Comments on: Show Me, Don’t Tell Me http://worderella.com/2008/07/show-me-dont-tell-me/ Quirky Victorian romances set in England and the United States (1837 - 1901). Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:55:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Belinda http://worderella.com/2008/07/show-me-dont-tell-me/comment-page-1/#comment-1151 Belinda Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:06:00 +0000 http://blog.worderella.com/?p=431#comment-1151 Sadie - I'm so glad this helped! Examples seem to be the only way to make sense out of the show, don't tell mantra. Sadie – I'm so glad this helped! Examples seem to be the only way to make sense out of the show, don't tell mantra.

]]> By: Sandie Hudson http://worderella.com/2008/07/show-me-dont-tell-me/comment-page-1/#comment-1146 Sandie Hudson Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:21:00 +0000 http://blog.worderella.com/?p=431#comment-1146 This is the first time I've read something on show don't tell and thought "now I get it". Thank you. Of couse now I have more editing to do. LOL. Sandie This is the first time I've read something on show don't tell and thought "now I get it". Thank you. Of couse now I have more editing to do. LOL.

Sandie

]]> By: Belinda http://worderella.com/2008/07/show-me-dont-tell-me/comment-page-1/#comment-2072 Belinda Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:49:00 +0000 http://blog.worderella.com/?p=431#comment-2072 Natalie - I wish my magic wand could help you, but alas, it's made of plastic and sequins. Showing is active, this much I know. We are reading the actions of the character as they do them, whereas in narrative/exposition we are reading what has already happened, or, in some cases, what might happen. There are usually exceptions to this rule, just like any other, but that's how I simplify it when I'm writing/editing. Natalie – I wish my magic wand could help you, but alas, it’s made of plastic and sequins. Showing is active, this much I know. We are reading the actions of the character as they do them, whereas in narrative/exposition we are reading what has already happened, or, in some cases, what might happen. There are usually exceptions to this rule, just like any other, but that’s how I simplify it when I’m writing/editing.

]]> By: Natalie Hatch http://worderella.com/2008/07/show-me-dont-tell-me/comment-page-1/#comment-2071 Natalie Hatch Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:52:00 +0000 http://blog.worderella.com/?p=431#comment-2071 How do you know you've got it right and not full of exposition? Like everyone else this is what I struggle with at the moment, showing without annoying the reader. Great blog. How do you know you’ve got it right and not full of exposition? Like everyone else this is what I struggle with at the moment, showing without annoying the reader. Great blog.

]]> By: Belinda http://worderella.com/2008/07/show-me-dont-tell-me/comment-page-1/#comment-2070 Belinda Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:31:00 +0000 http://blog.worderella.com/?p=431#comment-2070 Shannon - I turn to musicals when in doubt, and they hardly ever lead me astray. ;-) And it's really hard sometimes to determine which is the best way to write a scene as telling/showing. There have been times where I wrote one scene both ways, left it alone for a day, and then came back to it to see which affected me most. More work than writing it once, but it helped me. Marti - I feel you. I love the tiny, unique details in my favorite authors but I sometimes still struggle putting the details in my own writing. So I re-read my favorite authors, not for comprehension, but to learn the craft. That helps a lot. Shannon – I turn to musicals when in doubt, and they hardly ever lead me astray. ;-) And it’s really hard sometimes to determine which is the best way to write a scene as telling/showing. There have been times where I wrote one scene both ways, left it alone for a day, and then came back to it to see which affected me most. More work than writing it once, but it helped me.

Marti – I feel you. I love the tiny, unique details in my favorite authors but I sometimes still struggle putting the details in my own writing. So I re-read my favorite authors, not for comprehension, but to learn the craft. That helps a lot.

