Class Description
One of the most common axioms in writing is “show don’t tell.” “It was an eerie night,” for example, can be more evocatively conveyed by describing the pallid moonlight, the ragged clouds casting wavering shadows on finger-like branches, or the wind whining like a lonely dog through the tree-tops. In many cases, “show don’t tell” is a useful and effective maxim. But focus too intently on imagery, similes, and vivid description, and you risk losing the story’s momentum and alienating readers with overly stylistic prose. Sometimes, the best method of telling a memorable story is to write simply and candidly, using metaphor and simile only when they will heighten the narrative, and being direct—“telling” readers what they need to know—when the aim is to move the plot forward or to establish without ambiguity a character’s emotions. We will look at examples from such writers as Elizabeth von Arnim, Kiran Desai, John Williams, and Tim Winton and experiment with showing versus telling in a series of in-class writing exercises. By the end of the seminar, you’ll have a deeper understanding of when to employ these different narrative styles and why.
Part of GrubStreet's Novel Essentials Series, led by Ursula DeYoung and dedicated to exploring the fundamental building blocks of the novel. Classes include:
- Novel Essentials: Pacing
- Novel Essentials: Introducing Characters
- Novel Essentials: Style--Showing vs. Telling
- Novel Essentials: Narrative Perspective
- Novel Essentials: Arcs and Endings
- Novel Essentials: Finding, Signing, and Dealing with Agents
- Novel Essentials: Narrative Style
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. After registering, a yellow Resources tab will appear in this section containing a link to join class. Please note that you will need to be logged into view the Resources tab.
Zoom Participation:
In our experience, the intimate nature of a writing workshop benefits from on-camera participation. Students are of course welcome to turn their camera off whenever they need to, but it is a community norm for cameras to be on most of the time. You can learn more about using Zoom here.
Zoom Accessibility:
You can enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting by clicking the CC button at the bottom of the screen. If you'd like to access the transcript after class, please make sure to let your instructor ahead of time that you'd like a copy.