Comments on: Creative Writing - bringing your text to life http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/ the business and craft of writing Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:52:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Fiona http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-2109 Fiona Tue, 27 May 2008 16:46:54 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-2109 I tend to underwrite too, TJ. In fact today I've just been going back over the old novel, fleshing out some of the descriptive passages. My, you're workiing through this at some pace! I tend to underwrite too, TJ. In fact today I’ve just been going back over the old novel, fleshing out some of the descriptive passages. My, you’re workiing through this at some pace!

]]> By: TJ Pearson http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-2096 TJ Pearson Mon, 26 May 2008 23:15:49 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-2096 Thanks again, this has shown me that I tend to underwrite descriptive passages, I am going to go through my novel and look for ways to fix this, but maybe I should wait until the end and go back through in editing. Either way I will try to do better and not go to the other extreme. Thanks Thanks again, this has shown me that I tend to underwrite descriptive passages, I am going to go through my novel and look for ways to fix this, but maybe I should wait until the end and go back through in editing. Either way I will try to do better and not go to the other extreme. Thanks

]]> By: Creative writing - dialogue at The Crafty Writer http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-308 Creative writing - dialogue at The Crafty Writer Wed, 07 Nov 2007 09:11:38 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-308 [...] reader about the background of the story) and is one of the basic ways of activating your text by showing not telling. That may sound strange but allowing a character to tell the reader something rather than just [...] [...] reader about the background of the story) and is one of the basic ways of activating your text by showing not telling. That may sound strange but allowing a character to tell the reader something rather than just [...]

]]> By: Creative Writing - Characterisation at The Crafty Writer http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-272 Creative Writing - Characterisation at The Crafty Writer Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:14:56 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-272 [...] we’ve already discovered in bringing your text to life, it is always better to show not tell. Here is an exercise to help your character show you, rather [...] [...] we’ve already discovered in bringing your text to life, it is always better to show not tell. Here is an exercise to help your character show you, rather [...]

]]> By: Fiona Veitch Smith http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-218 Fiona Veitch Smith Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:18:59 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-218 Hi Sue, As long as you pick it up in editing, you'll be ok. If you get all self-conscious about 'show don't tell' in your first draft you may inhibit your creative flow. Just get it out and sort out the problems later. I'm sure there is more than just hope for you! Hi Sue,

As long as you pick it up in editing, you’ll be ok. If you get all self-conscious about ’show don’t tell’ in your first draft you may inhibit your creative flow. Just get it out and sort out the problems later. I’m sure there is more than just hope for you!

]]> By: Soobdoo http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-217 Soobdoo Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:10:38 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-217 Hi Fiona, I have worked my way through the exercises and found them to be really helpfull. Putting these two aspects together makes it clearer where I am going wrong. The 'show don't tell' advice is something I always struggle with. It is beginning to make more sense now. However looking at this morning's writing I see I have fallen into the same old trap. Maybe one day I will be able to get this right but in the meantime I will have to pick it up when I am editing. Thank you there is hope for me yet Sue Hi Fiona,

I have worked my way through the exercises and found them to be really helpfull.

Putting these two aspects together makes it clearer where I am going wrong. The ’show don’t tell’ advice is something I always struggle with. It is beginning to make more sense now.

However looking at this morning’s writing I see I have fallen into the same old trap. Maybe one day I will be able to get this right but in the meantime I will have to pick it up when I am editing.

Thank you there is hope for me yet
Sue

]]> By: Fiona Veitch Smith http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-212 Fiona Veitch Smith Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:14:14 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-212 <p>Hello Verica. I think if you can get away from the phrase 'show don't tell' and replace it with 'experiential' then you may see how travel writing can and should help you in your other writing. As you will no doubt know, the best travel writing is when the reader feels that he or she is experiencing the location along with the writer. This is also 'show don't tell'. Because of my journalistic background my first draft always tends to be more telling than showing. But that's ok because then I know what's going to happen. I have a skeleton or story arc to work with. I then look at ways of showing rather than telling in subsequent drafts. Happy writing!</p> Hello Verica. I think if you can get away from the phrase ’show don’t tell’ and replace it with ‘experiential’ then you may see how travel writing can and should help you in your other writing. As you will no doubt know, the best travel writing is when the reader feels that he or she is experiencing the location along with the writer. This is also ’show don’t tell’. Because of my journalistic background my first draft always tends to be more telling than showing. But that’s ok because then I know what’s going to happen. I have a skeleton or story arc to work with. I then look at ways of showing rather than telling in subsequent drafts. Happy writing!

]]> By: Verica Peacock http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-210 Verica Peacock Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:08:46 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-210 I really have enjoyed tackling this part, although I will try to do the exercises again properly when I have more time. Although I know my short stories should be more 'Show' than 'Tell', I find it hard to do. It could be because I do some travel writing which, of necessity, seems to be automatically telling of experiences. I will try to reform! I really have enjoyed tackling this part, although I will try to do the exercises again properly when I have more time.

Although I know my short stories should be more ‘Show’ than ‘Tell’, I find it hard to do. It could be because I do some travel writing which, of necessity, seems to be automatically telling of experiences. I will try to reform!

]]> By: Fiona Veitch Smith http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-209 Fiona Veitch Smith Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:40:10 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-209 Hi Sue, Better passive than passe'! Good luck with it. Hi Sue,

Better passive than passe’! Good luck with it.

]]> By: Soobdoo http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-208 Soobdoo Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:31:31 +0000 http://www.thecraftywriter.com/2007/10/17/creative-writing-bringing-your-text-to-life/#comment-208 Hi Fiona, I have not had time to tackle any of the exercises yet but I have read through and am looking forward to starting. During my working life as a software engineer I had to write many reports and documents. I think this may be why I now have an ongoing battle stopping myself from drifting into passive speech. I am determined to conquer this fault. Sue Hi Fiona,
I have not had time to tackle any of the exercises yet but I have read through and am looking forward to starting.

During my working life as a software engineer I had to write many reports and documents. I think this may be why I now have an ongoing battle stopping myself from drifting into passive speech. I am determined to conquer this fault.

Sue

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