Comments on: To Write Better – Know Why Show Beats Tell http://writeabetternovel.net/write-better-fiction-know-why-show-beats-tell/ Practical wisdom for novelists and other storytellers Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:32:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bill Henderson http://writeabetternovel.net/write-better-fiction-know-why-show-beats-tell/comment-page-1/#comment-1331 Bill Henderson Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:49:54 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=1926#comment-1331 This is true, but good descriptive writing is about quality not quantity. My list of particular fruits increased the verbiage, but in a real-life context, I would only write it that way if the particular moment called for full elaboration: to show a character falling in love, for instance. This is strategic awareness: working with, not against "the natural process." What's important is the concrete image, and that doesn't always mean going into a lot of detail; more often it just means seeking out the right word. replacing the generic non-revealing term. I might simply write "the wonderful strawberries" rather than "the wonderful fruit desert." Far from adding, I've actually cut a word. This is true, but good descriptive writing is about quality not quantity. My list of particular fruits increased the verbiage, but in a real-life context, I would only write it that way if the particular moment called for full elaboration: to show a character falling in love, for instance. This is strategic awareness: working with, not against “the natural process.”

What’s important is the concrete image, and that doesn’t always mean going into a lot of detail; more often it just means seeking out the right word. replacing the generic non-revealing term. I might simply write “the wonderful strawberries” rather than “the wonderful fruit desert.” Far from adding, I’ve actually cut a word.

]]> By: Bill Henderson http://writeabetternovel.net/write-better-fiction-know-why-show-beats-tell/comment-page-1/#comment-1330 Bill Henderson Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:46:06 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=1926#comment-1330 This is true, but good descriptive writing is about quality not quantity. My list of particular fruits increased the number of words because I was illustrating a point. But I would only write it that way if the particular moment called for elaboration: to show a character falling in love, for instance. This is strategic awareness: working with, not against "the natural process." What's important is the concrete image, and that doesn't always mean going into a lot of detail; more often it just means seeking out the right word. replacing the generic non-revealing term. I might simply write "the wonderful strawberries" rather than "the wonderful fruit desert." Far from adding, I've actually cut a word. This is true, but good descriptive writing is about quality not quantity. My list of particular fruits increased the number of words because I was illustrating a point. But I would only write it that way if the particular moment called for elaboration: to show a character falling in love, for instance. This is strategic awareness: working with, not against “the natural process.”

What’s important is the concrete image, and that doesn’t always mean going into a lot of detail; more often it just means seeking out the right word. replacing the generic non-revealing term. I might simply write “the wonderful strawberries” rather than “the wonderful fruit desert.” Far from adding, I’ve actually cut a word.

]]> By: Sarah http://writeabetternovel.net/write-better-fiction-know-why-show-beats-tell/comment-page-1/#comment-1329 Sarah Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:30:08 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=1926#comment-1329 The problem is, if you go into that much detail about everything, then you slow the natural progress that a novel takes. If your writing for adults, maybe you're okay, but when someone is writing for YA, (like Twilight) you can only do that occasionaly or else you loose your reader. The problem is, if you go into that much detail about everything, then you slow the natural progress that a novel takes. If your writing for adults, maybe you’re okay, but when someone is writing for YA, (like Twilight) you can only do that occasionaly or else you loose your reader.

]]> By: Danielle Ingram http://writeabetternovel.net/write-better-fiction-know-why-show-beats-tell/comment-page-1/#comment-1315 Danielle Ingram Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:51:45 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=1926#comment-1315 Really interesting point, just from reading 'strawberries drenched in cream' it made me want to run down to the grocers, it really does have much more of an engagement with the audience and triggers off a variety of senses. I think that this is an important point, not only for creative writing but for a wide range of styles including writing for businesses. If you can engage with the user I guess you are more likely to interest them in your products and services. Really interesting point, just from reading ‘strawberries drenched in cream’ it made me want to run down to the grocers, it really does have much more of an engagement with the audience and triggers off a variety of senses.

I think that this is an important point, not only for creative writing but for a wide range of styles including writing for businesses. If you can engage with the user I guess you are more likely to interest them in your products and services.

]]> By: Eros-Alegra Clarke http://writeabetternovel.net/write-better-fiction-know-why-show-beats-tell/comment-page-1/#comment-1816 Eros-Alegra Clarke Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:42:00 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=1926#comment-1816 the basic rules can always be repeated the basic rules can always be repeated

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