A Book Passage Mystery Writers Pre-Conference Class

Thurs. July 25 • 1:00-3:30 pm • $90 for MWC Attendees, $125 for General Public

As writers, we're scolded to "show not tell," but what exactly does that mean? Why is it a bad idea to just flat out tell the reader stuff? How do you turn telling into showing? We'll discuss, analyze examples, and write. Lots of examples will be provided, but participants are also encouraged to (optionally!) bring a sample of their own writing to analyze and rework in class.
 
We'll explore these questions:

- What does telling look like, and why do you want to avoid it?

- Are you telling instead of showing in your writing?

- How do you turn a tell into a show?

- What are some techniques for showing:

  -- with behavior

  -- with viewpoint

  -- with carefully chosen details (of person; of place)

  -- by unpacking the critical moment

- Do you have to show everything, or is it sometimes okay to tell? How to decide?

This class is part of the pre-conference events leading up to the Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference. The class is open to both conference participants and non-particpants, although conference participants receive a discount. To learn more about the conference, please visit the link above.