Show, Don't Tell: The Secret to Realistic Writing

What's the secret to writing realistic fiction?
Some would say it's all about the details. Others might say it's definitely a question of whether or not you can can get the dialogue to be interesting enough to capture a reader's imagination. And then there are those who may insist that it has nothing to do with any of these things, and that it all comes down to style. 

I think, as an author, that all of these things factor into whether or not writing is realistic. But something that is often missed in the world of fiction is the fact that less is usually more. In other words, realistic writing is usually more about showing a reader what's going on as opposed to telling them about it. Sound confusing? I understand, believe me. When I first started writing, that made no sense to me whatsoever. How are you supposed to show how something is happening without telling about it when you're writing a book? For crying out loud. The author's medium is the written word! 
And then I had a lightbulb moment. 

You don't need a ton of details to make something real. For example, if you're writing about a scene that takes place in a kitchen, you really don't need to mention the color of the walls unless you think it's absolutely unavoidable. Sprinkle details like that in slowly. One at a time. Spaced far apart. For example: 

More

Jean walked into the old kitchen. The walls were yellow, wallpaper torn into pieces at the corner. The floor looked like it had been abused for too many years. The fridge was tipped on its side, emitting a rotten odor that made Jean's stomach churn. Everything about the room was disgusting. 

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Jean walked into the kitchen. It was dirty. Stained. Abused. It also smelled a little like rotten eggs. Not exactly a positive sign. 

You don't need a ton of details to paint the same picture in someone's mind. Give the basics, and let the readers' imaginations sketch out the rest of the portrait. Make sure you show what's happening instead of telling it. Rather than saying: Jean got punched in the gut.

Say: The air rushed out of Jean's lungs as fist met flesh. This wasn't good. In fact, this kind of sucked. Big time. 

I'm adding a little sarcastic commentary here - because I can't help it - but you get my point. Don't recite what's happening. Show it. Describe what's going on without saying it outright like you're reading from a textbook. Keep it fresh. Like it's jumping right out of somebody's brain as it's happening to them. And let's face it, we don't necessarily think of events in words as it's happening. We feel them. Emotions, temperatures, physical sensations. Our writing should be no different. It should be as realistic and simple as the most common thoughts that bounce through our heads throughout the day. 

Show, don't tell!

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Show, Don't Tell: The Secret to Realistic Writing

Colet and Jasmine Abedi: Sisters and Authors of FAE

Colet and Jasmine Abedi are two people I recently became acquainted with. These two ladies - sisters, I should say - got together and created a book called Fae. The book releases on July 30th, 2013, but you can snag the book for pre-order on iTunes and Kobo. These literary sisters were kind enough to swing by for an interview, so check out the interesting deets on their upcoming debut! 

Introduce yourselves! Who are you and why are you writers?

We are Colet and Jasmine Abedi, and are sisters who wrote the upcoming series Fae.  We have always had a love of writing and began collaborating on many projects when we were very young.  Our passion for all things creative led us to the world of the entertainment industry where we have worked since completing our education. 

Colet:  I ran development for ITV Studios and am currently Executive Producer on three shows that run in syndication called Unsealed: Conspiracy Files, Unsealed: Alien Files and Now Eat This with Rocco DiSpirito. I was also an Executive Producer on Posh Tots. Prior to that, I was a Head Writer for 20th Television, a division of Fox, for two telenovelas, American Heiress starring Annalyn McCord and Robert Buckley and Fashion House, starring Bo Derek and Taylor Kinney. I also recently completed the feature film Five Souls that will be released next year.

Jasmine:  I am an entertainment attorney, and have worked with entertainment powerhouses such as Fox, NBCUniversal, ABC, MTV and E! for the past 14 years. I have also worn many different hats in the entertainment industry, with Executive Producer credits for the television programs Posh Tots and the pilots Club Bounce (TruTV), Divas (VH-1), and Life With The Clarks (CMT). In addition to writing, I have also partnered with a law school friend to create the natural cosmetic company Generation Klean, Inc. Our products can be found at major retailers (Whole Foods, Fred Segal etc.) nationwide.

