Not only do animal characters serve as a great exercise in showing rather than telling, but they can be used in a story for many purposes. They can highlight certain…
When it comes to your story arc, you spend hours and days and several cups of coffee plotting your outline to make sure each point is executed to perfection. But are you showing rather than telling your reader along the way? 1) Exposition The…
The ‘chosen one’ trope, typically found in fantasy or science fiction novels, involves a character being chosen for a specific task that only they are capable of carrying out. Whether that involves defeating a great evil, saving someone in…
You’re sitting at a local coffee shop, waiting for your friend to arrive. You sip peacefully on your coffee, across from you sits your friend’s cup which you bought for them to surprise them. Suddenly the door to the coffee shop is open more…
Happiness is such an elusive and complicated word. And showing a character experiencing happiness can be all the more complex, especially when you need to do it through showing rather than telling the reader. Within the idea of happiness, there are…
One of the aspects of writing that can make any character feel more well-rounded is hobbies. Virtually everyone has an interest or hobby that they’re either passionate about or that gives them comfort and happiness in their lives. Giving one or…
One of the more abstract concepts to include in your story is the passage of time. Jumping from one time in your protagonist’s life to another is a complex thing and, if done wrong, it can leave your readers feeling confused and disoriented. The…
You’re walking home after a long shift waiting tables. Your house is a few blocks away so you feel fairly secure as you wave goodbye to your coworkers as they lock up and yell, “See you tomorrow!” You debate pulling out your headphones and…
There are moments that the words don’t reach, there is suffering too terrible to name… This tear-jerking song from Hamilton is one of many examples of what it’s like for a character to experience ‘grief’. There are many examples of grief…
