Books with Dave and Angie Smuin

The Golden Rule That Will Instantly Upgrade Your Writing 🌟

Hey writers! 👋 Dave and Angie here. Today we need to talk about the three most famous words in the writing world: Show, Don't Tell.
We hear this advice constantly, but what does it actually mean, and why is it the secret sauce to immersive storytelling?

"Telling" is when you simply state a fact to your reader. It is efficient, but it’s often dry and distancing. It creates a barrier between the reader and the experience. For example, writing "The room was cold" is telling. It gives information, but it doesn't make the reader feel anything.

"Showing," on the other hand, paints a picture. It uses sensory details and action to allow the reader to figure out the facts for themselves. Instead of saying the room was cold, you might write: "She pulled her collar up tight against her neck and watched her breath mist in the freezing air."

See the difference? In the second version, you never used the word "cold," but the reader can feel the chill.

Why does this matter?
When you "show," you invite the reader into the scene. You aren't just a narrator listing facts; you are a director showing a movie. This is critical for emotion. Don't tell us "He was angry." Show us his flushed face, the vein throbbing in his temple, and the way his voice shakes when he tries to speak. Don't tell us "She was afraid." Show us her hesitation, her trembling hands, or how she holds her breath in the dark.

Your Challenge:
Go through your current draft and find one place where you named an emotion (happy, sad, bored). Delete that word. Now, rewrite the sentence describing the physical reaction the character has to that emotion instead.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: 👇
Look at the last page you wrote. Pick one "telling" sentence and paste it in the comments below, then rewrite it as a "showing" sentence. Who has the best transformation? Let's see them! 📝


If you haven't checked out our writing challenge video on this topic check it out here.
https://youtu.be/yOsxUgT5AOw

2 months ago | [YT] | 7

Books with Dave and Angie Smuin

"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." — Ernest Hemingway

2 months ago | [YT] | 6

Books with Dave and Angie Smuin

What's your biggest writing struggle?

2 months ago | [YT] | 0

Books with Dave and Angie Smuin

📖 This or That?
Happy ending or bittersweet finale?

2 months ago | [YT] | 1

Books with Dave and Angie Smuin

The writing desk is closed for the night! 🌙📚

Angie is currently reading The Uprising.

What is on your nightstand this weekend? Are you reading for research or just for fun? Let us know below! 👇

2 months ago | [YT] | 5

Books with Dave and Angie Smuin

Does your main character feel... a little flat? 😑

It happens to the best of us! Usually, it's because they lack a specific type of flaw. If you're stuck in the editing phase this weekend, we broke down exactly how to fix "boring" characters right here:


Why Your Characters are BORING and How to FIX Them
https://youtu.be/n8eGZk-yDyw

Question: What is your main character's biggest flaw?

2 months ago | [YT] | 3

Books with Dave and Angie Smuin

Time for a "Hook" check! 🎣

Drop the very first sentence of your current story in the comments below! 👇

Dave and I want to read them. Let's see who can grab our attention in just one line! (Bonus points if you reply to someone else's comment with what you liked about theirs!)

2 months ago | [YT] | 4

Books with Dave and Angie Smuin

Be honest—what is the ONE thing stopping you from writing today? 🛑✍️

We talked about psychological traps recently, but I want to know yours:

2 months ago | [YT] | 0

Books with Dave and Angie Smuin

Real talk: I rewrote the opening of my own novel 14 times before I figured out these 4 mistakes.

The biggest one for me? Mistake #3—undecipherable symbolism. I thought I was being profound. My beta readers thought I was being confusing. 😅

That's why I made this video—to save you the 14 rewrites I went through.

If you're struggling with your opening hook, this one's for you: https://youtu.be/ZCQdX_G2CQ4
Have you ever rewritten your opening? How many times? Confess below! 👇

4 months ago | [YT] | 5

Books with Dave and Angie Smuin

Which hook mistake are YOU guilty of?

4 months ago | [YT] | 1