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showing vs. telling

Storytelling: Taking Readers on a Journey

Designer dress like a giant butterfly with text: Are You Taking Readers on a Journey?

When faced with the many decisions of writing our story, the best choice is whatever tells the story we want to tell, but what does that mean? Let’s take a look at what storytelling really is and how we can improve our skills.

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October 23, 2018

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Showing vs. Telling: The Power of Context

Man's head down on a table with text: Sleepy? Or Depressed? Showing Needs Context

The implication of the advice to “show, don’t tell” is that showing is “better” than telling when our story actually needs both. Let’s explore what “show, don’t tell” really means when it comes to storytelling.

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August 16, 2018

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Beyond Visuals: How to “Show” with Other Senses

Two women walking blindfolded with text: Beyond the Limits of Visual Cues

The word showing obviously makes us think visually, but same as us, our characters experience the world through more than just their visual sense. What are our options for showing beyond visual descriptions? Can we create a deeper world by engaging other senses?

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August 14, 2018

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Showing vs. Telling: Don’t Assume Showing Is Better

Stacks of Lego blocks with text: Worldbuilding: When Telling Is Required

In the writing world, we often hear the advice to “show, don’t tell.” I’ve mentioned before that telling isn’t bad or something to be avoided at all costs, and a fantastic post by Cecilia Tan points out how the advice can actually be harmful.

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August 9, 2018

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Why Is Head Hopping Considered Lazy Writing?

Cat asleep on a rug with text: Is Our Writing "Lazy"?

Several writing craft issues tend to be hallmarks of what’s called “lazy writing.” The practice of head hopping is usually considered lazy writing, but we might not understand why it earns that label. Let’s learn more and see how we can avoid head hopping and the “lazy writing” trap.

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May 1, 2018

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Punch Up Our Writing with Word Lists

Magnifying glass searching words on a page

At some point in our editing process, we usually have to get nitpicky about our word choices because the right words often don’t come out in the first draft. This step can be tedious but oh-so-important for strengthening our writing and improving our story’s pace.

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March 15, 2018

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