Recommended Course on Show Not Tell

Two curious dogs stand on pond dock watching over water.

Photo © ccestep8 } Deposit Photos

Sometimes things just drop right into your lap.

I’ve been hot on the trail for other writers who present different viewpoints on how to do craft. The problem with only having Dean Wesley Smith teach is that if I don’t understand a skill from his explanation, I’m stuck. It’s why I’ve hit the old Writer Magazine archives. And, craft advice is opinion and sometimes I need different opinions.

This week, I picked up a copy of How I Got Published and What I Learned Along the Way eBook by Lyn Worthen – EPUB Book | Rakuten Kobo United States. One writer caught my attention with his essay, and the comment in the bio at the end that he had classes. His name is Maxwell Alexander Drake.

He made the rounds at conventions, teaching a panel packed with information. Like me, he was frustrated with the information available on the craft.

He ventured into online classes on his site, DrakeU | Exceptional Training for the Discerning Writer, including Show Vs. Tell. The course isn’t expensive. Nor is it beginner-basic that made me feel like I wasted my money afterward. It’s an advanced class for a piece of advice given to beginners.

He highlights four areas where any writer can end up doing telling instead of showing. He also defines passive voice in a way that makes sense for fiction. And, he also offers an alternative to the Depth method of five senses every 500 words. If you’ve struggled with Dean Wesley Smith’s Depth, this might be another avenue to explore.

Also on tap as we head into fall, I’m taking part in the Fantasy, Sci Fi, and Other Comedy group promo. If you like humor in your fiction, check it out for some good books.