1. Jumpstart: Free-Write
Writer’s Block?
Try starting with “Once upon a time…”

2. It’s All in the DETAILS!
What makes a story come alive?

3. Sweating the Small Stuff
Success in fiction writing is the result of dozens of elements working in concert—plot, character, setting, style, point of view, even individual word choices. Plot and character are the dazzling ones, the ones most of us are drawn to. Naturally, we want to create fascinating people who do intricate and exciting things.
But of all the devices and tricks in the writer’s toolbox, description is the one we cannot do without. It is the fundamental building block. And mastery of it comes before everything else.

4. Details, Details, Details!
The idea is to bring the reader’s senses into immediate physical contact with the story world.
Readers are compelled to believe that it is happening right in front of them.
Or better yet, that it is happening to them!
Physical details make the story feel real.
Success in fiction writing lies in sweating the small stuff. Details, details, details!

5. Show NOT Tell The Simpsons clip
As we watch, write down the character traits based on what you see the character doing.
Homer
Marge
Bart
Lisa

6. Show Not Tell (SNT)
When reader’s read, they follow the same thinking pattern we all do in real life. First we observe, then we conclude. THE ORDER IS IMPORTANT!
You give them details; they determine what it means (about the character or to the character)
When you describe something in your story, BE SPECIFIC!
Don’t just say something is “gross”, tell us what it looks like, what makes it gross, what smell does it give off? ETC.

7. Emotions
Be especially careful when it comes to portraying emotional states through summaries. Rather than “tell” those states, try to show the causes for them, then show the reactions.
Ex. What is the look on Sam’s face? Is there a set to his eyes? What are his actions—onstage, right in front of us? What are his internal sensations?
The reader gets a clear sense of emotion. They can see what is happening, and how the characters react, and judge and conclude for themselves how the character must feel.

8. How do you know this will work?
The way to make sure the readers’ judgments are accurate is for us to make sure the picture they get is the one we want them to have, not because they’re told what to think in general, but because the writing is detailed enough to let them conclude it for themselves.
We supply the evidence, an account specific and vivid enough for readers to experience it themselves. But then, we must step out of the process and let the jury deliberate.

9. Which sentence is unnecessary?
She met him at the door with a glare that could freeze lava. He could tell she was angry.
Amber was so bored. She sat uncomfortably in her desk, staring anxiously at the clock and tapping her pencil sharply against her binder.
He ran, heart pounding in his chest, not daring to glance behind him to see how close the competition was. He willed his feet to run faster as the winning line became closer and closer. He really wanted to win.

10. What did we use to show EMOTION?
She met him at the door with a glare that could freeze lava. He could tell she was angry.
Amber was so bored. She sat uncomfortably in her desk, staring anxiously at the clock and tapping her pencil sharply against her binder.
He ran, heart pounding in his chest, not daring to glance behind him to see how close the competition was. He willed his feet to run faster as the winning line became closer and closer. He really wanted to win.

11. Writing Challenge: 4 prompts
The locker was a mess!
The streets were packed.
The math test was a killer.
I couldn’t believe my eyes!
Take TWO of these four boring sentences and write a half-page description!
NO-NO VERBS:
Copular Verbs of Existence
BE BEING BEEN
IS ARE WAS
WERE

12. Writing Challenge: 4 prompts
The locker was a mess!
The streets were packed.
The math test was a killer.
I couldn’t believe my eyes!
Take TWO of these four boring sentences and write a half-page description!
NO-NO VERBS:
Copular Verbs of Existence
BE BEING BEEN
IS ARE WAS
WERE