Showing And Telling

SHOW DON'T TELL!

How many times have I read this phrase, tried to get to grips with it, thought I understood it, wrote a scene, sat back, realised I understood nothing!

I found this the hardest skill to master, but in order to bring your reader with you, to take them into your world and for them to believe in it, you have to show it to them. I got the principle, the theory but just couldn't put it into practice.

I read many books on this topic. I tried very hard to get this right. I think I'm getting there. My readers tell me that they are transported back in time and that my writing is very sensory. I still find it hard.

The books I would recommend on this subject are;


Marcy of course. It was not until I read her book that it began to make sense to me.

I also recommend;

Point Of View

POINT OF VIEW

My first book was written in first person POV. Chosen by luck really since it is written as a memoir.
I didn't have an understanding of POV but I got away with it. You can't go wrong writing as 'I'.

But writing in the first person has its drawbacks. You only ever get one persons POV, obviously. One persons thoughts and feelings. I wanted to introduce more characters and let them all have a chance to express themselves and to do it in different ways. I needed to learn about third person POV.

I discovered that if I was having trouble getting a scene to work and no matter how hard I tried it just wasn't right, then switching to another chacters POV helped. I was writing from the wrong POV.

Getting to grips with POV was essential before I wote anymore. The books I turned to were;





I love all of Marcy's books and this one is no exception. Excellent.