Picture of the Day: 

My sister and I ready for the Harry Potter: Half Blood Prince premier!

Quote of the Day: 

"History is a novel that has been lived, a novel is history that could have been." 

-Edmond & Jules de Goncourt

Hello, my dear readers! I have come back to see you sooner than I would have imagined, based on my latest trend. Basically, I felt the need to keep working away at stuff, and found the song of my blog a bit too hypnotizing to ignore. However, before I delve into that I would like to say a few things. One, that the picture above is not quite like my usual "Picture of the Day"s, but I feel it is nice to get in the mood for the upcoming release of the final installment of the Harry Potter movie franchise. This is my "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good" vow. I will be at the premier myself (if all goes well!) and back in this costume. Hopefully an updated picture shall come of it. Two, I would like to say that I have completely forgotten the "Book of the Month", and will therefore skip this month of July and start again in August. It will give me time to read some more anyway. I have read quite a few books, but not too many worthy of recommending as a "Book of the Month", if you understand.  

Anyway, I would like to give you a bit more of an update on the pirate novel. I got to speak with a friend of mine, one that offers quite amazing advice, and she helped me work through an issue I was having. Showing and not telling, for lack of a better way of describing it, is something I am having trouble with in this particular section. What is the difference? It is the difference between telling the audience the scene is scary, and showing them that it is. Here is a little example--do not fret. It is not from the pirate novel. 

Natalie walked up to the abandoned park, and immediately goosebumps crawled up her arms. It was dark, and somewhere in the back of her mind she realized how frightening the place was at night. 

Okay. It gets the job done--the reader knows that the park is dark, scary, and Natalie is nervous.

Showing, though, is more fun--and less boring for your reader to boot.

Natalie approached the entryway, eyes sifting over the dark paths and shadowed trees. The air was eerily calm, the park itself silent as if devoid of all life. It was unlike the park she had come to find familiar in the morning; no children scampered through the green grasses, no laughter or chatter filtered from the benches along the path. No, there was nothing. Nothing but shadows and silence, and their cold brush sent goosebumps up her arms.  

I am not sure that that paragraph is completely "Show not Tell", but I am sure you get the idea. Anyway, I am having a distinct problem with this kind of work in chapter two for one reason or another. I have a new character I am trying to introduce--his name is Gill--and I find him quite interesting. Interesting and important! Mainly, I am struggling with how to show the reader who he is short of having our good Liam tell it to us point blank in his narration. Trust me, reader! Gill is quite a fun little fisherman, and is sure to win your heart as favorite minor character. Or, at least I hope so.

Anyway, a lot of my issues have been talked out thanks to the lovely friend of mine who continues to put up with me and my writing obsession.

I have more updates on the "greaterpus" I had suggested earlier. Well, I think I have decided to take the idea for a test-run and see how it goes. It is not called a greaterpus anymore. It has a much cooler name, one that I am not going to share as of yet. Still, be on the lookout for updates concerning those.

I will try to update again sometime this weekend, maybe with another excerpt or idea for you to sink your teeth in to. Until then, I hope you have a wonderful week! And, in your own writing endeavors, try a bit more show and a little less tell. It may make all the difference!