Style Articles

“Show, don’t tell.” Writers hear these three simple words over and over again as they learn to write. But how do you actually show details and when? One word: subtext. Subtext is the lifeblood of “show, don’t tell.” It is the art of understating—causing readers to...

By Gabrielle PollackYou’ve just created a new character and are excited to share his point of view with readers. He’s witty, charming, flawed, and about to embark on the adventure of his life. You’re desperate to bring readers up close and personal with him. If you...

Readers can't relate to a story without narrative description.  It happens in a vague world of shadows and smoke that readers have never visited—a world of floating voices and gunshots (splitting the silence, probably) but no real physical matter. It fails to...

By Daeus LambI've read approximately 60 percent of the Sherlock Holmes collection, and it's hard for me to decide which book I like best. From a writer's perspective, however, the choice is obvious. Filed under The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is an obscure mystery...