Don't tell me the moon is shining;
show me the glint of light on broken glass.
~Anton Chekhov
Show, don't tell.
How to do that is the question.
Does it take experience?
Example?
Multiple books?
It's when an author shows empathy for
their character,
their story.
Not sympathy, but empathy.
Sympathetic authors see and understand
that a character is hurting-happy-sad-troubled.
They see the moon shining
and record it.
An empathetic author feels the pain-the joy-the despair
because they've been there and suffered and rejoiced.
It's as if they're going through the emotions
and they are seething through the author's body
demanding release
exploding into words
reaching for understanding
crying to be felt-heard
Pulling the reader into the moment to experience,
to suffer the pain
to laugh in glee
to cry with sorrow
to shout in anger
to threaten the evil
to rejoice at the victory.
The author sees the moon shining
and writes
how the character is dancing under the
shimmering
mystical
moon.
Head back
arms lifted
feet skimming the mossy ground.
Eyes closed
mouth parted
clothes flowing,
intermingling with the moonlight
Until one seems the other.
They write these emotions with
deep meaning.
Real feeling.
Heart-felt experience.
As if it is them.
Living
Breathing
That is passionate writing.
Blessings!
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