In both writing and in life the details focus the story and add clarity. Small details are not just small parts of the story but focus what is important about the story. The readers senses are awakened by the details. The importance of sounds, tastes, and what is seen become a part of the meaning of the story with details.
An example of this can be understood by watching or writing about “ants”. It is informative to explain that ants can teach us a lot and offer ways they do it: working together, paying attention to small details, examples of work ethic and balancing items.
The story takes on more focus when we attempt to describe the ants picking up a drop of water off a wire and then balancing it on it’s head. The delicate size and skills of the ant become clear because of our understanding of what a drop of water is.