I finally got it!!!

[ACEnders]

This is gonna sound really silly, especially to you published guys, but I FINALLY GOT IT!!!

What, you ask? I finally understand and better yet can demonstrate the difference between showing and telling!

Everyone kept telling me, and I thought I got it...until I was revising the novel that I'm now quering...it suddenly hit me! I can't explain it, but everything finally began to fall into place.

The only thing I can liken it to is learning to ride my motorcycle - I was terrified, and the first few times I was out on it, I thought way too hard about everything I was doing - switch the gears, lean the bike, hand break, back break...then like the 3rd time out, everything fell into place, and I could finally ride without consciously thinking about the mechanics of it.

I finally understand how to show!!!

Anyone else have the same epiphony or am I just ridiculous, and should've understood it all from the beginning?

[a_sharp]

Well, AC, you may be ridiculous, but aren't we all? Congrats, it's a big step for any writer.

[ClaudiaGray]

It's not silly at all! Celebrate!

[WriterInChains]

I live for those "Ah-ha" moments. Just one can keep me going for a long time. Enjoy this one, it's a biggie!

[Prawn]

This is gonna sound really silly, especially to you published guys, but I FINALLY GOT IT!!!


Stop telling us and show us!

[Azure Skye]

I remember when I had this epiphany. You're not ridiculous.

[JustGo]

I finally realized what it meant not too long ago myself.
I was reading a few chunks of boring narrative in my novel and thought, there's something that could be done to improve this.
Ah-ha! I'm just telling! I should be showing!

The excitement dissipated when I realized I would have to rewrite it all essentially from scrap.

Congratulations, though! :D

[scarletpeaches]

Definitely not ridiculous. It's a joyful time when you 'get' something to do with your writing. My moment was when I realised the WIP I'm working on is YA. Everything slots into place and it gives you a renewed zeal for writing.

Enjoy it. And get back to work! :)

[johnzakour]

Not silly at all. It's a step I'm still hoping to master someday!

Congrats.

[Soccer Mom]

It's not silly at all. Learning to see your own writing through objective eyes is a big step.

:hooray:


I mean that seriously. Some people never develop that.

[Susan Gable]

Congratulations! A step forward in your understanding of craft is a wonderful thing!

Even better is that you were willing to keep working at it until you DID "get it!"

:hooray:

Susan G.

[ACEnders]

Thanks, all for your congratulatory words!!!

[HourglassMemory]

How about you help us find our 'haha' moment also, by sharing your newly aquired knowledge??!?!?!?!?!

Also, and this is pretty curious, I found a way, which suddenly worked for me yesterday, of how I could make the reader feel sorry for the characters!

I think I've went through the "How to make the readers like your characters" epiphany, but haven't yet reached the "show not tell"' epiphany.

[Nateskate]

That's really exciting. Sounds like you're on your way.

Nate