"Show, don't tell" can be taken too literally and result in a lot of stage-directing and overreliance on visual elements (and pointing and turning and looking and smiling).

I prefer "Evoke, don't explain." Use all the senses and use imagery/figurative language to build those moods and atmospheres.

But that "don't" is a soft "don't." Sometimes a little explaining is okay. It's all about balance.

#AmEditing #ShowDontTell #WritingCommunity

I'm now taking bookings for line editing, copyediting or proofreading in June. Step into my office at http://www.geckoedit.com/get-in-touch

#AmEditing #WritersCommunity #AllGenresWelcome #ICanFixThat #Dialogue #Punctuation #Spelling #Grammar #Writestadon #Writing #fictionauthor #fictionaddict

Howzit! A bit of specialized knowledge helped me with the catch of the day today. When referring to South African provinces in a sentence, some take a definite article and others don't:
Let's go to...
... the Eastern Cape.
... the Western Cape.
... the Northern Cape.
... the Free State.
BUT
... Limpopo.
... KwaZulu-Natal.
... Mpumalanga.
... Gauteng.
... North West. (This one bugs me.)

#TheMoreYouKnow #AmEditing #SouthAfrica #LekkerEditing