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Hello out there,
You wonderful people once again have helped me become a better writer.
When I posted the first draft of my book on here it was met with a lot of praise. I was so excited and happy. Then there were those of you who were critical and sent me PM's.
You must understand that I'm a person who likes criticism because it gives me something to improve on.
I got one critique, in particular, saying that the Prologue was boring. Another saying that the book wasn't as engaging as the 'Tuck' series.
When I got these critiques I honestly didn't know how to fix my book. I didn't know what was wrong.
Then today I had a breakthrough.
I was browsing my favorite writing discord and there was this person who suggested a book in the book section. She said how much it changed her writing style and point of view. So I looked it up on Amazon and it's currently free.
Its called 'Show, Don't Tell: How to write vivid descriptions, handle backstory, and describe your characters’ emotions'.
I started reading the book and suddenly everything was clicking into place. I re-read the prologue and the first like 20 pages of my book and the critiques were starting to make sense. I was telling and not showing.
With my new skills acquired I experimented with the prologue and I completely rewrote it. I introduced issues like Josh's dad's death through dialog and the characters feelings rather than the synopsis I had up there. It's much more engaging and I feel a hundred times better about it too.
I'm going to have to go through the whole book and do this. It's the best I've felt about my book and my writing ability in a long time.
I'm sorry to say this but I'm likely not going to update the draft that's up here. Know that when my book is finished being edited that you're going to get something so much more engaging than what's up here. The finished product is going to be a real treat.
In the meantime, I need to continue what I started with the Prologue and move on to the rest of the book.
I want to thank you all SO MUCH for your feedback. You've literally changed a person to be a better version of themself.
~Katherine
Comments
I was taught
Something much like that in one of my reporting classes. The professor said instead of saying a man is bad, you tell how he beats his dog. Of course print journalism is not really a visual medium so you can't always use photos to illustrate your article. You have to paint a picture with your words.
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
Exactly!
I went to a writers critique group tonight and Show don't Tell was the topic of the night which was all a really great coincidence.
They critiqued 3 of 4 pages of my newly written prologue and loved the changes. (I brought the prologue as it is here in the prior meeting.)
I like the changes as well. As soon as I finish with my 3rd draft I'll make sure to ask here for volunteers to read and give feedback.