Your insights about starting lean came at the perfect time. I was just getting so discouraged because my initial draft for a tweener fantasy weighed in at an emaciated 25,000 words. Two thirds through my second draft, I'm only up to 32,000. I was feeling like something was very wrong with my process. Now I feel like I just need a few more passes.
Linking "show, don't tell" to POV is powerful. Sometimes, I find telling is necessary to move my story along. Adding internal narration to "telling" also increases immediacy.
Oooh this is exactly what I needed to read today! Working on a couple of early draft chapters where I’d had some feedback re: pov and couldn’t put my finger on what was missing. I totally do now - thanks Sooz!!
I love how you explained this! Sometimes telling is necessary, and I think that can get bogged down by the “show don’t tell” advice. The key, for me at least, has always been finding balance, which you illustrated perfectly here. And the 2:1 ratio is a great piece of advice, I plan to use that immediately, so thank you for sharing!
This was such a great piece that I needed. As I'm diving deeper into my NaNo project this year... honestly for the first time in a few years, the plotting has been helpful. Seeing how you go back in and fill in details later is very helpful!
Thanks for this post, Sooz 😊. I have definitely recognized that in early drafts there is no explanation of what the thing means to the character experiencing it, so then readers have no idea how to interpret it also. You hit the nail on the head.
Dang this is so freaking helpful Sooz. This is something I struggle with and you explained it in an approachable way that I think I can actually apply. Thank you for referencing this beautiful older post in your recent newsletter!
Thanks SO much for this! Definitely a weak area of my writing. I like to blame being an enneagram 5.
Those are great thoughts on show vs. tell! Thank you for sharing them.
I'm really intrigued by the 2:1 narration; I'm going to start looking for patterns like that when I read!
This is so helpful! 😁 I love the 2:1 description to opinion ratio. Structure like this makes creativity so much easier.
Your insights about starting lean came at the perfect time. I was just getting so discouraged because my initial draft for a tweener fantasy weighed in at an emaciated 25,000 words. Two thirds through my second draft, I'm only up to 32,000. I was feeling like something was very wrong with my process. Now I feel like I just need a few more passes.
Thank you.
This was so helpful, and in a very practical way that I had never heard before. Thank you!
This is really great advice! Both on how opinions are key to voice/characterization. And also Erica’s 2:1 ratio trick. Thank you for sharing!
Linking "show, don't tell" to POV is powerful. Sometimes, I find telling is necessary to move my story along. Adding internal narration to "telling" also increases immediacy.
Such a brilliant explanation. Thanks Sooz!
The 2:1 rule is now my absolute favorite thing. So simple and effective! Thank you for sharing. Going to have to watch out for it when I read!
Oooh this is exactly what I needed to read today! Working on a couple of early draft chapters where I’d had some feedback re: pov and couldn’t put my finger on what was missing. I totally do now - thanks Sooz!!
I love how you explained this! Sometimes telling is necessary, and I think that can get bogged down by the “show don’t tell” advice. The key, for me at least, has always been finding balance, which you illustrated perfectly here. And the 2:1 ratio is a great piece of advice, I plan to use that immediately, so thank you for sharing!
This was such a great piece that I needed. As I'm diving deeper into my NaNo project this year... honestly for the first time in a few years, the plotting has been helpful. Seeing how you go back in and fill in details later is very helpful!
Also I am... very intrigued by your 'smexy 2:1' snippet...
Thanks for this post, Sooz 😊. I have definitely recognized that in early drafts there is no explanation of what the thing means to the character experiencing it, so then readers have no idea how to interpret it also. You hit the nail on the head.
Thanks! Maybe this will help grow a 30k word story into a full 60k one. I usually write more not less, but this one wants to be shorter.
Dang this is so freaking helpful Sooz. This is something I struggle with and you explained it in an approachable way that I think I can actually apply. Thank you for referencing this beautiful older post in your recent newsletter!