Creative Writing - Show.. Don't Tell... Ex: 1

When describing a character’s feelings, skilful writers do not just ‘tell’ the reader how the character feels. They ‘show’ the reader by using imagery.

• I understand

• I don't undrstand

To show the reader how the character feels, the writer uses the five senses to describe the event which helps the reader imagine what they are reading.

• True

• False

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

Joey hadn’t seen his father for a long, long time – not since he was in kindergarten. He couldn’t remember his father’s face very well. But at night, he could still hear him say, “Good night, Joey. I love you.”

From the description, how do you know that Joey misses his father?

Joey hadn’t seen his father for a long, long time – not since he was in kindergarten. He couldn’t remember his father’s face very well. But at night, he could still hear him say, “Good night, Joey. I love you.”

Which of the five senses does the description appeal to?

The lights suddenly went out. In the darkness, the wind and rain grew louder and seemed closer…Joey sat still, his heart beating fast. It made a ‘thump, thump, thump’ noise in his chest.

What does this show?

Joey was _______________________.

Suzie felt for the bench with a white cane.

What does this show?

Suzie was ____________.

My palms were sweaty. I popped my knuckles. I looked in my backpack three times for no reason. My leg kept shaking, and I turned my head to look at the clock every few seconds.

What feeling/ mood does this show?

“She kicked open the screen door, letting it slam against the wall as she dashed outside. Down the steps and into the yard she flew. Grabbing the first rock in her path, she hurled it back toward the house. It crashed through the living room window with an explosion of shattered glass.”

What mood does the following show?

I was in the waiting room. I was nervous.

Rewrite this description by ‘showing’ the reader what it was like to be nervous. Appeal to the senses and focus on the physical body’s response to the emotion. Focus on the face, the eyes, the mouth, the hair, the skin, the heart, the blood, the pulse, the sweat, the breath and the tears, etc.

Show, don’t tell!

Write a few (3-4) sentences to show the following.

The movie was boring.