Tell us about the Fae. What can we expect from this novel, and when will it be available?

FAE is the first installment in what we think is a gripping trilogy of Light versus Dark and is inspired by a mystery that remains unsolved today, more than 400 years later – the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. We explore the world of the FAE, both Light and Dark and feature ancient mythology from different cultures.

The story is set against Roanoke Island, North Carolina and

Manteo High School. Caroline Ellis, the stories heroine has just turned sixteen and her birthday has set in motion a series of events that have been fated for centuries.  Little does she know that she is the rightful heir to the throne of the Light Fae, and it is believed that she is the one to unite the Light and the Dark through union with her soul mate: heir to throne of the Dark Fae, Devilyn Reilly.

Devilyn is the only one of the Fae who is both of the Light and of the Dark, and must struggle to maintain that precarious balance and not to succumb to the power of the Dark within him. Understanding his mission, that he is the only one who can save Caroline from the Dark Fae who intend on destroying her and all hope for unity amongst the Fae, he is reluctantly enrolled at Manteo High School and quickly becomes its star quarterback.

After a tumultuous relationship, Devilyn tells Caroline who she is and who he is. He promises her that he will protect her from his people at all costs, but this also means protecting her from him. They can and never will be together, for the prophecy also makes clear that the union that will bring peace amongst the Fae will also bring Caroline’s own destruction.

We think that what makes Fae so interesting and so different from other YA novels is that we told the story scene by scene through the eyes of both Caroline and Devilyn.  So you get to see each scene through their respective perspectives.   

Fae is currently available for pre-sale on iBookstore and Kobo.  Fae’s release date is July 30, 2013.

Will be it be a stand-alone novel or a series?

We always envisioned this story to be a Trilogy and are in the process of writing Book II as we speak.

Did you have to do any type of research for this story?

We did do a lot of research for Fae before we began writing it. There was so much that has been written about the “Fairy World,” that we didn’t know. We also did some research on the The Lost Colony, Roanoake Island and North Carolina in general. We wanted to maintain the integrity of what is known of the history of the Lost Colony as well as reserving the right to create some fictional elements of our own. 

Do you outline your books before you write them, or do you just wing it?

Given that we write as a team, it’s a lot easier to sit down and do a detailed chapter-by-chapter outline before we start writing. It honestly makes the process so much easier and the story seems to flow a lot better.  At the end of the day we may deviate from certain portions of the outline because that is a natural part of the writing process, but for the most part we try our best to follow it.

Favorite writing snack?

Colet:  Lays Salt & Vinegar potato chips with yogurt and mini kitkats. I’m completely addicted to both.

Jasmine:  I wish I could say that I snack on kale chips and celery when I’m writing, but I kind of have a strange addiction to chocolate covered peanuts, string cheese and sour gummy worms.  Not necessarily in that order.

Do you listen to music while you write?

We both love listening to music and depending on the day and what type of mood we are in the selection varies.

Colet:  It pretty much depends on how I feel when I wake up that day. I love Pandora because it gives you the option to change stations and listen to the genre that you are feeling. My top three stations are Carla Bruni, Enya or Gotye.

Jasmine:   Generally speaking when I’m writing I gravitate towards the soft soothing sounds of Jazz or R&B because I want to be able to focus on my writing and not directly on the lyrics in the music. I also absolutely love Enya and Adele.   However, oftentimes if I’m writing a scene that may have an intensity to it, I’ll switch it up and listen to some Nine Inch Nails, Of Monsters and Men or Evanescence.  

Thank you so much for stopping by! Best of luck with your release! 

THANK YOU!!

Visit Colet and Jasmine Abedi’s website at www.cjabedi.com Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FaeTrilogy

Twitter at @cjabedi

Pinterest at CJ Abedi. 

 Writing Belle's feature today was the beginning of a series of author features that I'll be having over the summer. So if you're an author (or an editor...or otherwise literary bumpkin), drop me a line and I'll book you for a feature. Slots fills up fast, though, so don't hesitate! 

