Why Details Matter

I’ve been a technical writer or managed technical writers and software testers for more years that I’d like to admit. I often teach workshops to show why details matter when you’re writing.

One exercise that I like to do if I have lots of time (and a tarp and tablecloth) is to have two volunteers. One is going to provide the instructions for creating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and the other is going to do the assembling. The only catch is that the assembler can only do what the other person tells him/her. There’s no interpreting or making assumptions. It usually doesn’t take very long for the person providing the instructions to realize he/she is not specific enough and that key details are missing.

I have had assemblers put the jar of peanut butter on top of the loaf of bread. (No one said to remove the lid or to take the bread out of the wrapper.) I also had someone spread the peanut butter with his hand because no one said to use a knife.

This exercise is quite entertaining and often messy, but it does highlight the need for providing the right amount of details to set the stage for your readers. Whether your story follows a linear timeline or not, readers need to have enough information to navigate your tale.

You also need to be careful not to leave out key details. This creates plot holes and inconsistencies that leave your readers wondering or frustrated.

But here’s the catch, writers need to be careful not to provide too many details that the story is bogged down. You don’t want huge dumps of backstory, and you also don’t want to provide every step like a recipe. It’s a conundrum for writers. You need to find the amount that is just right for your work without skipping too much or weighting down your story with too many details. One good test to check for either is to see if there are parts that you skip over or get bored with. You’re either missing something or that section needs some edits to make it more concise.

Beta readers or critique groups can also help you find parts of your story that need to be revised.