"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…