put together a much bigger picture; that picture being your story, your world, or your characters. So it isn’t wrong to include details or descriptive writing (this being more in-depth details), but don’t depend on it alone to convey a certain point or trait to your audience.
Again, it all goes back to showing not telling, but I do hope you understand the basics of details and development. If you liked this article, share it with your writing friends and use the form below to sign up for my monthly newsletter. There are tons of articles on the website about writing, Christian book reviews, and Christian Bible studies. Also, check out the latest release from The Rebel Christian Publishing! Click here to see where you can grab a copy of Too Young.
Thanks for reading and God bless!