Using BOOKS to SHOW not TELL
Books can mean so much more than just be symbolic for learning and knowledge. They can show emotion, conflict, setting, characterization. They can foreshadow too. It’s all in what and how you use the book(s) in your story. Any detail that you include about the book can make your writing more purposeful and add nuance to your characters and story.
Books and all their little details can SHOW emotion, personality, world views, societal views, without TELLING. And readers are smart– they pick up on those clues instinctually.
What’s the title of the book in your story? How is the title important to the plot, character, and conflict? Is the book old or new or ancient? Honestly, who doesn’t love ancient wisdom? Why exactly is the book forbidden? Or hidden? Or locked away? Or forgotten? What does it really say about the characters or the setting or society? Is the book well-loved, dog-eared? Or is it in pristine condition? What extra clues do you want to give your readers by including a book in your plot?
SHOW DON’T TELL with the color GRAY | 10 Ways to Use Color to SHOW ( not tell )
10 THING ABOUT USING COLOR IN YOUR STORY
1. Every color is symbolic.
2. Every color comes with feelings and images.
3. Every color can show/reveal nuance, subtext, and feelings that can amplify characterization, conflict, and emotion.
4. Color and/or color descriptors can direct or distract the reader’s attention.
5. An adjective or 2 is all you need.
6. Be mindful of cultural symbolism.
7.Be mindful of East and West color symbolism. It is often different.
8. Color and color descriptors can show or reveal a character’s mood personality, and/or their world view.
9. Colors can show a character’s intentions or emotions without telling.
10. Flavor your color descriptions to make your prose more purposeful.
Gray is a color that can show emotion, setting, and personality, and the adjectives used to describe the color have feelings and images attached to them. Using a color, like gray, can add nuance and enrich your writing, no matter what you’re describing.
SHOW DON’T TELL with the color WHITE | Show don’t Tell Series
White is a color that can show emotion, setting, and personality, and the adjectives used to describe the color have feelings and images attached to them. Using a color, like white can add nuance and enrich your writing, no matter what you’re describing.
Show don’t Tell with the Color Black
Black is a powerful and far-reaching color for showing emotion and personality, and color descriptors have feelings and images attached to them. Using a color, like black, can add nuance and enrich your writing, no matter what you’re describing. ⭐️ PART OF MY SHOW DON’T TELL SERIES ⭐️
#writingtips #colorsymbolism #blacksymbolism #writingcommunity #writingnetwork #writingadvice #writingtips #characterization
Show Don’t Tell with the Color YELLOW
The color yellow and all its many shades can enrich scenes, reveal character, and emotions because color and specific color descriptors give readers all the feels. Or maybe just a clue. It’s up to you, the writer. Colors come with a feeling; choose with care. Check the Show don’t Tell playlist for more.
#writingtips #yellowsymbolism #colorsymbolism #writersnetwork #writingcommunity #writingadvice #writingtips #characterization #writebetter
Show Don’t Tell with the Color BLUE
The color blue and all its many shades can enrich scenes and reveal character and emotions because color and specific color descriptors can give readers all the feels. Or maybe just a clue. It’s up to you, the writer. Colors come with a feeling; choose with care.
#Showdon’ttell #bluesymbolism #writingtips #writingadvice #writeabook #writinglife #writingcommunity
Go Green & SHOW don’t TELL
Green is fertility and nature. Green is youth and inexperience. Green is envy and jealousy. Green is nature. Green is soothing and inviting. There’s nothing scary about green. Green eyes are associated with magic and the power to enchant. There are many precious and semi precious stones, each with their own symbolic meanings.
Things to keep in mind:
1. Make it fit the culture, time period, setting, mood, and POV.
2. HOW specific do your need to be and WHY? Otherwise it’s pointless and annoying.
 
Show Don’t Tell & the Color RED | Seeing Red | Shades of Red
Red is powerful color for showing emotion and personality, and the shades of red are also powerful. Using color, like red, can add nuance and enrich your writing, no matter what it’s describing.
 
New Year’s Resolutions & Finding Balance | Writing Problems | Writing Struggles
The new year is about making author and writing resolutions that are difficult to keep AND about trying to balance our writing life with real-life responsibilities. The writing struggle is real, one many of us face and feel bad about because we can’t seem to manage all that we should. Life throws us off balance and our well-intentioned resolutions go out the door. But THAT’S OKAY! 😃 Here’s why!
 
SHOW Don’t Tell Tips | Gift Giving
Giving gifts is another way that writers can SHOW the desires, strengths, and needs of a character in your story. Showing is a clue into your character’s personality so if you have a scene where they give a gift, consider what you would like to show your readers. All those showing clues add up and make for memorable and believable characters.