What is "When You See it?"

What is "When You See it?"

Timestamp: 1:38

What I decided to use for this particular workshop is the idea of "when you see it." That is all of these pictures that the pictures look pretty normal and then you'll see the caption of "when you see it."

There's something different about the picture. You can be told about it, but it really doesn't have the same effect as you actually seeing the picture for yourself.

For example, I actually took this picture. This picture did not come from the Internet. This was at my local bookstore. I can tell you, "I was in my local bookstore when I saw Twilight and Bloodlines listed under Teen Nonfiction,"

But you don't quite get the full effect. So if I were writing this into a story and I wanted to show you, I would refer to walking up to these shelves, glancing among the titles, maybe mentioning how that character feels about that title in their own mind, and then their eyes, raising up and landing on the label of teen nonfiction so you would experience that moment with your character.

So let's look at a picture from my childhood.

When You See It: A Practical Guide to Show, Don't Tell

Buy nowLearn more

Introduction

  • HI! I'm Dawn!
  • Beyond the Moon
  • What is "When You See it?"
  • Workshop Video

When You See It

  • Texas State Fair 1980
  • Dawn's Senior Banquet

What Does Show, Don't Tell Really Mean?

  • Bringing the Reader into the Story

Becoming a Director

  • Lights
  • Camera
  • Action

So Much Telling

  • Most Common Telling
  • How to Slow Down
  • When to Fast Forward

Examples

  • Example 1
  • Example 2
  • Example 3
  • Example 4

Where to Find Dawn

  • Where to Find Dawn