Details add authenticity to your story. They provide imagery and indicate whether or not you know what you’re talking about. There are details that come strictly from your imagination, such as your characters’s personalities and appearance as well as the setting in general. Then there are details that have a factual base. For those, make sure they’re correct, such as scientific principles or even something as simple as time zones or Daylight Saving Time.

For example, I’m currently reading a book that states the date and time at the beginning of each chapter. The fact the author specified it was Daylight Savings Time for date when it’s not in effect made me shake my head. If you’re going to get that specific, for heaven sake, get it right. That’s what Google is for.

Another trick is to balance details properly, so they don’t bog down the story action. Lengthy descriptions don’t belong in an action scene or lively conversations. Also make sure you don’t repeat yourself. Know the difference between an occasional reminder, such as the color of a character’s eyes, and over-stating it to the point of being redundant.  Being inconsistent is another faux pas. Readers often have a better memory than you think.