]]> By: Marti Verlander http://worderella.com/2008/07/show-me-dont-tell-me/comment-page-1/#comment-1138 Marti Verlander Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:16:13 +0000 http://blog.worderella.com/?p=431#comment-1138 Sometimes I'm sooo sure I'm showing, not telling. Then my BFF, also a writer, points out the error of my ways. I hate it when someone else rewrites a couple of sentences for me, but if she didn't, I'd never recognize what I'd done. I hate it worse that I still summarize when I should be detailing. It's the tiniest, most unique details that catch me when I read my favorite authors! Sometimes I’m sooo sure I’m showing, not telling. Then my BFF, also a writer, points out the error of my ways. I hate it when someone else rewrites a couple of sentences for me, but if she didn’t, I’d never recognize what I’d done. I hate it worse that I still summarize when I should be detailing. It’s the tiniest, most unique details that catch me when I read my favorite authors!

]]> By: Marti Verlander http://worderella.com/2008/07/show-me-dont-tell-me/comment-page-1/#comment-2069 Marti Verlander Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:16:00 +0000 http://blog.worderella.com/?p=431#comment-2069 Sometimes I'm sooo sure I'm showing, not telling. Then my BFF, also a writer, points out the error of my ways. I hate it when someone else rewrites a couple of sentences for me, but if she didn't, I'd never recognize what I'd done. I hate it worse that I still summarize when I should be detailing. It's the tiniest, most unique details that catch me when I read my favorite authors! Sometimes I’m sooo sure I’m showing, not telling. Then my BFF, also a writer, points out the error of my ways. I hate it when someone else rewrites a couple of sentences for me, but if she didn’t, I’d never recognize what I’d done. I hate it worse that I still summarize when I should be detailing. It’s the tiniest, most unique details that catch me when I read my favorite authors!

]]> By: Shannon http://worderella.com/2008/07/show-me-dont-tell-me/comment-page-1/#comment-1135 Shannon Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:44:46 +0000 http://blog.worderella.com/?p=431#comment-1135 I can never read enough on this topic personally. Each person shows it in a different way and your examples really stuck with me. I love the My Fair Lady verse - how perfect! I might have to stick that on my wall. One aspect i'm still struggling with is deciding what parts to show and what parts to tell. Sometimes it is obvious but there are situations where I have to think about the tempo of the section or what aspect in the section is most important and needs to be the accent. Part of the learning process I guess. I look forward to tomorrow's topic! I can never read enough on this topic personally. Each person shows it in a different way and your examples really stuck with me. I love the My Fair Lady verse – how perfect! I might have to stick that on my wall.

One aspect i’m still struggling with is deciding what parts to show and what parts to tell. Sometimes it is obvious but there are situations where I have to think about the tempo of the section or what aspect in the section is most important and needs to be the accent. Part of the learning process I guess. I look forward to tomorrow’s topic!

]]> By: Shannon http://worderella.com/2008/07/show-me-dont-tell-me/comment-page-1/#comment-2068 Shannon Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:44:00 +0000 http://blog.worderella.com/?p=431#comment-2068 I can never read enough on this topic personally. Each person shows it in a different way and your examples really stuck with me. I love the My Fair Lady verse - how perfect! I might have to stick that on my wall. One aspect i'm still struggling with is deciding what parts to show and what parts to tell. Sometimes it is obvious but there are situations where I have to think about the tempo of the section or what aspect in the section is most important and needs to be the accent. Part of the learning process I guess. I look forward to tomorrow's topic! I can never read enough on this topic personally. Each person shows it in a different way and your examples really stuck with me. I love the My Fair Lady verse – how perfect! I might have to stick that on my wall.

One aspect i’m still struggling with is deciding what parts to show and what parts to tell. Sometimes it is obvious but there are situations where I have to think about the tempo of the section or what aspect in the section is most important and needs to be the accent. Part of the learning process I guess. I look forward to tomorrow’s topic!

