Author Amy Ruttan talking to us about Showing and Telling in Fiction Writing. There is a print signed copy of PREGNANT WITH THE SOLDIER'S SON for one commenter. Open International.
Amy Ruttan on the Web:
When "living a little"…
While celebrating her promotion, the last thing strait-laced orthopedic surgeon Ingrid Walton expects is to be seduced by mysterious dashing soldier and army medic Clint Allen. Especially when there are consequences to their passionate night!
…becomes "living for two"!
Seven months later Ingrid comes face-to-face with the father of her unborn baby…now the new trauma surgeon! But Clint has changed—his last tour of duty has left emotional scars. Can sharing their baby, their work and an undeniable chemistry give them a chance to heal their pasts and enjoy the future…together?
Read REVIEWS
BUY LINKS:
Amazon
B&N
Mills & Boon Aust/NZ
Mills & Boon UK
Harlequin
The Book Depository
There is a print signed copy of PREGNANT WITH THE SOLDIER'S SON for one commenter. Open International.
Amy Ruttan on the Web:
Over to Amy now...
When
I was a new writer the difference between showing and telling made me scratch
my head. Now years later, I get it and I’ll try to eloquently share what I know
about it.
Showing
a reader something over telling them is a skill that if you master, will just
intensify your fiction writing.
I’m
not saying telling is wrong, because it has its place.
It’s
hard. Trust me. We’ve all been there, but to really immerse your reader in your
characters world they have to be able to experience the story and not just have
it told to them.
Think
about your most recent read? Was it one you loved? Was it the kind you couldn’t
put down? Was it a world you just couldn’t get enough?
When
I read a book I want to taste, smell, experience the story and I also want it
told.
Here
are some examples of show vs. tell:
The apple in his
hand was green. It tasted tart.
When he took a
bit of the apple’s green flesh he was surprised by the sour, but still enjoyed
the tartness which flooded his senses.
Or
She was a doctor
with blonde hair, blue eyes. She was wearing blue scrubs. He thought she was
beautiful.
Her lab coat was
pristine and against the blue scrubs, it was a brilliant white. She tucked a
long strand of blonde hair behind her head as she concentrated on the chart in
her slender hands. When their gaze met, he was stunned by the intensity of her
eyes. They took his breath away and his pulse beat faster. He couldn’t help but
imagine running his fingers through her silky locks, kissing those moist lips
until those icy blue eyes were glazed over in passion.
Showing
often ends up longer than telling, but it’s about evoking a feeling for the
reader. Telling has its place too in narration and the trick is to find the
balance.
The
whole rule of show doesn’t tell is a rule that can be bent, because writing
doesn’t have hard fast rules.
Telling
comes in to play when you’re narrating for example:
They gathered
all their materials together.
The key to showing and telling is
to strike the balance and evoke as much emotion as you can out of your story,
because that will help solidify and help your reader care and connect with your
writing.
And
of course, always learn and grow as a writer. Never stop learning, that’s the
key to a successful career.
While celebrating her promotion, the last thing strait-laced orthopedic surgeon Ingrid Walton expects is to be seduced by mysterious dashing soldier and army medic Clint Allen. Especially when there are consequences to their passionate night!
…becomes "living for two"!
Read REVIEWS
BUY LINKS:
Amazon
B&N
Mills & Boon Aust/NZ
Mills & Boon UK
Harlequin
The Book Depository
There is a print signed copy of PREGNANT WITH THE SOLDIER'S SON for one commenter. Open International.
Great examples of show & tell, Amy. You're absolutely right - there's a time and place for both showing and telling, and showing can help make the writing more powerful. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Lexa! Thanks for visiting.
DeleteWonderful examples. It is better to show versus tell, but having a balance between the two is also good. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Chrys!
DeleteNice! Examples always 'show' so much better! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jemi!
DeleteGood examples. I've got a post coming up on this as well in a week or so, because I've noticed a pattern in my writing as I revise where I do most of my telling. And, yes, you have to do both or the story would be twice as long by the time you were done showing everything. :)
ReplyDeleteExactly, LG it's a balancing act for sure!
DeleteI completely agree on the never stop learning! Finding that right balance between showing/telling is something I learn over again with each book :)
ReplyDeleteYes we do, Meradeth! :)
DeleteShowing does take longer to express, but it's so worth it to bring a story alive.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly does, Lynda! :)
DeletePerfect examples. Loved this post. You know what's funny? When I first started writing, I actually googled "Show not Tell" because I had no idea what it meant, LOL!
ReplyDeleteLOL me too, Morgan! I googled it when I started seriously writing.
DeleteI love description that makes me go back and read it again, just to immerse myself in the words. That is what showing is. As you say "When I read a book I want to taste, smell, experience the story and I also want it told."
ReplyDeleteYes! Same here, Denise! :)
DeleteI appreciate these examples of showing versus telling. I agree, it is easier said than done, but it is worth it. Never stop learning - what great advice!
ReplyDeleteIt is worth it. If you stop learning your craft you'll never grow. :)
DeleteThose are really good examples of showing and not telling. What a difference between the two!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sherry!
DeleteI agree that showing does take longer than telling, but you get better results every time.
ReplyDeleteA straight-laced female who ends up pregnant? That's gotta make interesting reading.
Thank you JL! :)
DeleteInteresting examples, Amy!
ReplyDeletePREGNANT WITH THE SOLDIER'S SON sounds really interesting from the prologue and first chapter that I have read (Amazon and Harlequin)
ang_1985 (at) hotmail (dot) com
Thank you, Amanda! :)
DeleteThis is fantastic information, Amy. I agree... showing can be really hard. It definitely takes practice, but the stories are so much better when the writer knows how to "show!"
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your book! It sounds wonderful.
Thank you, Leigh!
DeleteGreat advice, because the difference is not always as easy as it seems. Somehow we all have a tendency of doing it the wrong way.
ReplyDeleteGreat examples! and thanks for the giveaway :)
ReplyDeletecelesc23@gmail.com
Great examples of show vs tell! Funny, that's just what I commented on on your other guest post :-)
ReplyDeleteAmy did a great job of showing, not telling me, why I would want to read her exciting new book. Great post!
ReplyDeleteGood post. I work hard not to tell too much, but authors like Koontz get away with it in every book. Definitely makes writing easier...
ReplyDeleteGreat examples. I love it when details are brought to life through showing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the details on showing vs telling. Good examples. And this book looks interesting! Thanks for dropping by my blog and commenting!
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts. I remember when I first tried to explain to my mom that I was creating a literary experience rather than just putting words on paper. She didn't get it. Not initially. Then she read the prose encompassing all 5 senses, and there was an "aha" moment. =) It's definitely an art, eh?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great reading. I like this post a lot too!
ReplyDeleteWonderful examples of telling and showing! There is a place for both, but the key is finding the right balance.
ReplyDeleteGreat examples of show don't tell. Something I continue to work on. Writing is a process that keeps us learning and growing. :)
ReplyDeleteWishing Amy the best of luck!