'show, don't tell' demystified
A three day, virtual workshop to immerse your readers in a story they can see and feel.
It’s time to level-set what ‘Show’ actually means.
We’ve all heard the advice: “Show in your writing, don’t tell!” We know it’s important. We want readers to see, feel, and experience our story as they read. We don’t want them to be bored. But has any writing advice ever been more vague and confusing? When it’s explained to you, the theory makes sense, but then you sit down to write and you can’t seem to make it work. Then, as soon as you think you ‘get’ it, someone else has a new definition that contradicts what you’ve learned.
The term ‘show’ is confusing because there are a billion ways to a) explain it, and b) do it. So we’re hosting a three day, LIVE workshop to crack this nut wide open.
At its heart, “Show, Don’t Tell” is a tool used to engage readers by putting them inside a character’s skin—making a reader feel what a character feels.
Together we’ll dive into the three CORE levels of showing:
👉 The STRUCTURAL level — where you put readers in the action of your scene
👉 The CHARACTER level — where you show your readers how to feel about the scene
👉 The LINE level — where you reveal your characters’ emotions in a way your reader can experience
We’re going to give you a dozen tools you can use to actually ACHIEVE this on the page, and then we'll look at excerpts from published works to point out exactly how these levels and tools work together to craft an immersive story for readers. We’ll even give you the secret for when and how to “tell” effectively.
After this three-day, LIVE virtual workshop, you’ll have the “Show” skills to write gripping prose that leaps off the page, grabs hold of readers, and leaves them hanging onto every single word.
This shit is so good it’s going to level up your writing every single day we’re together. With a mixture of presentation, QA, published work analysis, guided visualization, and professional feedback on an excerpt from your own work you'll shatter the foggy glasses of confusion, and infuse yourself with a confidence that will fuel you every time you show up to the page.
Master ‘showing’ AND ‘telling’.
Immerse your readers like a pro.
'Show, Don't Tell' Demystified workshop, Feb 25 - March 3 on Zoom
[REGISTRATION CLOSED]
DAY ONE
'show' vs. 'tell'
Sunday, Feb 25
12-2 PM Eastern Time
During this presentation & QA workshop we’ll dissect the three levels of ‘showing’, how they work together, and how you can do it confidently on the page.
We’ll look at the levels of ‘show’, various tools you can use, and LOTS of examples to show you how to write stories readers can lose themselves in.
DAY TWO
learn from the pros
Saturday, March 2
12-2 PM Eastern Time
The BEST way to ensure you grasp a concept is to use it to analyze works that aren’t yours. In this published works analysis workshop we’ll break down excerpts from published works together to identify how they use the three levels of ‘show’ and the tools you’ve learned.
DAY THREE
practice & feedback
Sunday, March 3
12-2 PM Eastern Time
Alrighty friends, it's time to PRACTICE. In this live workshop session, We're going to lead a guided visualization, followed by time to draft/revise and then time for questions/workshopping together.
You'll also have the opportunity to submit a <300 word excerpt after the workshop for professional feedback!
Yes, there will be recordings.
You can keep them forever! BUT the workshops will be highly interactive, so we suggest you commit to coming LIVE if you can.
There will be homework.
We will assign ‘show’ writing practice between the first workshop and the third. To make the most of the workshop, we recommend setting aside 1-3 hours between weekends to complete it.
You will get PROFESSIONAL, PERSONAL feedback.
Every student will have the opportunity to submit a <300 word excerpt for personalized feedback from the course instructors.
‘Showing’ is the secret sauce to an immersive story readers can see and feel.
your workshop instructors
Emily & Rachel from Golden May
Hey hey! I'm Emily.
I’m your resident nerdy, excitable, dirtbag, cat lady coach. I’ve got craft books full of underlines and fantasy novels full of sticky notes, I’ve always got my headphones full of Brene Brown and Elizabeth Gilbert, and I regularly fill notebooks with made up worlds while I’m off camping. I’m also a type-A perfectionist who’s played the hustle game for external validation and burned out because of it—and in my journey climbing out of that ditch, I learned how to love myself, how to get to know myself, and how to build a writing life and process that worked for ME. Now I’m devoted to helping writers like you build a sustainable writing life that works for YOU, that brings YOU joy, and that fulfills you all the way to your bones.
Hey there! I’m Rachel.
I’m your mac n' cheese loving, toddler mom, neurodivergent, book fairy godmother. As a coach and writer with ADHD, I understand how downright confusing craft can be and how much those "rules" can feel limiting. I understand what it’s like to struggle with your process and get hung up with mental hurdles. Throughout my journey, I've learned how to make writing craft work with my brain and I can't wait to help you do the same. Together we'll heal your mindset, develop a writing process that harnesses your unique strengths, and give you every tool you need to finish the book of your freaking dreams. It's gonna be badass. You in?
