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Friday Flash 13: Crossing the Divide
A fire crackles in the distance. Your head still throbs. The fever still weighs heavy on you. You open your eyes and find yourself lying in a bed inside a small cabin. You remember collapsing suddenly, so you could be awake. Someone might have found you and brought you here. But you aren’t sure. There’s…
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Blurring the Lines and Trusting Your Audience
In the previous posts, I covered the concepts of showing and telling and how Peter Rock advises using them in his essay “The Telling that Shows.” I could’ve ended this series at part 3, but that would mean willfully ignoring one of the central tenets of Rock’s essay. I’d also be omitting one of the…
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Writing Prompts 70
This is it. The final batch of writing prompts. If this news feels sudden, read this post from last September. Everything I said then still applies. I just had to postpone this entry for a month because of some sudden real life issues. All that remains is to say goodbye to this long-time blog feature.…
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What to Show
The previous post covered telling, how Peter Rock advises using it, and what details work best when told. This post will address the other side of this discussion and the other half of Rock’s essay: showing.
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Idea You Can Steal 85: The Show Must Go On
I had ideas about how to start 2025 on this blog. But there’s a foot of snow outside, my family is currently passing a cold around, and my desktop is barely functional and slowly dying. Happy New Year, everyone. Here’s a new story idea you can steal. A famous acting troupe is coming to town.…
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What to Tell
Last time, I began (what is shaping up to be) a lengthy discussion on showing and telling. I introduced Peter Rock’s essay “The Telling that Shows” as the piece that ended my own confusion surrounding this topic, as well as the method of writing a planning script to help me utilize both concepts in my…
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Idea You Can Steal 84: New Town
This isn’t my last post of 2024. But it is my last chance to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Here’s a story idea to feed your muse over the holidays. I hope you make happy memories with family and friends this season. See you in 2025! Public opinion turns against a…
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To the Capital [Script]
(Night on the train. Low, rhythmic clatter of wheels. Moonlight peeks in through the window of the compartment. Silas sits on the bed, his back against the wall of the car. His eyes are closed, taking in the silence.)
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Writing Prompts 69
The weather is turning colder, and Thanksgiving is fast approaching. Wishing you happy times with your family and plenty of food for your table. Here are some writing prompts for your imagination to munch on.
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Friday Flash 18: To the Capital
Night had fallen. The moon peeked through the window of the train compartment. Silas sat on the bed, his back against the wall of the car. He closed his eyes, taking in the welcome quiet.
