Show Don't Tell

To Start:
Read "Show Don't Tell", an essay by Chuck Palahniuk, the author of Fight Club. Then answer the following questions In your starter document:

• Based on this essay, write down three rules for writing.
• What verbs does Palahniuk forbid us from using?
• Practice rewriting this statement from telling into showing: The monkey was evil.
  • For Example: She went home in a bad mood. > Rewritten > Alice had a sour look on her face.  She stomped home, hands jammed in her pockets, angrily kicking rocks, dogs, small children, and anything else that crossed her path.  She couldn’t believe the  zombies ate her pet goldfish.  Nothing could cheer her up but one thing: revenge.

In Class:
First, we're going to talk about our timeline for the rest of this project.

Then we're going to practice applying Palahniuk's rules in our own stories:

• Find three sentences in your story where you tell rather than show. (Hint: Find forbidden verbs!)
• Then, rewrite those sentences to show the reader what is happening.  Use sensory details, powerful verbs and vivid imagery to get your point across.
• Show them to Ally.

We'll spend the rest of the hour in work time. Shoot for at least one more page, or about 500 words.

Coming Up:
The first draft of your story is due before class on Monday.