How to create DEPTH in your writing (easy method to make your novels and stories more immersive!)

Lack of depth is a story killer. No one wants their writing to feel shallow and surface level.

In this video, I'm talking over an easy way to add depth to your writing and to make it more immersive.

Creating depth in your writing makes all the difference to the reader, it adds immersion and it makes your writing feel far more accomplished.

But how do you create depth? How do you make your characters and your worlds feel like more than just something you invented, five minutes ago.

I asked myself those same questions this past week, when I was writing a story. So, I thought I’d share my approach to creating depth in my own writing , in case it’s helpful to anyone else.

I’m going to talk through how I add depth to both characters and settings, with some examples from this week’s story.

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[yapdog]

Some writers love info dumps, but detail is dry information. However, depths is about immediacy and emotion, which is why your second examples are immersive.

[vesanus]

Since you couldn't name what you did there:
you're "adding character-emotion to the character-description"
and "adding a time (future or past) to a places description"

This is very good advice. Thanks a lot. It helped me through a tough problem

[CandyThePuppy]

When it comes to depth, I just remember being a little kid and asking my parents "why" after every reasoning they gave me. It eventually became a family joke even to keep asking "why" until the person trying to explain simply can't anymore. The process gets increasingly more and more complex the deeper you ask "why" about anything. It's a process I like to incorporate into writing characters specifically. After one factor of them is revealed, ask why. When that answer is given, ask why that is. And so on until you've reached the true core of a character or motive. Super easy and super fun.

[hallavalladalla]

My advice is: Don't tell who your character is the moment you introduce them. Peel away these layers as the story goes on, and not immediately.

And instead of just saying that Susie doesn't feel like she belongs in her job, show her struggles in her job environment: her not getting along with her employees, her being shut down by her boss, her just being bored at work, etc.

[nikkinewbie]

It’s so much better to interpret setting through the characters’ experience of it. It’s a way to tell us more about the characters too.

It was raining by the time Jill sat down at her desk to review the reports from work. The desk top was large; but the only thing on it besides her reports was a goosenecked desk lamp.


Versus: When the first rain drops pelted against the window, Jill’s shoulders slumped. The room darkened, mirroring the world outside the window. She immediately reached over and turned on the gooseneck desk lamp. Soft white light flooded her desk top. It wasn’t sunlight, but it was better than the alternative. After she reread the same sentence three times, she gave up. The rain was once again the victor. She had no choice but to just wait it out.

Versus: Jill smiled, nodding as the first rain drops tapped out it’s melody on the bay window. The tension emptied out of her shoulders. It was par for the course. When the room darkened, mirroring the world outside the window, she didn’t disrupt the mood by turning on the gooseneck lamp. She let her eyes adjust. She finished reviewing the reports in record time, yet again awestruck by the rain’s effect on her. It had always been that way.

Same setting and conditions, first told not shown. Then shown as being experienced in a negative way versus a positive way by the character. It’s an extra opportunity to give some personal insight into the character - hinting that the rain consistently affects her mood and ability to focus but not saying why. That could be something touched on in a later scene.

[writeitdown]

I agree! backstory and basic info delivery systems seem to be less effective ways of drawing a character. I also like to imagine a character cinematically and then try to turn those visual details into prose

[Zenaku]

When I'm about to write characters I use three words and let them write them selves following it like a law. Nothing bothers me more then when characters break the rules of how they're supposed to act... Unless it's done well and is noticed by other characters. It could be supernatural some kind of mental illness or whatever...(shrug) love your work bro, keep it up.

[xXhermitkermitXx]

Im a year late to the party but I have to say this resonated with me. As an aspiring author I am no stranger to watching 'Writing Tip' videos from all over YouTube, but this is the first time I felt something click. I felt like I was back in school again, eager to learn and listen because I recognized the value in what you were saying. Thank you for sharing this. I've subscribed!

[quin]

like an urgency about the elements, and not just a presentation of them. you’re amazing. ❤

[boltthejolteon]

You dang near saved how I was writing my story. My current story is my first time writing so I am very parionoid to even write more than 2 pages. So ive been watching a lot of these types of videos to gain more knowledge and gain ny confidence to finish the first Chapter. And you have been the only person ive watched that has gave me this tip. And info dumping was something i was extremely worried about, and you helped me a lot with seeing the difference between info dumping meaningless information and instead adding debth. Thank you.

[AngelCaroline]

It seems to me that the improved versions are all about centering the narration around the character's point of view, guiding the reader to step directly into their shoes, if you will. Great video!

[guapagrande]

This video gives me such insight into “show-not tell”. So helpful.

[MeredithPhillipsWrites]

I love your examples--this is a really great video. I think my first drafts are usually the "this is the room with these things in it" type descriptions and then the revised versions is when I take the time to make it sound more immersive...at least, that's the goal, haha!

[seancatacombs]

A lot of these tactical-level prose recommendations boil down to variations on "show don't tell, " but it's a recco worth repeating because all the different facets. When it comes to "showing" character as opposed to "telling" character, you always want the reader to be the one who draws the conclusions about a character's nature or personality. Rather than state declaratively that a character is "nervous", illustrate the constituent physical and mental symptoms of nervousness so that the reader realizes oh, he's a nervous wreck.

[vuautsu]

Such a difficult topic to talk about, but the examples rlly did make me see what you mean. Feels like it's gonna be very helpful for a lot of people

[milkydoesstuff]

The way I see it, your choosing details which the characters own actions would interact with not what an onlooker would see but what the character sees

[opollitico]

I LOVE this video. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. will get back to you tomorrow mate

[thebasilcultist]

thank you, sir. i want to write a novel, but i never knew anything about writing. i got desperate and found your channel. you help me a lot and i already have recommended you to my friend and she really enjoys you. i dont know what i would do without you :)

[arminmatthes]

Great examples! I'm only getting into writing just now, but I can see the impact that your restructured writing has on the tone depth of the scene. It works well for this kind of writing style. Although I usually go one step further and let the reader experience the details of a scene as the character interacts with them. For my personal writing style I have found that any detail that the character doesn't interact with is most likely unnecessary and the words would be far better spent moving the plot forward. Needless to say this isn't 100% of the time, but I try to do it this way as much as possible.

[JoeyPaulOnline]

I loved these examples and I dont think its just you, too much info can make the scene or character seem out of sync