Show Don’t Tell: Tension
You’re sitting at a local coffee shop, waiting for your friend to arrive. You sip peacefully on your coffee, across from you sits your friend’s cup which you bought for… Show Don’t Tell: Tension
Show Don’t Tell: Happiness
Happiness is such an elusive and complicated word. And showing a character experiencing happiness can be all the more complex, especially when you need to do it through showing rather… Show Don’t Tell: Happiness
Show Don’t Tell: Time
One of the more abstract concepts to include in your story is the passage of time. Jumping from one time in your protagonist’s life to another is a complex thing… Show Don’t Tell: Time
Show Don’t Tell: Fear
You’re walking home after a long shift waiting tables. Your house is a few blocks away so you feel fairly secure as you wave goodbye to your coworkers as they… Show Don’t Tell: Fear
Show Don’t Tell: Stress
Whether you have an important test coming up, your boss asks you to do a big project at work, or you’re a teacher in any given week, we all experience… Show Don’t Tell: Stress
Show Don’t Tell: Anticipation
You’re a week away from a vacation you’ve been looking forward to for months. Every day feels like at least two because time has perpetually slowed. You’re so desperate to… Show Don’t Tell: Anticipation
Show Don’t Tell: Grief
There are moments that the words don’t reach, there is suffering too terrible to name… This tear-jerking song from Hamilton is one of many examples of what it’s like for… Show Don’t Tell: Grief
Show Don’t Tell: Parent/Child Relationships
Think about a moment when you were growing up and one of your parents did something that stuck with you. It could be when they ran over and cleaned you… Show Don’t Tell: Parent/Child Relationships
Show Don’t Tell: Pain
It’s not easy to talk about or go through, but going through emotional or physical pain can be a significant part of what shapes our lives. Thinking back on your… Show Don’t Tell: Pain
Show Don’t Tell: Friendships
If you’ve ever taken a writing workshop class in your lifetime, you’ve likely heard your instructor smugly say the phrase, “Show, don’t tell,” as a general criticism of your writing.… Show Don’t Tell: Friendships