The Lifelong Learner :: Do what you can, with what you have, where you are -Roosevelt ::

When she was home from her boarding-school I used to see her almost every day sometimes, because their house was right opposite the Town Hall Annexe. She and her younger sister used to go in and out a lot, often with young men, which of course I didn’t like. When I had a free moment from the files and ledgers I stood by the window and used to look down over the road over the frosting and sometimes I’d see her. In the evening I marked it in my observations diary, at first with X, and then when I knew her name with M. ….

The above is a starting passage from The Collector by John Fowles. It illustrates the principle “Show The Story” very well. It is one of the major principles of writing. By showing the story, not simply telling, a reader is exploring it the same way as the author. The reader sees what the writer sees.

I recently listened to a book by Sol Stein, Stein on Writing. It is a book where Stein, master editor and a great writer, shows you how to improve your writing. He shows you. He doesn’t just tell you the theory behind it. How? By giving you countless examples. It’s a great book if you want to improve your writing.

The two principles from this book that I’m going to remember when I’m writing:

1. Show, Don’t Tell

2. Use Distinctive Detail

To use distinctive detail, or to particulate, is to make the character, scene, or story unique. Make is so distinctive that you can actully see it in your eyes. You can visualize it.

Check out the book, or listen to it, and learn.