Thanks for stopping by!

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Colet and Jasmine Abedi: Sisters and Authors of FAE

Land of the Unaltered: Author Interview and Amazon Giveaway

Land of the Unaltered is the first installment in the Confederation Chronicles, a series of dystopian romances penned by the talented Leti Del Mar. The book was just released, and I can't wait to read it! Check out what Leti had to say about her book, her writing life and a possible playlist for her novel. 

Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by. Tell us about yourself, who you are and why you’re a writer.

I was born, raised and live in sunny Southern California and love where I live.  My favorite things to do outside of writing, reading and blogging include spending time with my husband and daughter and planning our next vacation.  We all love to travel and spend lots of time outdoors.  

I've always been an avid reader and have had stories swimming around in my head for as long as I can remember.  One day I told myself that enough was enough.  I decided to sit down and write that story out, and have never looked back.  

Give us the rundown on your new novel, Land of the Unaltered.

It takes place in the future, about a century after a pandemic decimates the human population.  What emerges is a highly polarized society where there is a great divide between those with access to medical attention and those who do not.  The story centers on two young people with very different backgrounds who forge a special bond and discover a secret that could change their world as they know it.

Dystopian Romance is one of my favorite things to read. Why did you choose to write a book in this genre?

Funny you should say that...It’s one of my favorite things to read.  Since I invest so much time and heart into my work, I write what I enjoy and I love Young Adult, Romance and Dystopian Science-Fiction.  It just seemed natural to write about it.

Leti Del Mar! 

How do you get into the “writing mood?”

I have a creative writing playlist and fill it with music that matches the mood I am trying to create.  My time is limited between my “day job” and family time; so I make good use of my writing time and don’t mess around or procrastinate.  I sit down and write.  No excuses.

Do you listen to music while you write? Do you snack? And if so, what types of things do you like to snack on? (I freely admit to apples and M&Ms)

Glad you asked.  Muse, Imagine Dragons, Florence + the Machine, Christina Perri and The Civil Wars are frequent flyers, but I always listen to Chopin's Nocturnes while I revise and edit.

I don’t snack while I write.  Our computer already has some pretty sticky surfaces on it thanks to my toddler.  So we have a rule: No food by the computer.  If I cheat, then my little girl tells my husband on me.  However, I do indulge in lots and lots of coffee while I write and I swear by my Kona beans.

If Land of the Unaltered had a playlist, what would the first two songs be?

Demons by Imagine Dragons and Shakin’ by Jack White.

What authors inspire you?

Jane Austen.  She made it in a man’s world and did so with only a small support network.  The woman and her work amazes me.

What advice do you have for writers who are hoping to publish their own novel one day?

Don’t give up and don’t stop writing.  This is a long process so don’t sweat the small stuff.  Stay determined and don’t worry about your level of success for at least a few decades.

Connect with Leti Del Mar:

Twitter | Facebook | Amazon | GoodReads | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | 

Tour Schedule for Land of the Unaltered

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Land of the Unaltered: Author Interview and Amazon Giveaway

Building a Different Kind of Dystopia: Guest Post by YA Author Sam A. Patel

Sam A. Patel writes dystopian stuff. And he's got some strong ideas about how to do it. Personally, dystopian lit is one of my favorite genres to read. Yeah. For some reason the breakdown and rebuilding of modern society just entertains me. Don't ask why. So maybe we'll ask Sam, because he authored a dystopian novel called Data Runner! Check out the guest post he wrote for Writing Belle. 

Building a Different Kind of Dystopia  

It always begins with the world-building. War, disease, environmental collapse, nuclear fallout, alien invasion, rise of the machines—whatever the reason, the world has fallen apart. Then the protagonist’s story unfolds against a fantastical backdrop of totalitarian governments, post-apocalyptic survivalism, societal factions, preternatural dangers, etc. This is what’s called a dystopian setting, and it can be a very powerful environment in which to tell a story. But there is another kind of dystopia that seems to have fallen by the wayside in recent years: the dystopian theme. 

