EXERCISE: Putting Show, Don't Tell To Work

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original posting 22 August 2011

I'm sure that many of you subscribe to A Word a Day from wordsmith. Today's happens to be parvenu as you can see over here http://wordsmith.org/words/parvenu.html It's all about the new rich, who haven't quite settled in. The Beverly Hillbillies, for example.

Anyway, it struck me that while it's useful to have these words that characterize a trait -- adjectives talking about what we see in the people around us -- as writers, we need to take the next step. What activity, action, what do the people who have this trait do that shows us what we're talking about?

In other words, what do those who we might label parvenu do? Think of a scene that would show us what parvenu action really is all about. The nouveau riche meets old wealth? Or is it the nouveau riche, old society, and a person without wealth? What kind of activity fits that label?

Go ahead and write out that little sketch. You probably don't want to use the label in it.

Something for your journal. Pick out traits that are often described in single words or short phrases, and make up sketches of what they really mean.

Write!