I'm writing my way through my first novel, second draft now. The first one was unsuccessful. Prior to writing this, I mostly wrote screenplays amongst other things - so I've got into the habit of lots of dialogue. I think the problem I'm encountering is my book is too dialogue-y, there's not enough description in there, if that makes sense?
I just wondered what people think, do you need flowing passages of description or can shorter/snappier description intertwined with plenty of dialogue work best? Just trying to strike that winning formula!
I too used to write TV scripts where you add your own camera instructions if you think it necessary, or a particular look on an actors face, so I originally found it a struggle to write a novel. Now I just get on with it and pass it over to my partner who proof reads it for me because my grammar is rubbish anyway!
I believe you have to lead your reader through the story so dialogue is necessary to portray what is happening in real time - the time of the action/reaction, but you do need some narrative. That is what storytelling is about. Make your readers feel the emotions and motivations of your characters. They also need to know 'where' and 'when' they are. That is where descriptive storytelling can be challenging. i.e. don't bore with detail, but invite the reader to picture the situation, place and time. I like to make the characters use their senses because the reader is open to autosuggestion by feeling what the character is sensing.
Thanks for the feedback guys. There's some really good tips there :) I'll definitely have a go at writing the dialogue first and seeing what I can come up with :)