Lessons I've learned about writing...
In the world of creative writing, no phrase or lesson is more repeated than the famous:
Show Don't Tell
What does that mean, exactly? It means don't give me a fact but show it to me. Let the actions of the character tell me he's nervous. Let the characters actions and motives be so tied to the setting, that they direct what details I get to see.
Read this:
Dr. Briar sat nervously on a hand-made leather chair with mahogany inlays.
Now read this:
Dr. Briar sat fidgeting in a hand-made leather chair, rotating his middle finger around on the mahogany inlays.
What's different?
Dr. Briar sat nervously on a hand-made leather chair with mahogany inlays.
Dr. Briar sat fidgeting in a hand-made leather chair, rotating his middle finger around on the mahogany inlays.
We show him fidgeting and rotating his finger, this gives us more reason to talk about the inlays. But could this be better? Sure, there are a thousand ways to write this sent…
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