Fiction Notes

Tag: show don’t tell

  • Should you Always Show-Don’t-Tell?

    I recently had the privilege of listening to Sara Pennypacker, author of the Clementine series of early-chapter books. Her books are widely recognized as a forte in capturing the reader and drawing them in. The opening scene of Book 1 has Clementine, a third grade dynamo, sitting in the principal’s office and a frequent comment…

  • Rereading: Details, Emotions, Scene Cuts, Conflict

    Reread your story. Does it surprise you at any point? Does it keep YOUR interest? Recently I reread a story that I had not read for a while, long enough for me to start to be fuzzy on details. Here are some things that struck me. Interesting details. Stories which leave behind generalities in favor…

  • 3 Christmas Season Projects for Writers

    Writing during the Christmas holidays can be difficult. There’s too much to do, too much living to do! Here are some simple low-stress projects to keep you going. Just have fun with these! Show-Don’t-Tell with Sensory Go sit at a mall, beside a seasonal skating rink, at a holiday concert. Notice the sensory details of…

  • Trinity Faegen: 2k11

    Debut Novel: Spreadsheets Used for Plotting and Revising a Novel Introduced first in 2007, debut children’s authors have formed a cooperative effort to market their books. I featured Revision Stories from the Classes of 2k8 and 2k9 and this feature returns this year with the Class of 2k11. Class of 2008 Class of 2009 MORE…

  • Geoff Herbach: 2K11

    Replace Abstractions with Concrete Detail! Guest post by Geoff Herbach Introduced first in 2007, debut children’s authors have formed a cooperative effort to market their books. I featured Revision Stories from the Classes of 2k8 and 2k9 and this feature returns this year with the Class of 2k11. Class of 2008 Class of 2009 MORE…

  • Using Setting & Description in Creative, yet Crucial Ways

    Setting: “Where am I? And why should I care?” Readers ask these two questions at the beginning of every story. We often focus on the second question, how to hook a reader. But orienting the reader is just as important. They need to know the setting: this is a wider question than just the geographic…