The last thing any writer wants is a cast of Flat Stanleys parading through paper houses. That is exactly what poor descriptions do for any reader. They don't want two dimensional characters that don't come to life for them and they don't need a full page to describe a front porch on a house, so where's the middle ground? It's finding that perfect balance of words and character props. Personally, I will put a book down if I can't place the MC in a specific setting. For me, setting is as important as the characters in it. So if you, the author, can't visualize it, your reader's not going to either. I run into this little road block every time I'm on a hot streak with any one of my stories. I have awareness of where they are, but I sometimes don't take the time to go for precision, because, well, that's how I get to the end of a very rough, but completed first draft.
This is my generic list of questions to ask when examining flat setting descriptions:
-can the setting make any of the characters struggle with something? Maybe their shirts get stuck on thorny bushes as they sneak along a property line?
-does the setting have a purpose? Does the MC see ghosts in the mirror of the diner he frequents?
-if you place your characters in a different climate, would their interactions be any different? Do they react to the climate? Are they wiping the sweat off their forehead or shivering every ten seconds?
-are establishments too interchangeable? Why here? Why now? Do they need something from this building or house that they can't get anywhere else?
-does the setting change enough? Be mindful of boring places that don't offer your characters new emotions or reactions.
-does the setting change too much? Be wary of switching locations too often. It may feel like blurred lines passing by in a car.
To get a crystal clear image, I like to picture the setting without the characters in it. Then I let the elements take over. What would fly through the air at a sudden gust of wind? What will shoot out sparks if a pipe bursts and water touches it? What would be the one thing in the room your MC would run for if a fire started?
Again, this is only a generic list, but a good place to start. What are questions you ask yourself to bring life to flat descriptions?
