I may reverse it and expand on telling first. Back when I started, for me writing was just a few choppy and crummy fan fiction works about Final Fantasy VII’s Tifa Lockhart, where I just told the story as a story teller. It is doubtful anyone “connected with her situations, & looking back, I wish I knew then what I know now! A few years ago, when Blackrose, (my first muse) woke up and started telling me her story, I wrote as I wrote my old FF7 stories, thinking that was the right formula. Wasn’t until the harsh review from the woman, who I spoke of last night, until I woke up.
In this post, we will explore the line between showing how your characters feel in a story, having them connect with readers Vs. just telling the story, which a little telling isn’t bad, you’ll need it at some point, BUT finding the line between the two is key. While I wish a few of my early work was accessible so I could paste an example, it was lost with one of my old computers, but if I wrote something like: “The girl’s powers woke up and let her use them.” You do not get a feel for what she goes through obtaining, controlling that power.
Now, if I write: “Though every fiber of the girl’s being told her that she wasn’t ready to use her powers, making her weigh trying to use them or running.” then the readers get connected to her plight. In my circle, what I just wrote is the showing aspect of writing, because it gives the reader a little insight into the character’s thinking and motives. Sure, in my writings, I go deeper, having my characters question everything, probably more then they need too, something I’m trying to iron out.
Hopefully this is insightful and helps you somewhat, but if anyone has questions or if there’s anything I miss, please comment,
See you in the next installment! 🙂
Shadowlight's Blog...... Or Something Like That 
This was always one thing I struggled with in my college Creative writing course. It takes awhile to master the art of showing instead of just giving it away and just telling it.
I can’t tell you how bad my early works were. And before that girl gave me that harsh review, telling it was all I did.
Oh same here. I didn’t realize it was ever an issue until it was brought to my attention that first time lol
How she worded the review of the draft of the vampire series I’ve rewrote and still writing, (a series I’ll talk of in the next tips and advice post), her words hard. She about said I had no right to be a writer, but thanks to her, I’ve found my nitch?
Wow! That’s pretty cruel. Just use those negative words to push you 🙂
i do, but at the time I thought, “Stuff the attitude!”. Now, her it’s used to motivate me. 🙂