www.inkthinkerblog.com — …whatever’s due first has to take precedence. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to push back my planned interview with my hero of prolific writing for a week or so. In the meantime, please POST YOUR QUESTIONS so I can make sure you get the info you want most from the experience.
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Talk is cheap. Good writing is priceless.
www.kristenkingfreelancing.com
Contents Copyright © 2006-2014 Kristen King
www.inkthinkerblog.com — Behold the wonder that is Jimmy’s Cut-Rate Drive In Liquor. Note the correct use of the hyphen in “Cut-Rate” and the missing hyphen in “Drive In.” (They must have been sampling the wares when they made the sign.) Also note the vehicle at the drive-in window…at 8:55 this morning, when this photo was taken.
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Talk is cheap. Good writing is priceless.
www.kristenkingfreelancing.com
Contents Copyright © 2006-2014 Kristen King
www.inkthinkerblog.com — One of my favorite writers (and blog readers) has agreed to do an interview for ::inkthinker:: about the business and art of writing professionally. I’m particularly excited about this writer because she’s extremely prolific and works in several genres, so I think she’s going to have a lot of great info to share with us. My main focus is going to be on balancing multiple projects, including being in different places with different work, and efficient revision and rewriting. If you have any questions, please post them in comments and I’ll be sure to add them to my list!
Kristen
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Talk is cheap. Good writing is priceless.
www.kristenkingfreelancing.com
Contents Copyright © 2006-2014 Kristen King
www.inkthinkerblog.com — Okay, raise your hand if you know what it means when someone tells you that you’re doing too much telling and not enough showing in your writing. Those of you who raised your hands are excused, but are welcome to sit in.
For the rest of you, I’m so sorry that no one ever explained this to you–no wonder you’re confused! It’s not your fault that no one told you. Hopefully this will clear it up a bit moving forward. The following examples are from a YA novel I wrote a few years ago (and yes, it needs work and I know it, but this scene is perfect for this discussion, so bear with me–I swear I’ve gotten better since then).
TELLING
Telling is when you simply say what happens in a scene without actually showing it happening.
Mike asked Megan what happened at lunch. She told him how Kenny started choking, but he was okay until he realized what he’d been choking on: a bone. “So what?” Mike asked. Megan told him that it was in a hamburger. Mike suggested McDonald’s for lunch the next day, but teased Megan that there might be bones in the hamburgers there, too.
SHOWING
Showing is when you actually allow the events to unfold and demonstrate them for the reader so he or she can see them happening instead of the narrator just saying that they happened.
“So, what happened at lunch?” Mike asked, glancing at Megan while trying to keep the car moving in a straight line.
“Alissa, Jeni, Josh, Eric, Kenny and I were eating on that front wall thing by the flowers. We’re just sitting there when all of a sudden, Kenny starts choking. He spit it out right away and he was fine. That is, until he realized what he’d been choking on.”
“What was it?” Mike asked, his eyes on the road.
“A bone.”
“Yeah, and…?”
“He was eating a hamburger!” Megan cracked up.
“Are you serious? A bone in his hamburger?” Mike’s eyes were wide, and he was grinning broadly.
“Yup. I mean, I knew the cafeteria food was bad, but I didn’t know it was that bad,” Megan giggled.
“That’s the last time a make up a test during lunch. I miss too much.”
“Tell me about it. Non-stop laughs.”
“You want to hit Mickey D’s tomorrow?” Mike suggested, turning onto Megan’s street.
“Sure. That sounds great. On the other hand, anything would be better than burgers with bones.”
“Hmm… Maybe we shouldn’t go to McDonald’s after all,” Mike joked.
“Very funny.”
THE TAKE-AWAY
Telling can be good at times, when used appropriately and for effect. However, your entire book (or article, for that matter) should not be told to the reader–it should be shown to the reader.
This concludes today’s lesson.
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Talk is cheap. Good writing is priceless.
www.kristenkingfreelancing.com
Contents Copyright © 2006-2014 Kristen King
www.inkthinkerblog.com — Yes, this is where the transvestites get their hair cut.
__________________________________________
Talk is cheap. Good writing is priceless.
www.kristenkingfreelancing.com
Contents Copyright © 2006-2014 Kristen King
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