Poetry, Art and Stories by Laura Sweeney

Show, Don't Tell, So They Tell Us

2010-11-21T06:07:00.000-08:00

If you’re a writer, you’ve heard this time and time again: Show, don’t tell. If you’re a novice writer, then you’ve probably wondered how to do this. Showing your readers what happens empowers the reader to utilize his or her imagination to the fullest. Besides, readers are much more willing to accept that which they see and judge for themselves as opposed to what they “are told.” By using action verbs to describe characters, as opposed to state-of –being verbs, writers effectively reveal the character’s inner personality in the movements that he or she makes. In addition to using action verbs to convey meaning, writers bring the character to life through the utilization of figurative language such as similes and metaphors: After having met Maria, Joe’s face was blushed and sweaty like a fighter who had just left the ring.

Let’s take a look at how showing and telling differ in some practical examples.

Joe loved Maria.

Joe's face blushed every time he thought about the heart that he had painted for Maria.

Maria did not love him.

When he gave Maria the heart that he had painted, she put it down on the table and let it fall onto the floor without giving it another thought.

Joe was disappointed.

Joe shrugged his shoulders and stared down at the floor, at the card that lay in a pile of discarded magazines.

I welcome you to add comments and examples regarding what it means to show as opposed to tell. Kindly share examples of both forms to help others see the difference. Comments are welcome.

Thinking Aloud: Are you publishing short stories in blog form?

2010-11-21T05:28:00.000-08:00

Now that I have a new blog (in addition to my old blogs), I am wondering where I will begin. I could always post some of the short stories I have begun or a portion of my novel about Brighid. I would refrain from posting too much because that would reveal too much before the work is published in the traditional book format. On the other hand, I will write a short story to be published solely on this blog as if it were an e-book. That seems like an excellent plan.

I am currious to know whether anyone else out there is publishing short stories on their blogs rather than in the traditional book form. If so, are there many readers out in cyberspace who are interested in the online story-making experience?

Irish Giants Poetry Chapbook

2010-10-29T20:00:00.000-07:00

The Irish Giants Poetry Chapbook is my second chapbook in a series of three poetry books so far. It took me a year to compile these poems that fill 100 pages with photos and art. The poems were written while I was in Ireland traveling and also written during the time between the two trips I made in the summers of 2009 and 2010. I consider these poems to have been divinely inspired by the natural landscape and storytelling of Ireland. For instance, I visited a castle that was decorated by an entrepreneur who was passionate about his home so I turned this experience into a poem about the ghost of a man who occupied those walls even after death, for he spent so much time planning the decorum:

Deer antlers with
musty antique perfume
and seashell pearls glued to the walls
are his attire

Not only is this book about Ireland. It also includes Greek mythology and other symbolism inspired by storytelling and arts. One of my favorites is "Chagall's Timeless Lights" about how art enables those who are persecuted to live on even after their lives have ended:

Chagall's Timeless Lights

Light-bean captives dream,
Two betrothed angels with rainbows in flight
Amidst the heavenly crossroads that gleam
For earthly lovers who once delighted

Long before their hearts were blighted
With straying afections traveling in beams
The two would forever be untied
In travel where the speed of light reigns

My book includes both Irish themes and European cultural themes such as Greek mythology and visual arts. I was backpacking with a group of Australians and some Americans, climbing mountains and hiking through the woods, when I first had these ideas or refined older poems. One of the most delightful experiences was when we arrived in Cong, Ireland, and I learned of how John Wayne's film entitled The Silent Man was filmed in the pub where I was drinking my Guiness. Naturally, another poem blossomed from this profound experience of having taken the same roads that Wayne took. I vaguely recalled this film from my childhood and wanted to know more including how he ended up in this somber place.

Whether you're a casual or serious writer, I invite you to spend a summer in Ireland, taking inspiration from green nature at its best.
http://avantgardebook.blogspot.com/

Blogging from the Heart

2010-10-28T17:09:00.000-07:00

This is not my first experience with blogging. I was formerly the author of the blog entitled "Abduction in Fiuggi" that was published for a total of six years. My blog regarded the international abduction and retention of my children in Italy. I have written an unpublished book based on this experience and knew the time had come to remove most parts of the blog despite my having had thousands of followers who visited the blog regularly.

Many have asked how I survived the international retention of my children in Italy. In addition to my friends and followers, I must thank my passion for art and writing. I have written hundreds of poems, a memoir and a novel during the time that I have awaited the return of my children. Somehow, six years have passed very quickly as I tried to call the children every day, work long hours, pay bills, create art and poetry and even travel to Europe. If it were not for my aspirations to write and create poetry, I would probably not be here anymore to create a blog. Therefore, I encourage all who are tempted to create to go for it. Sketch, draft, and quickly write your most innermost thoughts for revision. Your creativity will enable you to survive almost anything.