tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post7627754127585893837..comments2024-03-28T02:34:34.041-07:00Comments on Rachna's Scriptorium: Do you include food descriptions in your stories?Rachna Chhabriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-61582694153231072652013-04-24T09:14:23.811-07:002013-04-24T09:14:23.811-07:00I love to have food scenes in my stories. Taste an...I love to have food scenes in my stories. Taste and smell are so fundamental to our psyche, it's a great way for a reader to sink into the story and lap it up, so to speak!<br /><br />JaiJai Joshihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04858987106548357551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-10057652917905542062013-04-18T07:11:46.944-07:002013-04-18T07:11:46.944-07:00Food and smell descriptions add life to any story....Food and smell descriptions add life to any story. Reminds me of Enid Blyton.Alka Gurhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12050387590729571321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-56595160831392516072013-04-09T03:35:58.735-07:002013-04-09T03:35:58.735-07:00Rachna, I like to include small details about the ...Rachna, I like to include small details about the smells and tastes of food. I do think kids notice food a lot, especially if it's something they don't like! But also if it's different from what they'd normally eat or maybe their favourite.Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-53908193099355312582013-04-08T17:39:14.010-07:002013-04-08T17:39:14.010-07:00I write a lot of books set outside of North Americ...I write a lot of books set outside of North America, or with characters originally from elsewhere in the world, so I think it's important to include at least cursory descriptions of food for cultural flavor.Carrie-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05810154378449825641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-76300366980322318432013-04-08T12:41:15.558-07:002013-04-08T12:41:15.558-07:00Enjoyed reading your post.. Thank you for sharing...Enjoyed reading your post.. Thank you for sharing..Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15442555274530018520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-5513792623049795532013-04-08T09:17:03.069-07:002013-04-08T09:17:03.069-07:00Yes I do, but I tend to try and keep the descripti...Yes I do, but I tend to try and keep the description to a minimum so that I can keep the focus on the action or character development. Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-64781970805147146982013-04-08T01:04:52.513-07:002013-04-08T01:04:52.513-07:00Hi friends, I am happy to see that all of you agre...Hi friends, I am happy to see that all of you agree with me that a little food description goes a long way in world building. A few words, maybe even a line or two of food descriptions I don't think will hamper a story flow.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-89006617605160416802013-04-07T23:57:50.045-07:002013-04-07T23:57:50.045-07:00I don't go big on food description, but I do d...I don't go big on food description, but I do describe the smells now and then, depending on the story.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-59602399321311107022013-04-06T17:32:25.464-07:002013-04-06T17:32:25.464-07:00I talk about food and some preparation details. Yo...I talk about food and some preparation details. You can communicate a lot about a family by how they interact around the table. I avoid heavy detail since it's not a cookbook, but give enough to show real life.<br /><br />Susan J. Reinhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07461276857852409546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-89050168902289876132013-04-06T15:50:50.759-07:002013-04-06T15:50:50.759-07:00I have a time or two, if it seemed important to th...I have a time or two, if it seemed important to the scene.writing and living by Richard P Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814139767151989286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-89156750132499695022013-04-06T09:21:02.709-07:002013-04-06T09:21:02.709-07:00I think food is definitely an important part of wo...I think food is definitely an important part of world building. In one of my urban fantasies I made up all sorts of paranormal cocktails. So, I think you're safe :)alexiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07122487552931794871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-62855786331294336332013-04-06T04:51:04.770-07:002013-04-06T04:51:04.770-07:00I include food descriptions in my writing. I like ...I include food descriptions in my writing. I like seeing them when I read, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-47485532593974747852013-04-06T04:43:59.426-07:002013-04-06T04:43:59.426-07:00I do include food and food preparation and descrip...I do include food and food preparation and descriptions in my stories. Food is so much a part of setting, when you think about it. A kitchen can tell a lot about a character. So can the dining area.Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-59932406262916129472013-04-06T03:22:16.434-07:002013-04-06T03:22:16.434-07:00You're definitely right with the child - food ...You're definitely right with the child - food connection! That has to be a winner.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-91607833182063738772013-04-05T20:38:36.701-07:002013-04-05T20:38:36.701-07:00I feel it's one of those things that's all...I feel it's one of those things that's all part of world building and also character building. What someone eats can tell a lot about them, whether they grew up in poverty or not, or even whether they enjoy cooking or just eat takeaways and ready meals. I like any description to be there for a reason, but I wouldn't include a blow for blow recipe, lol. :)Nick Wilfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03841776353790635132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-18196447012462788312013-04-05T14:33:18.529-07:002013-04-05T14:33:18.529-07:00I don't write Middle Grade, so I don't kno...I don't write Middle Grade, so I don't know those guidelines. I write about food a lot - maybe that's why I'm always hungry - LOL. I don't give recipes, but sometimes I mention the name of a dish, or an ingredient, or action, like 'She melted butter for the mashed potatoes.'Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03745686632918324803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-35094083993612828972013-04-05T14:03:56.191-07:002013-04-05T14:03:56.191-07:00It depends on the context of what I'm writing,...It depends on the context of what I'm writing, but I do have descriptions in the WIP. <br /><br />Have a great weekend! :)Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-52771812762230319922013-04-05T10:24:59.066-07:002013-04-05T10:24:59.066-07:00I have not described food in my books, but only wh...I have not described food in my books, but only when they are directly related to something that's happening, like someone getting choked on his juice, or trying a very hot chili when tasting Mexican food for the first time. Something like that.Al Diazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08107619009321980764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-10722740625441447302013-04-05T10:06:07.080-07:002013-04-05T10:06:07.080-07:00If it's another world and the food is differen...If it's another world and the food is different, definitely describe it a bit, just don't go overboard, especially if it's not key to the plot. I don't describe food much in my books, but if it's a sandwich, I'll say it's swiss and cheese or whatever. Or maybe I'll mention the unfortunate guy who always gets the liverwurst :)Gwen Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13132836346305559246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-32026485361519744442013-04-05T09:35:27.862-07:002013-04-05T09:35:27.862-07:00Food can be cool, but always remember, do the deta...Food can be cool, but always remember, do the details you insert add tension or not? Or perhaps add a sense of irony. In word building, the details you leave out are as important as the ones you leave in:)Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793077012143289985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-81448701618367630972013-04-05T08:12:12.441-07:002013-04-05T08:12:12.441-07:00I did more in my second book, since it was set on ...I did more in my second book, since it was set on a planet that was new to the main character.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-13218253562362982882013-04-05T08:02:52.737-07:002013-04-05T08:02:52.737-07:00I think food description, especially in the case o...I think food description, especially in the case of world building, is vital.<br /><br />Eating is something almost everyone has to do to live, so it seems just natural to include -how- they go about doing it.Mark Meanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08029920604932980141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-33447386470567538852013-04-05T07:32:15.013-07:002013-04-05T07:32:15.013-07:00I always have at least one cool meal scene in my n...I always have at least one cool meal scene in my novels. I love food and love to describe food, so if it fits, I put it in. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-505597304992512002013-04-05T03:40:28.539-07:002013-04-05T03:40:28.539-07:00I think it helps to think in POV terms. If the cha...I think it helps to think in POV terms. If the character is noticing the food then the reader should too.<br /><br />mood<br /><a href="http://moodywriting.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Moody Writing</a>mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-10632517174520279442013-04-05T01:01:05.737-07:002013-04-05T01:01:05.737-07:00No description is complete without a description o...No description is complete without a description of food! I still remember the days of reading Enid Blyton and Billy Bunter( Frank Richards) and the books dwelt so much on food to my delight:)Rahul Bhatiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690287853990880735noreply@blogger.com