tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499819998811995494.post7298189327624717752..comments2024-03-08T05:27:56.968-08:00Comments on 1000th.monkey: I use a mac, not a typewriter: Show vs. tell: yeah, that old chestnut...1000th.monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16835988128285459745noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499819998811995494.post-55945127702787292762013-07-11T06:26:01.649-07:002013-07-11T06:26:01.649-07:00Of course. As with any writing rule, if you'r...Of course. As with any writing rule, if you're really adept you can break it without hurting your writing.Patrick Stahlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690555802232025818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499819998811995494.post-48788855342179658072013-07-10T20:11:51.334-07:002013-07-10T20:11:51.334-07:00Oh, yeah, I hate that feeling ;) ...which is one o...Oh, yeah, I hate that feeling ;) ...which is one of the reasons I totally get all OCD about analyzing things since, the more information you have, the better equipped you are to find a solution :)1000th.monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16835988128285459745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499819998811995494.post-2391579803225573622013-07-10T20:10:39.617-07:002013-07-10T20:10:39.617-07:00Better, for sure, but it would be stronger still t...Better, for sure, but it would be stronger still to, perhaps, specify the trees and detail it a little more... like, if it's a maple tree, it's going to give a completely different image from a birch tree, or an oak tree.1000th.monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16835988128285459745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499819998811995494.post-45467798589074894612013-07-10T20:08:51.177-07:002013-07-10T20:08:51.177-07:00Thanks ;) I'm glad, if nothing else, that desc...Thanks ;) I'm glad, if nothing else, that description was useful to you ;)<br /><br />Hahaha, you and me both can dream of being that kind of writer ;) No wait, 'dream' is too passive... you and me can both work hard to be that kind of writer ;)1000th.monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16835988128285459745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499819998811995494.post-89202569564559720512013-07-10T20:07:39.107-07:002013-07-10T20:07:39.107-07:00The thing is, even 'told' sections can be ...The thing is, even 'told' sections can be beefed up with strong words, so they seem less like a "summary".1000th.monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16835988128285459745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499819998811995494.post-23875644846412817952013-07-10T00:44:12.373-07:002013-07-10T00:44:12.373-07:00I've been in the stage of edits with a story w...I've been in the stage of edits with a story where there's nothing mechanically wrong, but it's just not magically 'clicking' like I want it to. Thanks for blogging about this - it actually DOES help. I mean, I guess if I need to go re-read all my favorites in the name of Research... it's a hard job, but I'll power through. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02352189367264209398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499819998811995494.post-87317500836126698472013-07-09T16:11:02.332-07:002013-07-09T16:11:02.332-07:00Here’s a simple example from my WIP
“It looks li...Here’s a simple example from my WIP<br /><br />“It looks like summer.”<br /><br /> “It looks like summer even though it’s September already. The trees are still green and full.”<br />suehttp://sassyspeaks.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499819998811995494.post-40566600207009950982013-07-09T12:43:07.434-07:002013-07-09T12:43:07.434-07:00"more of an umbrella term to describe writing..."more of an umbrella term to describe writing without depth" <- THIS. Excellent and thorough post on the whole show-vs-tell debate. It's one of those phrases that gets thrown around so much that it has lost all its meaning, and it was a vague meaning to begin with! I would love, one day, to learn how to be that type of writer who can say more by saying less... and as a result, Julie Daohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13814052162359300933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499819998811995494.post-91384985213545686322013-07-09T10:14:53.581-07:002013-07-09T10:14:53.581-07:00I don't have any problem with the phrase innat...I don't have any problem with the phrase innately, although its purpose shifts based upon your audience, POV, tone, and length, among other things. A MG short story written in 3rd-narrative will almost require a lot of "telling". In that case, it's perfectly fine. Even Robert Jordan "told" things sometimes if "showing" could hurt his pacing. I try my bestPatrick Stahlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690555802232025818noreply@blogger.com