Sophie Campbell hands us the key to unlock the dilemma of when to “show” and when to “tell.”
“In creative writing, we’re often told to show, not tell. It’s practically gospel. In essence, it means show us how a character is feeling, don’t tell us.
For example, ‘Jane felt a bubble rise in her throat and her chest heaved as she sobbed,’ is more powerful than simply, ‘Jane was sad and she cried.’
But the truth is, the most compelling fiction does both showing and telling, and the best copywriting does too.
The key isn’t choosing one over the other, it’s knowing when and how to use each of them to create characters that feel like real people and a voice that readers will remember.”
“. . . there’s nothing more glorious than when a fictional character feels completely real. And nothing more meh than when a fictional character feels like a cardboard cut-out”
From Marlene: I agree! I love to immerse myself in writing that takes me into another world. I’m not interested in reading what a character looks like and haven’t been able to articulate why until I read this by Jo Gatford:
“I usually don’t give much of a crap what a character looks like, unless there’s a particular physical attribute, gesture, or way they move that helps show who they are. So dive deep and look for a line that gives us a guts-first impression of your fictional person.”
Excerpt from June 16 River Teeth, “Mondegreen,” by Diane Gottlieb:
A mondegreen is a mishearing or misinterpretation of a phrase in a way that gives it a new meaning.
Mondegreens are most often created by a person listening to a poem or a song; unable to hear a lyric clearly, substitutes words that sound similar.
American writer Sylvia Wright coined the term in 1954, recalling a childhood memory of her mother reading the Scottish ballad “The Bonnie Earl o’Moray,” and mishearing the words “laid him on the green” as “Lady Mondegreen.”
Diane’s piece begins like this:
“I found a lost memory today. Discovered it inside a writing prompt: recall something you’ve misheard. The title of the 1971 Sly and the Family Stone song is ‘It’s a Family Affair,’ but I swore it was ‘A Family of Bears.’ How wonderful it felt to belt out a song about bears and more bears, a family of bears.”
A mondegreen inspired from “Blue Jay Way,” by the Beatles:
Make a list of five physical / tangible things you want to own or have.
In your wildest dreams, what are five material things you want?
Prompt Two
Make a brief list of five changes you would like to make.
Could be emotional, health, financial, or personal.
Be specific. For example:
Emotional: Change attitude or feelings that don’t serve you. Is there something you are having a hard time letting go? List that, or those, if there are more than one.
Rather than good health: Lose weight, change eating habits, drink more water, etc.
Rather than exercise: Be specific about types of movement, etc.
Rather than the broad category of “financial,” consider: Freedom from present money worries, wanting future financial security, etc.
In your wildest dreams, what are five personal things you want?
Prompt Three From Facebook post by Interesting World, April 24, 2025:
Sometimes, the real reason for something isn’t the first one . . . it’s the fifth.
Sakichi Toyoda, founder of Toyota, had a habit.
Whenever something didn’t make sense, he’d pull out a simple tool — not from a toolbox, but from his mind:
The “5 Whys” rule.
It’s exactly what it sounds like. You ask “Why?” — not once, but five times.
Note from Marlene: A fur coat is somewhat of a silly example, but you will get the idea.
Sakichi Toyoda:
Let’s say you want a fur coat.
Ask yourself:
• Why do I want a fur coat?
Because I want to impress people.
• Why do I want to impress people?
Because I want attention.
• Why do I want attention?
Because I feel insecure.
• Why do I feel insecure?
Because I feel stuck — like I’m not growing.
• Why am I not growing?
Because I’m doing something I don’t love.
And suddenly, the coat has nothing to do with warmth or style. It’s about purpose. About identity.
And that fifth “why”? That’s the one that tells the truth.
That’s where you are hiding. And sometimes, that’s where healing begins.
Sakichi Toyoda gave the world more than just cars.
He gave us a method to peel away the layers — until we finally see ourselves clearly.
So next time you’re unsure — don’t just stop at the surface.
Memorable writing that sparks imagination. Lean in. Hear the writer’s voice on the page.
Relinquish the Wagon
By CM Riddle
Many of us go through life dragging a wagon behind us. Gripping the handle, we continue to pull it along while we try grasping at things ahead of us with the other hand. Imagine how much more we could attain if only we could bring ourselves to release that dang wagon.
What could possibly be so important in that wagon, you may ask. Well, there’s a lot of history in it, I will tell you that.
It is packed with cherished memories and painful experiences. It gets heavier every year. The grudges weigh a lot, and the guilt slows your pace. But with every step, tugging your wrist, pulling your elbow, and making those broad shoulders, which carry the weight of the world, so weary your, grip begins to slip.
You wonder where your breaking point will be. Will it be the next uphill battle or will you reach the top of the mountain with elation just to push it over the edge?
Will you watch the wagon roll slowly at first, then pick up speed, to finally crash and splinter into a zillion pieces?
Is that where you will find relief? A shattered wagon at the bottom of the mountain, there, bleeding where the colors of your life run together and you no longer recognize what is what?
Or, what if you do this? What if you take a risk? What if you take a chance and unpack one thing to leave behind. If you do, what will it be? A bad memory, hurt feelings, or a lie you told. Might it be your distaste for Swiss chard? Are you willing to sacrifice a friendship that’s run long past its expiration, or throw out that old ratty quilt that a distant relative gave you which was in bad shape when you got it?
Is there a piece of you that you will let fall away? Your stubbornness, or maybe your inclination to argue over every little trigger? Might you exchange those traits for peace, and if you do, will the wagon weigh less? Perhaps.
Are you carrying around a decision that has yet to be made, or did you make the wrong choice and you ruminate over it? No matter. Each day presents the opportunity to begin anew.
A wise man once said, “Make the choice, if it’s not right, another avenue will present itself. Then choose again. Time is what’s valuable, don’t waste it with indecision.”
Those words of wisdom keep my wagon mobile, but there are days I still find stuff to lug around.
I hope you will take this advice from me; there is always another wagon filled with crap. They are all over the place. Many people have abandoned their wagons, and you can too.
The method is to let go with the hand holding the past and to reach out with both hands to grab the future. Your future, the fresh clean page of opportunity, gifts, optimism, growth, light, and empowerment are before you. Don’t be afraid to extend both hands, to fill them up. You will be amazed at what you can do once you relinquish your wagon. And, if for some reason you need to get anything from it, it will be there along the path, right where you left it.
Now go. Grasp life with both hands.
Tina Riddle Deason writes under the name CM Riddle. An author and creator, Tina has published several articles and books, including those about rituals and ceremonies. She is a High Priestess who leads a variety of Women’s Circles. A mother and grandmother who lives with her husband and “fur-babies” in Rohnert Park, CA.