 Now, I am fully aware that YA books in general tend to skew away from thematic elements. According to the Wikipedia page on Young-Adult Fiction "theme and style are often subordinated to the more tangible elements of plot, setting, and character, which appeal more readily to younger readers." However in recent years it seems like the pendulum has swung too far in that direction, because while dystopian settings are all the rage, dystopian themes are scant and nearly impossible to find. There is a reason why Nineteen Eighty-Four has only grown more relevant with time. 

In tackling issues like perpetual war, party-first politics, unchecked government surveillance, and media propaganda, the novel expresses concerns that are just as current in 2013 as they were back in 1949. The themes of Orwell’s classic are both universal and timeless, as the best themes always are. The book doesn’t just sweep us into another world, it holds up a mirror and forces us to cast a light upon our own world. It forces us to see the gears turning today that could bring us to Orwell’s tomorrow. Nineteen Eighty-Four, unlike most of the dystopian books being published today, subordinates its dystopian setting to the broader development of dystopian themes. And despite what Wikipedia has to say about this, it is a book that readily appeals to most young adult readers. I’ve always had a preference for dystopian themes. That’s why, when I sat down to write Data Runner, I wanted to create a minimalist setting that was a very natural and organic extension of the world we live in today. I wanted to hold up a mirror. I wanted to force my readers not to escape reality but to pack it in a suitcase and bring it with them into the book. My dystopia is a world in which the Internet is now owned. A world in which the central characters don’t struggle against reanimated killers or an iron-fisted capital, but against a collective that now owns their water rights. It is a world in which the gulf between the haves and the have nots has grown far too wide, and too big to fail has grown to epic proportions. I wanted to create a dystopia that is as relevant to us today as it is to the characters in the book. 

 Too often these days, writers think they have to follow the Wikipedia guidelines for Young Adult writing. They don’t. There has never been a better time for dystopian themes; for raising questions that affect us today and exploring how they might play out in a world of tomorrow; for writing not about the horrors we see in our nightmares, but about the ones we see on our televisions each and every day. Of course, some readers won’t like this. Some will feel underwhelmed and disappointed by their inability to “escape.” That’s fine. But when those readers turn on the television and see the CEO of Nestle saying that water is not a basic human right, and that every last drop on the planet should be privatized by corporations to sell for consumption, they’ll remember Data Runner. They’ll remember it, because that mirror never goes away. Themes matters. Themes count. And dystopian themes in particular tend to persist. So rather than play into the setting-first convention that has stifled the genre, buck it. Build a different kind of dystopia. Build a dystopia based on theme. You might just be surprised by what you come up with.

Book Description

In the not-too-distant future, in what was once the old City of New York, megacorporations have taken over everything. Now even the Internet is owned, and the only way to transmit sensitive information is by a network of highly skilled couriers called “data runners” who run it over the sneakernet. It is a dangerous gig in a dirty world, but Jack Nill doesn’t have much choice in the matter. A brilliant young math whiz and champion of parkour, Jack must become one of these data runners in order to get his father out of a major gambling debt. But when a mysterious stranger loads Jack’s chip with a cryptic cargo that everybody wants, he soon becomes the key figure in a conspiracy that could affect the entire North American Alliance. Now it’s all up to Jack. With the help of his best friend, Dexter, and a girl who runs under the name Red Tail, Jack will have to use all his skills to outrun the retrievers and uncover the truth before they catch him and clip him for good. 

About the Author 
 Although born in Waukegan, Illinois (same as literary icon Ray Bradbury), Sam A. Patel grew up in New Jersey. An avid collector of comic books and roll-playing games, he created his first node on the Internet at the age of 14 when he ran a BBS on his Commodore 64 with a 300 baud modem. Later, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Miami, and a Master of Arts in Philosophy from New York University. In the time since, he has stress-tested data centers for the national election, taught English in Japan, managed email servers in Portland, Oregon, and built exhibition booths in Melbourne, Australia. Data Runner is his first series.

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Building a Different Kind of Dystopia: Guest Post by YA Author Sam A. Patel