NaNoWriMo Series: Writing Tip #11

For my blossoming writers out there, this is a vital tool to keep in your storytelling toolkit. Show, don't tell. But what does it mean? How many times have characters stood somewhere generic talking to each other like...

"Hey, Jim. Isn't Bob going to go to the gym today?"

"Yeah, Kai. I told you already that Bob has to go to the gym to train for the upcoming tournament at the stadium next Friday."

"But isn't that for the biggest fighters in the universe?"

"Must I spell it out for ya?"

The characters are talking about something that they already know and are only saying it for the sake of the reader. Hence, they tell us instead of showing us. For that, just jump to the scene where Bob is already at the gym lifting weights. Something more like...

Clang!

The metal dumbell slips out of my grip and falls to the floor. My right hand shakes uncontrollably as I sit on the edge of the workout bench. Better not overdo it before the tournament. If I lose in the preliminaries, Coach will eat me alive. Literally!

It's a fine line to walk on this subject and there are times that the first example I gave can work for a story. But as with all things in this world, you have to know the rules before you can break them. There are whole books on this subject if you want a thorough discussion. And, if you want your story to pop, ask yourself some of these questions to help you get started:

1. Are my characters here to move the story along in a single throwaway scene or do they serve a vital purpose to the heart of the plot? (Note: If you have a character like "The Cabbage Man" in Avatar: The Last Airbender, that is not a throwaway character. If they reoccur in your story, they are vital to the plot)

2. Are my characters wasting their own time talking about certain topics instead of doing them?

3. Does every scene add to progressing the plot forward?

4. Is the pace of my story beats longer than it should be?

5. Can I tell this story in fewer scenes than I currently have?

If you want to learn more NaNoWriMo tips, check out the 30 Days of Tips that will unfold this month. Can't wait? Then check out my mini-course on The Basics of Storytelling that's available for $1. I look forward to seeing you in whatever form I appear. Until next time.

About the Author

Crystal Cabrae is a storyteller who specializes in writing dystopian, romantic, and adventurous worlds for animation and fantastical fiction. She is a proud graduate of Full Sail University, AMDA, and New World School of the Arts. Her six years of acting training in New York and Miami gives her a unique perspective when approaching her characters. She has a passion for sharing how to create stories with the world and inspiring the storyteller that lives within all of us. Follow her on IG or Pinterest to know the latest.