Prof Emily

It's all good 😂❤️ I'm just glad you're playing!

Maybe you won't like it and you'll decide your original way was better after all. Or maybe you'll try it out and go "Hm, you know, that IS better actually." I've done both of those things many times myself!

I think the important thing to remember is:
a) No writing advice is universal for all people or situations, and
b) You should write how *you* like.

Wait that's 2 things 🤣
Anyway, write in your own style while also being open to improvement is a good way to be. At least try out the advice you get...

You can do that, sure. A lot of writers would say you don't need the adverb because it's already clear he's doing it furiously 😅

I tend to write a lot of sentences like that in my first drafts and then trim them. BUT also I love me some good adverbs, when the situation calls for it.

Also, "show don't tell" originally came from screenwriting, where it makes sense!

As books became more film-like, the advice got carried over. But books are a different medium and a lot of older classics do TONS of telling, so I think it's not something people should feel the need to always follow.

#Febchantment prompt for Feb #1: Introduce yourself and your world! Give us a *brief* idea of how magic fits into your world. Text is white letters on a blue background featuring a magic book with lots of sparkles, and a yellow octopus dressed as Glinda the Good Witch sitting in the bottom right corner. Hosted by @professoremily.bsky.social

Welcome to #Febchantment!

This month we're talking magic systems! Whether you're building a new one or yapping about an old one, welcome!

Introduce yourself & your world, including the magic. Keep it brief so you still have plenty to talk about the rest of the month!
#writingcommunity #writesky

actions, without coming out and telling you. That's pretty much it!

People say showing is better than telling bc it tends to engage the reader more & provide a vivid mental image. But I always tell my students there are times where telling is better, when showing would be tedious or ineffective.

😅 Oh I bet that's not true! I'm actually teaching this with my college students right now!

One example I use is this:

TELLING: "Steve closed the fridge. He was furious."
SHOWING: "Steve slammed the fridge shut so hard he rattled the shelves."

Second one leaves you to assume he's furious by his

That said, from screenwriting I've learned how much can be conveyed just through dialogue alone & how effective that can be, & I try to apply that. Sometimes I do rely too much on description as a crutch, so as painful as it is sometimes I force myself to cut some out & leave room for subtlety.

It definitely depends on the circumstances!

This is just what works for me, but I find it more effective to "show don't tell" emotions during heavy dialogue scenes, but then I'll have whole passages at other times just explaining how the characters feel and why 🤷‍♀️

No rule applies 💯 of the time.

DO IT DO IT DO IT

I love the concept of swashbuckling as a magic system 😍

I usually include a lot of expressions/looking/gestures in my first drafts, then ruthlessly cut them down in later drafts. It's surprising how often I don't need them as much as I initially thought! A lot of times the dialogue carries enough meaning on its own.

This made me cackle out loud 😂🤣

#AwesomeCharacters

#AwesomeCharacters

Raven: Witness covered in blood says all the Zombies were like that when she got there.

Trig: security guard says he fell asleep and had no knowledge of alarm going off at donut factory, or what happened to all the donuts.

#AwesomeCharacters

Mori, 37
Reinaya's Bitchiest But Most Realistic Councillor, Proud Dad, Bringer of Vermillion (Insists He Isn't)

Mana, 38
Councillor's Wife, Medi-Augments Garage Owner, Sometimes Mentions Something About A Phoenix (But Clearly Her Husband Did That)

#AwesomeCharacters

Virgil Mora
The Consultant, Hell Ltd

"Some sort of Satanist"

The TV studio mysteriously bursts into flames once Virgil sees it.

#WriteSky

Lmao "footage not found" 🥲

Oooh I'm gonna answer for Eyes Shine Silver in Moonlight, mainly since that's the book I'm actively drafting right now 😂

Isabelle Kettle
Looks Baby, Do Not Antagonize

Luke Porter
Hot Dork-ass Loser

Cora Ramsey
Tiny Mighty, Promises Good Time (footage not found)

Audrey James
Medic. Active Threat

Lol I like how this makes it sound like Daemrin kidnapped Lex. Propaganda!!

Ayana, 34. Forensic Pathologist. Cuts up dead bodies.
Jason, 36. A Normal Guy.

Lex, 25. Princess of Belenos. Kidnapping victim.
Daemrin, 28. Criminal Scum. Will kidnap your daughters.

"Not an octopus" 🤣

Grisira, 52
Oil painter
Dread vessel of the Phenomenon

Deleyora, ????
Violinist
Not an octopus

Khetris, 8000+
Confused

#AwesomeCharacters

Rushak
Corporealist heretic, abomination: “I didn’t do it, but blame me if you must.”

Drisal Marinell
Renowned Gem Waker, family man: “My … um, kinsman had nothing to do with it.”

Cerel Loëthgil
Royal guardsman, loyal friend: “We did our best.”

Virgil Althean Arrowsmith
🧵1/2

Daisuke Akahana
Imperial agent
Most definitely did not poison THAT guy OR make the poison that did him in.

Obito Nakamura
Imperial agent
Absolutely did not purposely misplace those documents or forge the signature on that one.

#AwesomeCharacters

#AwesomeCharacters

What would their lower third say?

There will be a documentary

Mr. Schadenfreude "Pre-Columbian"
The Black Horseman, Cannibal, Dessert Enthusiast

Maya Main 18
Sorceress, new "Mother of Monsters", Dessert Enthusiast

Yeeahhhh... He also assassinates some other important people before he even gets to God so y'know, best to be safe 😅

Ha, I guess the thing about Light's name is a bit spoilery but I've already blown the secret elsewhere if anyone paid close enough attention 😅

Barbon is his real name. Bradstreet is the name he tells people 😈

Yes 😂

I think relatively Light is closer to "normal" than Jason, but that's not saying much lol

Aahhhh Gree!! 🥹 Thank you so much! I haven't been as active this January due to life things, but I have loved reading your in-depth worldbuilding threads ever since #MythAugust and #Septopolis! Hope to read more this Feb! 😁🫶