Detail in Fiction Writing

Francine Prose’s Chapter on Detail in “Reading Like a Writer,” reveals how the use of minute trivia in storytelling can be a most compelling tool. Detail gives the reader something to relate to on a “here and now,” earthly level, yet many times it is representative of much more. Prose quotes Samuel Beckett, “In the particular is contained the universal,” and that pretty much says it all. I think I’ve always noticed the use of specific detail as a reader, but haven’t really thought about it in such a way as she presents it.
One of the most intriguing aspects of detail is how it relates to memory. Prose says, “If we want to write something memorable, we might want to pay attention to how and what we remember. The details are what stick with us…”
The correlation between memory and emotion is strong - in real life – as in fiction. I find it fascinating that when we go through a traumatic or highly emotional experience, we vividly remember the most explicit details about that day or that scene. (Where were you when you found out that John Lennon or John Kennedy died?)
So for a fictional character to have vivid memories (of a specific nature) during what may be a highly emotional or deeply sensitive scene (from that character’s point of view) in a story brings out truth. Truth about something deeper than just the particular scene, or the description of the hat, or the weather, or whatever the detail that is described. It, many times, is a symbol of something else with a much deeper meaning.
Detail is so much more powerful than I had considered before reading this chapter of Prose's book. Small but significant detail is yet another tool a writer uses to create great stories. Francine Prose, thanks for giving us your thoughts on this one and thanks for all the specific examples of detail in literature. Whenever I get the courage to try fiction as a sport, I’ll have a collection of tools to help me along the way.