Q&A with Marita A. Hansen discussion

This folder is for discussing the description of things that may be upsetting or troublesome, such as rape, abuse, suicide, etc. I don't like describing these topics, but when required I believe less is more effective than putting every detail in. Even more so just a line or two of dialogue can be all that is needed to tell a reader what's going to happen. Please share your thoughts with me on this topic.

Carroll wrote: "Wow, good question, Marita. I think it depends. How relevant is the scene? I think if you describe something so horrific, do so to plant a clue that at the time, a reader may not pick up on - only ..."

I agree that full description isn't needed. I had an Orion editor tell me that she preferred this. Here is what she said about my book:

A quote from Natalie Braine: "I think it’s important that the violence and sex nevers feels gratuitous or too graphic. The opening chapter that sees Maia being pursued was tense and suspenseful, but you prevented it from becoming too uncomfortable by hinting at it rather than exposing the brutality and rage that is rippling beneath the surface of many of these characters.