Q: Your reader will probably lose interest if you bog them down with a long list of physical characteristics and superficial details. Stick to a handful of features that you think are most important for conveying what the girl looks like. For example, "She was a young girl, no more than 15, with a narrow face and dark, fierce eyes. She was all straight lines and hard angles except for her cloud of downy brown hair." Don't linger over the minute details of her hairstyle, clothing, and physical dimensions unless they are directly relevant to what is happening in the moment you are describing. Just sketch out the basics. When selecting descriptive words, look for ways to create a strong impact without having to layer on too many vague adjectives. Pick words that automatically bring up a clear and well-defined image in the reader's mind. For example, instead of saying "She had really pale blue eyes," try something like "Her eyes were the color of sea foam." Instead of saying "Her hair was long and light brown," try "Her hair cascaded down her back like a honey-colored waterfall." When trying to give your readers a sense of what the girl is like as a person, use concrete examples to illustrate her major characteristics. Simply telling your readers what she is like instead of showing them will make her feel flat and unconvincing. For example, instead of saying "Lily thought everything was funny," try something like: "Lily had dissolved into helpless giggles again. It didn't take much to set her off. She once laughed through an entire algebra lecture after the professor sneezed while explaining how to find the slope of a line." Your descriptions don't always have to be literal. Bring the girl to life in the reader's mind by using simile, metaphor, and descriptors that create a powerful feeling or impression without necessarily offering specific details. For example, "Her voice was like warm molasses poured over fluffy brown sugar." Instead of interrupting the narrative to describe the girl's appearance or mannerisms, try to work descriptive information into the flow of the story. For example, you might mention something about her appearance while describing an action she is performing. Instead of saying, "She had long, black hair that she wore in a ponytail," try something like: "'Let's go,' she said, quickly pulling her black hair into a ponytail that swept her shoulder blades as she walked."
A: Avoid giving too many details about her appearance. Choose words that evoke a specific image. Show her personality and mannerisms rather than telling about them. Use figurative language to keep your description interesting. Try to work descriptions in naturally.

Q: Starting with shrimp that have already been peeled and deveined will help you cut down on your prep time. If you prefer, you can also buy whole shrimp and peel them yourself later. Either way, all you'll have to do to get them ready for the pot, oven, or skillet is thaw them out. While shopping for frozen shrimp, check each package for a symbol reading "IQF," which stands for "Individually Quick Frozen." This means each shrimp has been frozen separately, which reduces clumping and improves flavor and texture. It's important that your shrimp be deveined. It's practically impossible to devein shrimp while they're still frozen or after they've been cooked, and it will take much longer if you wait until after they've thawed. Snip open the bag and shake out the frozen shrimp into your colander or strainer. To ensure that your shrimp defrost as quickly as possible, be sure to break up any large chunks that have frozen together. If you don't have a colander or strainer, try leaving the bag sealed and running some cool water over it in the sink to thaw it. It's time-consuming, but it will get the job done. You can also place the exact amount of shrimp you want to cook in a separate resealable plastic bag before continuing if you don't want to prepare the entire bag at once. Lower the colander into the bowl, making sure it fits comfortably and the water covers the shrimp entirely. Allow the shrimp to sit for 10-15 minutes, or until the last of the ice has melted. To speed up the thawing process, leave a small stream of fresh water trickling into the bowl to continually replace the water that's grown cold. Remove the colander or strainer and shake it a few times to get rid of excess water, then pour the shrimp out on top of the paper towels. Fold one half of the absorbent pad over or use a separate towel to gently blot the shrimp and soak up any remaining moisture. There should be no visible ice crystals or standing water on the surface of the shrimp when you're done. Add your thawed shrimp to a dry nonstick pan or pot of boiling water over high heat and cook them for roughly 2-3 minutes, or until they just turn opaque. The heat will cause the shrimp to shrink slightly, essentially wringing every last bit of unwanted moisture out of them. While it's not necessary to give your shrimp a preliminary warmup, it can be a useful step if you want to make sure they don't make the dish you're preparing soggy.
A:
Pick up a bag of peeled, deveined shrimp. Place the shrimp in a colander or wire strainer. Submerge the colander or strainer in a bowl of cool water. Transfer the thawed shrimp to a layer of folded paper towels. Heat the shrimp briefly to release any remaining liquid (optional).