[Link] Do I “Tell” Too Much?

by Nicole L. Ochoea

“Show vs. Tell,” that’s a phrase we hear a lot on the writing circuit, but as a new writer it can be hard to identify those places where we need to show more.  Here are two easy steps to help you “show” your story, giving your readers a chance to step inside your pages.

Step 1:  Do a search for emotion-themed words

I recently finished an excellent book called Deep Point of View by Marcy Kennedy where she recommends doing a search for “emotion-themed” words in your manuscript.  At the end of this post you will find a list of words you can search for in your work in progress.

Step 2:  “Show” the emotion instead of “Telling” the reader about the emotion

Now that you have identified your “emotion” words, what do you do with them?  How do you turn them into something a reader can see, hear, touch, taste, or smell?  I like to use the Emotional Thesaurus.

Read the full article: https://nicolelochoa.com/2016/08/16/do-i-tell-too-much/

The Writer Will Take Your Questions Now #339 -- Show, Don't Tell

Show, don't tell. What does it mean to you?

Ooh. Good question. I think it means the same thing to me it means to most genre writers. Let your characters tell the story by doing things and saying things. Don't over-narrate. If your protagonist is a fighter, don't tell me she's a fighter. Make her fight someone -- or many someones. If someone is sad, don't tell me he is sad. Show me what being sad looks likes. Above all, for me at least, it means remove myself from the work as a writer as much as possible, and let the story belong to the characters as they experience and react to it.

[Link] Cheat Sheets for Writing Body Language

by Amanda Patterson

Translate emotions into written body language

We are always told to use body language in our writing. Sometimes, it's easier said than written. I decided to create these cheat sheets to help you show a character's state of mind. Obviously, a character may exhibit a number of these behaviours. For example, he may be shocked and angry, or shocked and happy. Use these combinations as needed.

The Top Five Tips For Using Body Language

1. Use body language to add depth to dialogue.
2. Use it because more than 50% of human communication is non-verbal.
3. Use it to show how your character's emotions affect his or her actions.
4. Use it to help you show rather than tell your reader everything.
5. Use it in moderation. If overused, it can slow your story down.

Read the full article: http://writerswrite.co.za/cheat-sheets-translate-emotions-into-written-body-language