Sunday, August 24, 2014

Show vs. Tell/Call for Submissions

Today, I’m continuing the series, Writing a Middle Grade Novel and focusing on describing the action. 

In the early stages of our writing, we sometimes tell the action rather than show it.  

Tell: Lucy feared the dark night held something dangerous, something lethal. 

Show: A tingle crackled along Lucy’s spine, a tingle that grew into an all-out fear that sent a pounding throb deep inside her brain so she couldn’t think. Something was out there…in the dark…waiting…waiting for her.  

Showing allows the reader to feel that s/he is in the middle of the action along with the characters.  

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. In transitions, such as moving the character to a new location, tell works well. Example: Julie stomped out of the room and slammed the door shut behind her. 

When writing action scenes, take the reader along on the journey with the character by showing what is happening as it happens. The Russian writer, Anton Chekhov said it this way:  Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.
Call for Submissions for Adult Writers:
Ordinary Guru Project Contest. In the international bestseller, And Then I Met Margaret, real estate entrepreneur  and founder of Mind Adventure, Inc. Rob White recounts 21 stories of personal transformation brought about by his encounters with everyday, ordinary, unassuming gurus who crossed his path over seven decades of living. 
 
We’re looking for short stories, essays, memoirs, photo essays, graphic stories, cartoons, and poems about ordinary gurus. Ordinary gurus teach us what we  need to know in order to expand our view of ourselves and the world. These gurus aren’t just people— they can also be anything in nature that offers you an insight or life-lesson, perhaps a pet, a wild animal, or even a tree that helps you see yourself or life differently.

Whomever/whatever the ordinary guru, your story must embody a personal experience. Entries must be previously unpublished, no longer than 1,200 words, and can be as short as a few sentences. Your story must be an original creation.

PRIZES:

§ First Prize: $5,000

§ Second Prize: $2,500

§ Third Prize: $1,500.

Deadline: August 31, 2014.

Submission details at http://ordinarygurus.com/contest-entry-form/

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