Not So Guest Post: Show, Don't Tell

We are writers.

We tell stories.

We want our readers to get so hooked, they feel sad when the writing is over.

But how do we do that?

I wrote a post about good writing a couple weeks ago, and there was some interest that I expand each point into a blog post of it's own.  I felt the best place to do that--to write about writing--was here, amongst writers.

My first post then is about SHOWING instead of telling.

Quite a few of you already do this. 

The idea is that you use imagery and sensory words instead of telling words. Find verbs that are descriptive rather than explanatory.  Tell HOW something is being done.  Show us the scene.


What's that?  You would like an example?  Well Ok.

So I hate Wal-Mart and about a month ago I had a crappy experience there (surprise, surprise).  I chose to blog about it.  But I didn't want to just go on a rant about Wal-Mart and it's crappy customer service, I wanted you to FEEL like you were there with me.

So I wrote about what I saw, smelled, heard, felt (both with touch and with my emotions), saw, and tasted (ok, I didn't really taste anything in this post, but you get the idea).

I took you to Wal-Mart with me.

When you are creating a scene--be it fiction or memoir--you want your reader there with you.  This will get your reader invested in the action.

I tend to close my eyes and visualize everything about the scene.  I start with each sense:

What do I see?
What do I smell?
What do I hear?
What do I feel with my hands/feet/etc?
What do I feel in my heart?
What do I think?
What do I taste?

I don't always use EVERY one of these questions because then my post would get long and ridiculous and boring.  No one wants to read ALL description.

I just pick the things that are absolutely necessary for you to "see" the scene and for you to "feel" what I need you to feel.

I write mostly memoir-ish pieces.  I can remember these things.  But when I do dabble in fiction, I have to become part of the scene to do this.  If I don't put myself in it?  It is not believable.

If you SHOW, your readers will feel connected.  If they feel connected, they will return for more of that connection.

Other writers 'round these parts who do SHOW don't tell well?
Nichole
Cheryl
CDG
Sherri
Ashley
Ratz
Lyd

And those are just off the top of my head...MANY of you do this well!

No matter what kind of writing you do--fiction or non--you want your reader to FEEL what you are trying to convey.

Stories that show are far more likely to stick in someone's memory and stay in their heart.

We Promised You Good Stuff in the New Year...

...and today we're thrilled to share an exciting development here on The Red Dress Club.

Cheryl and I have such big dreams for TRDC. We want to make this your go-to place for everything you need. We want to challenge you, inspire you, educate you. We want you to be delighted by what you find here.

But, Cheryl still has Mommypants (five plus days a week!) and I still write over at in these small moments, and when all is said and done, we've come to recognize we need some help to accomplish our goals here.

So, we talked, meditated, searched, debated, considered, and talked some more.

And we believe that we have chosen someone who is going to bring energy, enthusiasm, and extensive teaching experience that will benefit all of us.

Our newest host is Katie, from Sluiter Nation, Exploded Moments, and Katie's Bookcase. Yes, you read that right...three blogs. (I did tell you that she's loaded with energy, right?)

Many of you already know Katie, as she has been an active member of TRDC for a while now. If you don't know her well yet, you will find her to be kind, sincere, open, intelligent, and witty.

And now I'm handing you over to Katie who has a few things she'd like to say:

I was just minding my own business one Sunday evening when I got a phone call. I never get phone calls. Ever. Texts, emails, DM’s, facebook messages…but never, ever phone calls. Except from my mom.

And this? Was NOT my mom.

“We’ve called to ambush you.”

And then a pile of giggles.

In case you haven’t figured it out, that pile of giggles was Nichole AND Cheryl.

I am fairly certain I sounded like an idiot on the phone. I couldn’t stop smiling. And nodding. And smiling.

They insisted I take my time to decide if I wanted to come on board. Ask the hubs.

I needed no time. OF COURSE I WAS IN!!!

I have spent the better part of my life immersed in all things writing.

I have my bachelor’s and Master’s in English with writing as an emphasis. Part of that was spent working with the Third Coast Writing Project on the best practices for teaching writing.

Watching these new practices in action as a high school teacher, and then as a college adjunct professor, have been incredibly rewarding.

But there was always something nagging me…I was not doing my OWN writing.

In 2007 I started writing freelance for my hometown paper. But it wasn’t the creative writing I wanted to do. I would have rather had a column than reporting on the local car dealerships weight loss plan for their employees.

A couple months ago, The Red Dress Club gave me that outlet. I have had many of you behind me pushing (even when I resisted) to keep writing…and to own my writing talent.

That is still hard for me. But writing has proven to be such a beautiful, therapeutic escape for me; I have absolutely fallen in love.

That is why when Cheryl and Nichole “ambushed” me and asked me to mesh all these things I love about writing? I melted all over…and then prattled on like an idiot (and yet they still wanted me!).

This—The Red Dress Club—is exactly what has been missing in my life.

I hope to not just share with you all, but to learn and grow as a writer. You have ALL helped me SO much already!

Thank you, so very much, Nichole and Cheryl, for this amazing opportunity!