Children's Story Writing Tips - Bring characters to life by showing, not saying

How 'Not Show, Tell'

Do you want to waste money on a ticket for this guy work?

'Of course I love opera,' he said, on foot tapping incessantly.

Research has shown that the old adage is true: actions, such as a tapping foot) do not speak louder than words. So, when we write, we should 'see' with actions, not 'say' with the words.

Children love to declare openly: '. Michael was in a bad mood 'However, to make it convincing that it should actually show Michael in action.

Enumerate what a teenager would do if he came home upset:

Slam the door or entrance

Or throw the bag in his bedroom

Kick off your shoes or

Or head to the kitchen - and the refrigerator

Protest or no food.

So now you have ideas, it is easy to put all this together in a paragraph.

He was turning the computer off when the door slammed. Michael was at home.

'Hello,' he said. 'How was school?'

There was a grunt, just heard, and then the sound of a bag that hits the hard floor bedroom. Not good. He sighed and walked into the kitchen. Michael was already there, staring with drooping shoulders in the refrigerator open.

'Damn,' he said, pushing the door closed hard. 'There's never anything to eat in this house!' He took a deep breath and counted to three before she answered.

Show (not tell) takes longer to do, but brings to life characters and is much more convincing too.

Jen McVeity, National Literacy Champion .......