"Show, don’t tell" means letting readers experience a story through actions, senses, and dialogue instead of outright explaining things. Here are some practical tips to achieve that:
Tell: "The room was cold."
Show: "Her breath puffed in faint clouds, and she shivered as frost clung to the edges of the window."
Tell: "He was scared."
Show: "His hands trembled, and his heart thudded so loudly he was sure they could hear it too."
Tell: "She was angry."
Show: "She slammed the mug onto the counter, coffee sloshing over the rim as her jaw clenched."
Tell: "He was exhausted."
Show: "He stumbled through the door, collapsing onto the couch without even bothering to remove his shoes."
What characters say and how they say it can reveal their emotions, intentions, or traits.
Tell: "She was worried about the storm."
Show: "Do you think it'll reach us?" she asked, her voice tight, her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt.
Tell: "He was jealous of his friend."
Show: "As his friend held up the trophy, he forced a smile, swallowing the bitter lump rising in his throat."
Use the setting to mirror or hint at emotions or themes.
Tell: "The town was eerie."
Show: "Empty streets stretched into the mist, and the only sound was the faint creak of a weathered sign swinging in the wind."
Give enough clues for the reader to piece things together without spelling it out.
Tell: "The man was a thief."
Show: "He moved through the crowd, fingers brushing pockets, his hand darting away with a glint of gold."
What’s left unsaid can reveal as much as what’s spoken.
Tell: "They were uncomfortable around each other."
Show: "He avoided her eyes, pretending to study the painting on the wall. She smoothed her dress for the third time, her fingers fumbling with the hem."
Use metaphors, similes, or comparisons to make an emotion or situation vivid.
Tell: "The mountain was huge."
Show: "The mountain loomed above them, its peak disappearing into the clouds, as if it pierced the heavens."
Tell: "The village had been destroyed by the fire."
Show: "Charred beams jutted from the rubble like broken ribs, the acrid smell of ash lingering in the air. A child's shoe lay half-buried in the soot, its leather curled from the heat."
Day four of shop updates! Sakura Haruno from Naruto 💖 $45 + shipping
Put pelican in Star house?? @thestarfishface
Chillin' with Pelican as she dives into a fishy snack!
pelican crochet pattern: available here Yarn: Must-Have and Epic by @yarnandcolors
People so often talk about parallel play as a thing children do, but adults do it too! I love just hanging out with others while we do our own things. The fact that we're not doing something together doesn't bother me. It's simply being together that's important.
Good morning! Welcome to our crochet blog 🥰
btw with art when people say 'youve got to do it scared' 'youve got to draw bad' 'youre not gonna know how to do it until you do it' it sounds like bullshit but its true. 90% of art is just getting over the fear that it's not going to be good enough to deserve to be made in the first place. but you're here. you're alive and, with no need to justify that, you're going to make art. it's just part of being alive. you'll spend so long worrying you aren't doing it good enough that you'll look back and realized you didn't live a single day of it.
hello tumblr i wanted to share my little crochet things because i crochet a lot now
*Sighs in writer*
you spend 30 minutes choosing the perfect synonym for “said” only to change it back to “said.”
you google “how long does it take to bleed out” at 3 a.m. and now the FBI is probably watching you.
you write one sentence, stare at it, rewrite it 14 times, and somehow end up back at the original version.
“this scene is so important” but you have no idea what the scene actually is or why it’s important.
you come up with the best story ideas… in the shower… with no way to write them down.
your characters feel like real people but also you’re like “who are these guys and what do they want from me?”
your brain says “start writing!” but instead you reorganize your desk, reread your notes, and spend two hours naming a side character who shows up once.
you’ve cried over your WIP exactly 67 times and will do it again because the pain is the point.
you reread something you wrote and think, “wow, did i peak as a writer three months ago?”
every writing session begins with the sacred ritual of scrolling social media, opening unnecessary tabs, and procrastinating until panic sets in.
you have no idea how long a chapter should be, so you just… vibe.
you can’t watch tv or movies without mentally critiquing the plot, dialogue, and pacing.
your writing playlist is 98% vibes, 2% songs you’ll actually listen to while writing.
you keep a “murder notebook” but swear it’s not suspicious because it’s for your novel (probably).
the phrase “just one more draft” is your eternal mantra, even though you’ve rewritten this thing more times than you can count.
Growing up is actually all about realizing people don’t inherently dislike you and it’s a bit odd to assume they do
Apparently didn't post this over here so here we go!
Boosting a BlueSky post from earlier this month, got some big bills to pay off, including groceries and therapy, primarily my ADHD assessment (diagnosis now confirmed!). Any support is, and always will be, appreciated, as long as it doesn't hurt you. Reblogs and likes are also appreciated because more eyes! Thanks friends! 💜💜💜
https://bsky.app/profile/nerdvanacrafts.bsky.social/post/3lbcycur23c2w
gang night
Hello and welcome to Nerdvana Crafts! Where you can find handmade gifts for the nerds in your life! My name is Sly and I am a neurodivergent fiber artist who crochets amigurumi from a variety of fandoms. Each item is made to order, and may take 2-4 weeks to make and ship. Each item is also made in the presence of a cat so if you have allergies, please message me and I will do everything in my power to prevent kitty contamination. All of my creations are intended as fan art, and because I use a variety of patterns, their sizes will vary as well!
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