Getting “help” from other writers often comes in little vague statements like the one above.. “show it, don’t tell it.” It drove me nuts because I kept hearing how important this was to your writing but it was so obscure I was never sure WHAT they were talking about. I kept hearing that over and over and breathed a huge sigh of relief when someone finally gave me an example that made sense.
Her hair was black = telling it. She ran her hands nervously through her black hair = showing it.
Thinking about this, I realized the true difference between fiction writing and journalism. Fiction writers “show it” so you can live vicariously in the story. Journalists “tell it” to you as facts. I wonder if journalists find it difficult to write fiction and if a fiction writer can write for a newspaper. On some level I’m sure they can.. as its like being good at sports. Good at one can often translate as good on another, although usually not AS good.
Here’s another gem of advice I’m getting lately. Tell more, with less. Which is the English equivalent of use smaller, more perfect sentences and then use a lot of them.
Really? I asked in bafflement. Why? But its like this… you can’t publish badly written crap. Because its expensive to publish stuff and if its shit then fewer people will buy it and you won’t make your money. So editors want to see you’re work as “perfectly written” as you can make it. Which can be hard to judge by the inexperienced writer!
Now a monthly publication has different standards because they’ve got to have material to publish every month. Ah, but you see EVERYONE wants to be a writer. Frankly, I don’t know why. Writing is a bitch and it never pays and there is NO glory or fame in it at all. So the market is glutted with wanna-be writers and editors just can’t wade through your bad writing to try and coach your talent along.
Instead everyone gives everyone else these vague but lovely platitudes and you can only turn to a critique group of others (likely as amateur as you are) to help you hone your ability to edit your work. Because the writing part is easy.. its the editing of your own work that is truly difficult to learn.
So, of course, the people making the real money at writing are those publishing the “how to write” books … OBVIOUSLY! A desperate ready market of hopefuls calling it a write-off.
I’ve been able to avoid that pitfall or buying other people’s “how to write” books, but I’m supposed to find a critique group. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind others reading my work and giving me help if they know what they’re talking about. But do they? If they’re successful what are they doing in a critique group for amateurs? And if they’re not, do they really know what they’re talking about?
And I’m not sure I have the skills to reciprocate! If I can’t edit my own stuff how can I possible do a good job for someone else. And don’t get me started on the TIME involved! Obviously these people either don’t have kids, don’t have jobs or don’t have social lives. (Ha! I have all three!)
Although I suppose I could go to a critique group meeting BEFORE a date. Won’t that just knock the socks off the little group when I show up in a clubbing outfit! Although with what I write they might assume its par for the course!
Hell if I’m going to start doing that I’ll need to buy better thigh highs! Sitting in them for long periods of time can really do a number on my thighs!