Writer Fuel: The Truth Behind “Show, Don’t Tell”

Writer Fuel: The Truth Behind “Show, Don’t Tell”

If you’ve ever taken a writing class, you’ve probably heard the adage “show, don’t tell.” But what does that even mean? What “show, don’t tell” really boils down to is a question of scene versus exposition. “Show” puts readers right in the middle of the action so they can see the scene unfold almost as… Read more »

Writer Fuel: Five Promises in the First Five Pages

Writer Fuel: Five Promises in the First Five Pages

Writing a book is like making a contract with our readers. We agree to craft a great story and our readers in turn agree to suspend their disbelief and keep turning pages. Furthermore, I believe that at the start of every book, we must make five promises to our readers. These promises are not hard-and-fast… Read more »

Writer Fuel: The Three “Rules” of Point of View

Writer Fuel: The Three “Rules” of Point of View

Point of view is one of the trickiest and most technical aspects of writing, but it’s also my favorite. There are so many choices and possibilities—it’s like being in the literary version of a candy store! At the same time, however, this variety of options can be overwhelming, making us feel like we’re being pulled… Read more »

Writer Fuel: Writing Insights from The Twilight Zone

Writer Fuel: Writing Insights from The Twilight Zone

You may not know this about me, but I am a die-hard Twilight Zone fan. The show represents some of the finest writing in television and I especially love that it’s kid-friendly so I can watch with the nerdlings. Sure, a couple of episodes might be duds, but what show doesn’t hit the occasional bump… Read more »

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