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Q&A Do we simplify descriptions when they sound weird?

If you are going to refer back to something that a character used earlier in the story, give it some significant characteristic that will help the reader identify it when it comes up again later. T...

posted 4y ago by Mark Baker‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2020-01-03T20:41:58Z (about 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/48302
License name: CC BY-SA 4.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T13:04:18Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/48302
License name: CC BY-SA 4.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
#2: Initial revision by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T13:04:18Z (over 4 years ago)
If you are going to refer back to something that a character used earlier in the story, give it some significant characteristic that will help the reader identify it when it comes up again later. Thus is if you want the reader to remember a box that the woman took something out of earlier, give it a significant memorable characteristic and use that to refer to is next time.

> The woman took a small coin out of a green sandalwood box. ... The woman took another coin from the green sandalwood box.

Essentially, you are providing the reader with another way to remember the box other than the fact that she used it earlier.

(There is a reverse correlation to this, BTW. Don't ascribe exotic properties to minor objects that are only used once. Doing so simply overloads the reader's recall system and confuses them about what is significant in the story.)

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2019-10-01T12:15:27Z (over 4 years ago)
Original score: 6