How to Write a Book!!

When you Know How to Write a Book... “How To Write a Book"
--"The Secret of Show and Tell When Writing a Book”

Permission and Approval? Here's All You Need to Know!
by Steve Manning

   You’re about to learn the essence of really powerful writing. The sort of thing that will take your writing from good, to truly great. You’ll find the secret in just about any silent movie, or any great current movie, certainly in your everyday real life, and, of course, in great books. You learned the secret way back in elementary school, and, if you had a really good teacher, you observed it each day in the classroom.
   The secret is the difference between show and tell.
   If I tell you something, that’s interesting. I tell you how gravity is a force that acts between two objects, bringing them both together. Jot that one down, it will probably be on the test, and try to remember to study it.
   But, if I hold a bowling ball over your head, move it to one side and the let it crash to the floor beneath, that’s impact! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

   The difference is that in the first instance, I told you about something. In the second instance, I showed you the very same thing.
   Which had a greater effect on you? Which made more of an impression, literally?
   The great silent film maker and actor, Charlie Chaplain, spent months on one single scene. He wanted to make a blind character think the tramp was rich. He could have just written down the words and put the dialogue on screen. But that wouldn’t have had the same affect as showing her.
   Time for a little unabashed, self promotion: If you haven’t asked for my Free CD, “How to Write a Book On Anything in 14 Days Guaranteed!” then you’re just plain nuts! It’s free, no charge, but you can bet this $100 CD will be carrying that price tag very shortly. How do you get it? Just email me at Free CD, Please, or CD_please@writeabooknow.com and make sure you include your name, your mailing address and your telephone number in the email. Now, back to the article…
   After many, many weeks the solution was found. A rich man drives up beside the couple, the chauffeur opens the door, and then slams the car door shut. The sound of quality and substance (that no one actually heard) showed the blind girl that the tramp, who was obviously getting into his car, was rich.
   Show the reader, don’t tell the reader.

   Now let’s use it in your writing and here’s an example:
   John slowly creaked open the door. His heart turned to ice as he took in the scene before him—scattered bodies, blood, the utter carnage left behind by a madman. He was terrified. Armed, he moved forward edging into the room. The cold metal felt slick in his hands.
   Suddenly he heard a noise, and he whirled around, his pulse slamming against his temples. “Hold it!” he barked.
   Now let’s show.
   John creaked open the door, and his heart turned to ice. Three bodies lay sprawled in the room in dark pools of blood—two women and a man, all wearing business clothes, all without shoes. Their throats gaped open like macabre extra mouths. Armed, John edged into the room. The odor had begun. The cold metal felt slick in his hands.
   A scraping noise came from behind. He whirled, pulse slamming against his temples. Hold it!’ he barked.
   Don’t tell the reader, show the reader. Put them right into the situation. Let them see what the character sees, just as the character sees it. Let them experience the story through all their senses, not just their eyes, and show them the specifics. Not ‘carnage’ but three unique bodies, killed in a specific way. That’s what John saw. And that’s what your reader should experience. Put the reader right into the story by showing them the situation.
   That will take your writing from good, to truly great!
    While we're on the topic of strategies, and if you haven't already done so, feel free to subscribe to my FREE on-line course, "How To Write A Book On Anything in 14 Days... or Less" it's packed with tips, techniques and tactics for writing your book faster than you ever thought possible! But ONLY if you're SERIOUS about writing a book NOW!

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   Steve Manning


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