Remember Me
forgot your password?

"I Just Wondered How You Got Started Writing?" Tips in Your Pursuit of a Writing Career-The Art of Writing part one

    The art of writing.  This is a subject that will take more than one week to talk about.  We have talked about many other aspects to deal with publishing, promoting and becoming a career writer but need to spend a few weeks on the actual writing itself.  There are three important lessons I have learned during this writing journey that I can pass on to you. 

(1)     Show; don’t tell

(2)      Dealing with writer’s block

(3)      Details: How much is too much?

 

Let’s start this week with my first lesson, show; don’t tell.  What do I mean by this?  One of the first comments I received from my writing coach was the fact that I kept telling readers what to think instead of showing them. I needed to describe what I saw.   For example, which of these two sentences sounds better?

 

You must go to Hawaii and watch the sun set on a Maui beach.

 

Sitting on your blanket with the soft feel of sand under you, the salty sea air tickles your nose as you watch the color of the sky go from soft blue to blazing orange to a deep purple that turns to black.

 

     The first example directs you to go to Hawaii but the second sentence entices your senses and gives you a desire to go there without ever being asked.  The same principle works with good writing.  You want to stop telling your readers what to feel but instead take them there to experience it themselves. This works with feelings and emotions also. Let them join in the struggle as seen below.

 

I saw the lady scream when she noticed the snake.

 

Or…

 

 A wave of panic and nausea swept over the lady before the high pitched screech left her lips as the snake crossed her path.

 

     Yes, both sentences tell you the same thing but it is the way they tell that counts.  People don’t want something written that contains only facts unless it is a report.  They want to get lost in a book, letting it transport them into the lives of the characters.

     Another way to show your readers something instead of telling is through leaving things unsaid and letting the reader work it out for themselves.  Do not overuse this method or your reader will lose interest.  Which is better?

 

Susie was sad when she read in his letter that Bill was not coming home.

 

A heaviness enveloped Susie and tears formed in her eyes as the weight of Bill’s letter hit home. 

 

     Even though it is not said, you don’t feel that Susie has tears of joy or that Bill’s letter is a positive one.  You wonder what the letter said and what Bill and Susie’s relationship is.   If this sentence is the first one in a novel, you feel you must find out more so you continue to read.

 

     Remember, show your readers what you are feeling and let them be active while they read.  This will keep them enticed and may even have them buying that second and third and fourth novel or book you have written.  Next week we will talk about that terror known as writer’s block…

 

 

 

Jennifer Hallmark

Jennifer Hallmark is a writer, artist and ministry leader who works with women’s ministry groups. Her love of writing is evident in over 100 articles she has written on several different article websites. She has finished her first in a series of novels, Journey of Grace: A New Beginning.Check out her websites at www.jenniferhallmark.com and www.aclarioncall.com .

Rate this Article: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)
Print Email Re-Publish

Add new Comment



Captcha

  • Latest Non-Fiction Articles
  • More from Jennifer Hallmark

Christmas Jokes, Games & Best Xmas Party Ideas - Guaranteed Laughter With This Festive Antic

By: Brent Blackwell | 24/12/2009
Why is it so important to tell jokes or crack a gag for laughs at Christmas? Is this not already a time where folk jolly themselves and laughter naturally fills the air? Yes indeed it is, and does, but what harm can it possibly do to add more fun to your festive agenda you have planned for family and friends. Although Christmas is a known time for telling jokes, it is also a time when you could offend with your ...

Is There Any Safe Haven In The Event of a Global Economic Collapse?

By: Brent Blackwell | 23/12/2009
If there is a worldwide industrial collapse, it will actually hit the States hard. Is there a safe haven? The quick answer is no, but you can scale back the impact if you do something ahead of the downfall. Unfortunately there's no completely safe place to avoid the effects of a GEC but all things are relative. The key is to reduce risk. The usa is likely to suffer more acute aftermath of a GEC than the majority of th...

In Bible versus Quran: who lies down in the midst of the sea?

By: Prof.dr. Ibrahim Khalil | 18/12/2009
The Bible says that (upon seeing a foreign women), you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast. In the whole Quran, the genuine or the foreign woman is not mentioned therein; all the women are equal in respect to their responsibilities.

