SHOW, DON'T TELL THE FIRST RULE OF WRITING

WHAT IS SHOW, DON’T TELL?

The Show, Don’t Tell method of writing is when the writer is able to create a picture in the reader's mind, to get away from the repetition of such empty words like went, big, or said.

SHOW DON’T TELL

Sensory detail- descriptive detail that appeals to any of the senses – sight, hearing, touch, smell, or taste

Showing language- words used to create pictures in the mind of a reader, rather than words that merely tell what happened

WHAT IS SHOW, DON’T TELL?

Uses Vivid Verbs

-Active “Jane shattered the glass”, NOT “The glass was shattered by Jane.”

-Concise “The clock strikes twelve”, NOT “The clock is striking twelve.”

-Action “The water gushed and gurgled over the rocks”, NOT “The water moved over the rocks.”

WHICH IS BETTER?THIS . . .

When I left my office that beautiful spring day, I had no idea what was in store for me. To begin with, everything was too perfect for anything unusual to happen. It was one of those days when a man feels good, feels like speaking to his neighbor, is glad to live in a country like ours, and proud of his government. You know what I mean, one of those rare days when everything is right and nothing is wrong.

OR THIS?

I left work feeling happy. It was a good day. I walked to the store and I was happy.

WHICH IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PARAGRAPH WITH LOTS OF SENSORY DETAILS AND SHOWING LANGUAGE?

a. Hannah said, “No, I don’t want a brother! I want a sister!” My parents tried to soothe her by showing her that baby brother was sucking his thumb in the picture. Hannah had been a thumb sucker from way back and my parents thought she would get a kick out of our brother sucking his thumb inside my mother’s stomach. However, she still looked like she had been sucking on sour candy for the next two days. My sister can be stubborn. I think she must've been born with her hand on her hip.

b. My parents took my sister and me to Gatlinburg Tennessee. We stopped at a Super 8 motel for a little bit. Then we got up, ate breakfast, and were back on the road. For breakfast I had pancakes and sausage. When we got to Gatlinburg, we went and found our condo.

DIALOGUETHE SECOND RULE OF WRITING

Quotations – The Comma

When a quotation is introduced, the comma goes outside the quotation marks.

The Gingerbread Man said, “You can’t catch me.”

To close a quotation, the comma goes inside.

“You can’t catch me,” said the Gingerbread Man.

Quotations – ending marks

Provided they’re part of the quotation, question marks and exclamation points always go inside.

The Gingerbread Man said, “You can’t catch me!”

Question marks and exclamation points go outside if they’re not part of the quotation. Did the Gingerbread Man really say, “You can’t catch me”?

Quotations – One Final Thing!

Always capitalize the first word of the person’s exact words.

Fox thought to himself, "That gingerbread man would be good to eat.”

"I really love you," John whimpered. "I need you. You know that," he urged."I know, but I can never reciprocate," Myra choked out, through her tears.John shook her. "You must! You must leave him and love me!" he barked, emphatically.

Stick with “said” better yet – don’t use “said” SHOW ME THE ACTION!!!

Dialogue Tag