All of this is great, but the first response is gold and personally, much needed. It is the tyranny of "show don't tell" that makes me cautious about showing up on the page, and I'm just glad to see I'm not the only person who's struggled with this. Thanks!
You're definitely not the only one!! (I made a note while drafting this to maybe write a whole separate post about the problems with "show don't tell.")
I love how actionable your suggestions are re: the first question. Thank you!
For a future column, can you suggest any strategies for someone like me who is just getting started thinking about publishing essays with a plan to work up to a chapbook, then a short memoir? I've subscribed to SubClub but just get overwhelmed and talk myself out of submitting every time I look at the lists. Thanks in advance!
Such spot on advice about slowing down in the page. My memoir students are always in such a rush to get the story down that they seldom linger long enough on their internal experience. That’s understandable for a first draft so I love your advice about going through and highlighting your scenes for more interiority and especially through the body. Thanks Lily!
I love this advice that sometimes you do have to tell! I'm in the academic/non-fiction writing world, and it reminds me of a comment I would often give teaching college first-year writing -- that when integrating a quotation you really have to explicate the quote and do the work of connecting the other author's words to what you're saying. Making the connection for the reader is the generous thing to do, since the reader can't see inside the writer's head. What you say makes so much sense in the context of memoir writing!
Yes! I always say that about integrating research into CNF as well. Just putting two things next to each other is occasionally enough... but usually not.
Your first answer is golden! "Show don't tell" is important but many of us take it a little too seriously. I'm bookmarking this post so I can share it with clients.
All of this is great, but the first response is gold and personally, much needed. It is the tyranny of "show don't tell" that makes me cautious about showing up on the page, and I'm just glad to see I'm not the only person who's struggled with this. Thanks!
You're definitely not the only one!! (I made a note while drafting this to maybe write a whole separate post about the problems with "show don't tell.")
I'll be here for that post!
This is great, thanks so much for sharing!
Incredible. Great advice and I love the Q&A format!
I love how actionable your suggestions are re: the first question. Thank you!
For a future column, can you suggest any strategies for someone like me who is just getting started thinking about publishing essays with a plan to work up to a chapbook, then a short memoir? I've subscribed to SubClub but just get overwhelmed and talk myself out of submitting every time I look at the lists. Thanks in advance!
Thank you! Yes I'll definitely address this in the next installment!
What great, practical and actionable advice for “putting yourself on the page.” Thank you for this❤️
Such spot on advice about slowing down in the page. My memoir students are always in such a rush to get the story down that they seldom linger long enough on their internal experience. That’s understandable for a first draft so I love your advice about going through and highlighting your scenes for more interiority and especially through the body. Thanks Lily!
I love this advice that sometimes you do have to tell! I'm in the academic/non-fiction writing world, and it reminds me of a comment I would often give teaching college first-year writing -- that when integrating a quotation you really have to explicate the quote and do the work of connecting the other author's words to what you're saying. Making the connection for the reader is the generous thing to do, since the reader can't see inside the writer's head. What you say makes so much sense in the context of memoir writing!
Yes! I always say that about integrating research into CNF as well. Just putting two things next to each other is occasionally enough... but usually not.
Precisely! There's always exceptions that make for great style.
Your first answer is golden! "Show don't tell" is important but many of us take it a little too seriously. I'm bookmarking this post so I can share it with clients.
Thank you!!