Hello and welcome back.

One of the hardest parts for writing fiction is to get a grasp on showing and telling. One of the best books on that is by Marcy Kennedy in her Busy Writer’s series. You can grab a copy here.

In a nutshell she tells you to imagine what something would be experienced in a holodeck on the show Star Trek The Next Generation (as well as Voyageur and Deep Space Nine.)

Here are my tips that I have found helpful along with the book.

Tip 1:

Telling version – Mike gets home from the business trip he is exhausted as he sets his suitcases down when he sees his wife Jennifer sitting on the couch waiting for him. They are happy to see each other.

Pretty boring isn’t it?

Showing version – Mike gets home from the two week business trip, he drops his suitcases to the floor stretches his back and lets out a yawn that seems to rattle the walls. The moment he sees his wife, Jennifer, stand up from the couch it’s like a wave of energy comes from somewhere deep within him.  He wraps his arms around her waist and lifts her off the floor twirling her around several times. “I missed you,” he says.

“And I missed you,” she says as she wraps her legs around him and they kiss as he carries her down the hall.

Tip 2:

Telling version – He enjoyed the taste of the whiskey.

Showing version – The whiskey felt like silk as he swished it around in his mouth.

Tip 3:

Telling version – Her knee hurt like hell.

Showing version – She stepped down from the rail road car and immediately grabbed her right knee as the pain sent a wave of nausea through her almost causing her to lose her last meal. I can’t possibly be inconspicuous in public she thinks as she struggles to walk towards the potential hideout dragging her only remaining possessions behind her.

Hopefully that helps, make it a great day.