Reviews from

Show, Don't Tell - part V

actions louder than words?

21 total reviews 
Comment from Spitfire
Exceptional
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Hopefully, all writers on this site are aware of this rule. Excellent excellent examples. I like the point you make of not letting physical attributes do all the work. Also creating a cheat sheet. Psychiatrists always pay attention to a patient's voiceless signals.

 Comment Written 01-May-2022


reply by the author on 12-May-2022
    Observation is key. more folk should watch around them and become more attune. Sometimes things are written so unrealistically that I lose interest almost immediately.
Comment from Ulla
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Hi Gareth, absolutely. Showing is the most important tool in a writer's arsenal, but it also one of the most difficult skills to get right. Thanks a lot for sharing this with us. Ulla:)))

 Comment Written 01-May-2022


reply by the author on 12-May-2022
    Many thanks, Ulla. G
Comment from Earl Corp
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I found this to be very a very helpful piece of work and have bookcased it for further use. I appreciate you sharing this with us here in Fanstory. Very nice job.

 Comment Written 01-May-2022


reply by the author on 12-May-2022
    Glad you find it useful, Earl. G
Comment from K. Lang-Slattery
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A great addition to the series about showing vs telling. I especially like the idea of the cheat sheet.
Suggestions:

. ". . has. It will fall flat as the reader won't care." I think the final sentence will be more powerful if you join it with the preceding as in: "If the reader isn't invested, it won't matter how action-packed the story is, or how many twists and turns it has, the reader won't care."
. The final line kind of hangs there. It's a good sentence, but perhaps could be better placed in another paragraph. Ending with the prompt is fine.

 Comment Written 01-May-2022


reply by the author on 12-May-2022
    Many thanks. G
Comment from barbara.wilkey
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Wherever I can, I try to use an action tag instead of a speech tag. I hope that helps my readers see what my characters are doing and are like. Thank you, again for helping us become better authors.

 Comment Written 01-May-2022


reply by the author on 12-May-2022
    Much appreciated, barbara. G
Comment from K.L. Rockquemore
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Thank you for continuing these invaluable posts. I have already learned a tremendous amount of writing techniques to explore and put into action. Using the exercises for practice has been challenging, but necessary in becoming a better writer.Thanks for sharing .

 Comment Written 01-May-2022


reply by the author on 12-May-2022
    Glad you're getting something out of them. G
Comment from Ric Myworld
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Thanks for sharing more of your very good advice that I'm sure I'll use to improve my tendency of telling no matter how hard I try not to. Thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 01-May-2022


reply by the author on 12-May-2022
    Much appreciated as always, Ric. G
Comment from Shirley McLain
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This instruction was great. I have a terrible time showing the body language. You did a wonderful job, and I, for one, appreciate your instruction. Thank you. Shirley

 Comment Written 01-May-2022


reply by the author on 12-May-2022
    Many thanks for the great response. G
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

"Excellent council," I said, my eyebrows stretching to my scalp.
I liked what you said, and how you said it. Great work.
Best wishes and good luck with your book.

 Comment Written 01-May-2022


reply by the author on 12-May-2022
    LOL. Many thanks, Wayne. G
Comment from Tom Horonzy
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You are always glad to extend your knowledge. Will such advice work on what I see as too many 3-5-3 and 5-7-5 poems? S contest composition of fifty words. Who does that, and why?

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 Comment Written 01-May-2022


reply by the author on 12-May-2022
    Not a big fan of the short stuff! lol
reply by Tom Horonzy on 12-May-2022
    We agree.