[stylist] Christmas story assignment try again

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Eve,

I haven't had time to pour through Stylist post, smile, I've had to just
skim them recently, so I must have missed the one where you pasted it
into the body. If you could do it again, I would appreciate it, but
also, if you want your exercise considered for Slate & Style, I am
asking everyone to send me MS Word attachments directly to my email.

And I didn't think you meant anything about the "children," smile, I
just wanted to let you know that if you feel like throwing some salty
language around, or describing content perhaps to intense for younger
readers (or those who don't care for certain themes) go ahead, just make
sure to let us know in the subject and/or beginning of post. No
censorship, but also no accidental reading of material some don't enjoy.
LOL

And I thought I would address a question I noticed you had asked in
another post. Perhaps others have already answered it, so sorry if this
is redundant, grin. Showing vs. telling means that you use scenic
development and "show" thoughts, feelings, plot movement, etc. through
actions, external things from the characters as opposed to "telling" by
being inside the head of a character, or having that third person
omniscient authorial voice stepping in and providing commentary.

For example:

Telling:
I was so frustrated with Christmas. I really can't take it anymore, but
no one cares that I do all this work. I put so much into our Christmas
party, but no one would even help decorate the house.

Showing:
Trudging to the front door, I threw my keys into my purse. Missing the
mark, they clinked to the floor.
(italics) Great, just great.
Slamming my keys onto the table top, I placed my head in my hands. Tears
turned into rage as I glanced around the living room. Decorations
adorned each nook and cranny. I took in my decorating skills, standing
alone in the silence of an empty room.

That's probably not the best example, but I pulled it off the top of my
head. Basically, use scenic development, dialogue, strong verbs,
metaphor and simile, etc. to relay information as opposed to always
reporting it. Clear as mud? Smile!

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
 
"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

Message: 21
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 19:30:43 -0700
From: Eve Sanchez <3rdeyeonly at gmail.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Christmas story assignment try again
Message-ID:
	
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Brigit, Were you unable to read it where I cut and pasted into the
email? If not I could send again, but that should work if you could read
emails. And about my not saying something cuz we have children on...
That was kinda sarcastic  and having to do with my own comments, Not
story. I guess I get a little like Chris's Irvine. Eve