In Bible versus Quran: King Solomon built places for idols

By: Prof.dr. Ibrahim Khalil | 16/12/2009
The Bible says that King Solomon build high places (for the other gods) for all his foreign wives, who were burning, perfuming and sacrificing to their gods. The story of King Solomon and his 700 wives and 300 concubines is not mentioned therein in the Quran.

Baby Gift Baskets You Can Make At Home

By: Edie Mindell | 11/12/2009
Making baby gift basket is an enjoyable and amazing activity to share with family and friends. It is such a useful and profitable kind of leasure time.

In Bible versus Quran: the Foreign Woman's feet go to Death and leads to Hell

By: Prof.dr. Ibrahim Khalil | 11/12/2009
The Bible says that the feet of the foreign woman go down to death; Her steps take hold on hell. In Quran, every human being is created by Allah; and the best one (he or she) is the one who believes in His Creator and obey His Law, regardless of his or her race, color, location etc.

This one's for u.. Darling Dil-li

By: Mahvish Rahman | 11/12/2009
An unknown territory becomes my second home in a couple of years.. and how so...

How To Start A Memoir

By: Trevor Johnson | 10/12/2009
There are many people who have led extraordinary lives. If you feel as though you fit this bill, or that you have a story to be told through the journey of your life, you might consider writing it out in novel format.

Posting Articles On-Line: What? Who? Why? When? Where? How?

By: Jennifer Hallmark | 05/10/2009 | Article Marketing
For the last year, I have been posting articles on-line. You mean you’ve been selling articles and making tons of money? That is a good question. No, not yet, but I have my name and articles all over the internet, over one hundred and sixty times that is. What do I mean by articles? How have I done this? Why? How? Let me answer your questions one by one…

Love Changes Things! Reconciling Love

By: Jennifer Hallmark | 07/09/2009 | Christianity
Margie walked into the break room and found Debra talking to Jill. Immediately Jill grew silent, said hi to her and left the room. Debra just stood there, looking confused. “Anything wrong?” Margie asked. “Yes. Things at church have gotten weird and I am not sure what to do,” Debra admitted. “Sit down and tell me about it...

How to Survive the "Almost" Empty Nest-Prepare Part Two

By: Jennifer Hallmark | 17/08/2009 | Parenting
“Mom, do I have any clean blue jeans?” my daughter yells from her room. "Did you wash any?” I reply. “I’ve been so busy. I work full time you know.” “I work too.” “But Mom…” This is a typical conversation in our “almost” empty nest...

How to Survive the "Almost" Empty Nest-Prepare

By: Jennifer Hallmark | 13/08/2009 | Parenting
I walk through my quiet home on the way to the laundry room. Washing a small load of clothes, I carry the towels I folded earlier to the bathroom to put them under the sink. Music from the satellite TV is softly playing in the background. Going outside to sit on the front porch, I feel an odd mixture of peace, pain and boredom. I live in an “almost” empty nest...

Well Pleasing To God

By: Jennifer Hallmark | 27/07/2009 | Christianity
A sermon at church preached on this verse brought it to the forefront in my mind. To be well pleasing to God…hmmm…is that really possible? Paul, who is writing a letter to the church at Corinth, tells them that he is making it his aim so it is possible. It is not only possible but should be our aim also. How do we become well-pleasing to God?

"I Just Wondered How You Got Started Writing? Tips in Your Pursuit of a Writing Career-Just Write

By: Jennifer Hallmark | 21/07/2009 | Non-Fiction
Several months ago, I began writing this series of articles on writing. It was birthed through several people, on the same day, asking me how I started this writing thing. They had a cousin who wrote poetry or remembered writing in high school. One woman had a notebook stashed in the back of a closet, full of journaling from her teenage years. With this in mind, I took what I had learned and put it on paper in hopes that it would help someone...

"I Just Wondered How You Got Started Writing? Tips in Your Pursuit of a Writing Career-Finding Your Writing Voice

By: Jennifer Hallmark | 13/07/2009 | Non-Fiction
What is a writing voice you may ask? It is you. It is all your quirks, passions, desires, thoughts, feelings, strengths and weaknesses. We all sound different when we talk and we should all sound different when we write...

Submit Your Articles Free: Signup
Article Categories




Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (0.29, 6, w2)