How to maximise the golden rule of fiction
We’ve all heard it: “Show, don’t tell!” – the ultimate creative writing technique. ‘Showing’ makes scenes come alive, characters more real, and everything in your story more vivid. But what exactly does that mean? How exactly does one ‘show’? And…well, aren’t there times you really should ‘tell’? It’s called storytelling after all!
Showing what your characters are thinking, feeling and doing entertains your reader and brings them closer to the narrative. More importantly, it stops your story from feeling stodgy and boring – making your manuscript stand out (for all the right reasons!) to prospective agents and publishers.
This online seminar is for anyone who has ever nodded sagely along to “Show, don’t tell!” but secretly wondered just HOW to apply it to their writing. And your guide is multi award-winning, bestselling author Pamela Freeman – as together we FOCUS ON… Show Don’t Tell.
Hundreds of students have already completed this seminar. We have received overwhelming positive feedback on the strategies shared by Pamela and the practical advice she provided. This seminar is now available for purchase. By purchasing this seminar you will also receive the handouts and have access for 12 months.
“Thanks, Pamela. The clarity and efficiency of your insightful ‘Focus on Show, Don’t Tell’ presentation has helped me enormously. Your enthusiasm is infectious. This is the first time I’ve understood the nuts and bolts of show, don’t tell. You’re inspiring.”
– Paul Rodriguez
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[description] => “I loved the practical examples that Pamela gave. Also Pamela is a good presenter - clear and informative and everything was easy to follow and understand. I feel like I now have a good handle on showing not telling. The practical examples in the handouts will help me in my writing and will be useful for editing.”
Melinda Woledge
Understanding the ‘show’ business
Russian playwright Anton Chekhov is often credited with the quote “Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." His meaning was that when describing things in nature, you should seize upon the small details – allowing a reader to “see” a scene and not simply have it dictated to them.
Other writers have also embraced this approach, including Ernest Hemingway – and “Show, Don’t Tell” has rapidly become the mantra most likely to appear on the chalkboard at the start of a writing class. As an author, it can be fundamental to your characters and scenes.
In this fascinating FOCUS ON seminar, Pamela Freeman delves deep into the writing craft to help you tame this deceptively tricky technique in a way that enhances your writing in the minds of readers, agents and publishers.
This seminar explores following:
- The difference between ‘showing’ and ‘telling’.
- Why ‘showing’ works better for most parts of your story.
- Concrete examples of how to edit your sentences so they become ‘showing’ instead of ‘telling’.
- Those occasions when ‘telling’ might actually be better than ‘showing’
- And MUCH more.
Drawing on her years of experience, Pamela highlights how to streamline your storytelling by knowing when to SHOW and when to TELL for maximum effect.
Each FOCUS ON seminar explores an important aspect of the art of writing – in an interactive, accessible and efficient way. The session consists of a 1 hour expert presentation plus an additional 30 minute Q&A – designed to entertain, educate and inspire you to improve your craft.
With the tips and techniques you learn in this seminar, you’ll be able to confidently grapple with the nuances of this most golden of storytelling rules to bring your words to life.
“I loved how Pamela gave solid examples of telling and then demonstrated how to show that telling in a scene.”
Selina Shapland
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