]]> By: Natalie Hatch http://worderella.com/2008/07/show-me-dont-tell-me/comment-page-1/#comment-1140 Natalie Hatch Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:52:40 +0000 http://blog.worderella.com/?p=431#comment-1140 How do you know you've got it right and not full of exposition? Like everyone else this is what I struggle with at the moment, showing without annoying the reader. Great blog. How do you know you've got it right and not full of exposition? Like everyone else this is what I struggle with at the moment, showing without annoying the reader. Great blog.

]]> By: Belinda http://worderella.com/2008/07/show-me-dont-tell-me/comment-page-1/#comment-1139 Belinda Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:31:08 +0000 http://blog.worderella.com/?p=431#comment-1139 Shannon - I turn to musicals when in doubt, and they hardly ever lead me astray. ;-) And it's really hard sometimes to determine which is the best way to write a scene as telling/showing. There have been times where I wrote one scene both ways, left it alone for a day, and then came back to it to see which affected me most. More work than writing it once, but it helped me. Marti - I feel you. I love the tiny, unique details in my favorite authors but I sometimes still struggle putting the details in my own writing. So I re-read my favorite authors, not for comprehension, but to learn the craft. That helps a lot. Shannon – I turn to musicals when in doubt, and they hardly ever lead me astray. ;-) And it's really hard sometimes to determine which is the best way to write a scene as telling/showing. There have been times where I wrote one scene both ways, left it alone for a day, and then came back to it to see which affected me most. More work than writing it once, but it helped me.

Marti – I feel you. I love the tiny, unique details in my favorite authors but I sometimes still struggle putting the details in my own writing. So I re-read my favorite authors, not for comprehension, but to learn the craft. That helps a lot.

]]> By: Belinda http://worderella.com/2008/07/show-me-dont-tell-me/comment-page-1/#comment-1141 Belinda Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:49:10 +0000 http://blog.worderella.com/?p=431#comment-1141 Natalie - I wish my magic wand could help you, but alas, it's made of plastic and sequins. Showing is active, this much I know. We are reading the actions of the character as they do them, whereas in narrative/exposition we are reading what has already happened, or, in some cases, what might happen. There are usually exceptions to this rule, just like any other, but that's how I simplify it when I'm writing/editing. Natalie – I wish my magic wand could help you, but alas, it's made of plastic and sequins. Showing is active, this much I know. We are reading the actions of the character as they do them, whereas in narrative/exposition we are reading what has already happened, or, in some cases, what might happen. There are usually exceptions to this rule, just like any other, but that's how I simplify it when I'm writing/editing.

]]> By: Belinda http://worderella.com/2008/07/show-me-dont-tell-me/comment-page-1/#comment-2067 Belinda Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:35:00 +0000 http://blog.worderella.com/?p=431#comment-2067 Zoe - I completely agree. That's what I'll be talking about in tomorrow's post. And thank you! I learn by example so I thought maybe showing an example would help. Margay - You're very welcome. Sierra - Glad to help! Zoe – I completely agree. That’s what I’ll be talking about in tomorrow’s post. And thank you! I learn by example so I thought maybe showing an example would help.

Margay – You’re very welcome.

Sierra – Glad to help!

]]> By: Sierra Wolfe http://worderella.com/2008/07/show-me-dont-tell-me/comment-page-1/#comment-2066 Sierra Wolfe Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:59:00 +0000 http://blog.worderella.com/?p=431#comment-2066 Great info here. This really helped explain it better than many articles I've read. Thanks for sharing! Great info here. This really helped explain it better than many articles I’ve read. Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Margay http://worderella.com/2008/07/show-me-dont-tell-me/comment-page-1/#comment-1132 Margay Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:38:37 +0000 http://blog.worderella.com/?p=431#comment-1132 The whole show-don't-tell conundrum really bedevils the best of us, so it's great to have it broken down in such relate-able terms. Thank you! The whole show-don’t-tell conundrum really bedevils the best of us, so it’s great to have it broken down in such relate-able terms. Thank you!

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