For the past two weeks, I have reached my goal of 300 words a day (or more).
The more I write, the more I start to ask myself “is what I am writing actually any good?” This question comes and goes…Here I am not talking about the plot but I am thinking about the intricate delicacy of the writing art.
Right now, my brain focuses on THE question: am I doing enough “showing” or am I way too much “telling”?
I am especially asking myself as part of my WIP is a diary and it requires extra strength to make sure that this part of the novel is not only telling but it also showing.
So for those of you out there who are going through the same as me, here are some of the best articles I have read so far on the subject:
- http://girlswithpens.com/2011/07/11/5-ways-to-know-if-youre-showing-or-telling/
- http://blog.janicehardy.com/2010/04/re-write-wednesday-dont-tell-me-why.html
- http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/creative1/showing/
- http://www.coloradospringsfictionwritersgroup.org/archive/2003-10_article-creative_writing_101-show_versus_tell.pdf
- http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/what-show-dont-tell-really-means-by-agent-mary-kole
Happy to read your tricks, don´t hesitate to share 🙂
Elodie Nowodazkij 
I started a treat about this just a couple of days ago on AW.
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229216
I found some of the post really helpful.
When i get my lappy up and running agin, i feel like i need to go over all of what i
have written nad just make sure i’m doing enough showing.
I thought loads of discrtiption was showing; but clearly i have my lines crossed.
Thanks for the link 🙂 I have some parts where I feel like I nailed it and others where I am going “ouch this will need a lot of rewriting” I am just crossing my fingers that by the end of the first draft I´ll have more “yeahhh looks good” than “awwwwwwww what was I thinking?” 🙂
I feel the same way. I’ve only got 4 chapters of my WIP atm. Just under 15,000 words – So it should be easy enough to go over it and check it out before i continue… Heres to hoping so anyway 🙂
Great links! Thank you, they’re really helpful. 🙂 I’ll have to bookmark them whenever it’s time to do the editing. One thing I know I have a problem with in the first draft is telling rather than showing so these will be really useful to go through and see what suggestions they make and help me know what to look out for.
Glad they are helpful 🙂 I have the same problem and I know I will also need to go back to these pages once I am done with this first draft…