Say What? Part 2

Meredith Bond
5 min readMar 24, 2024

This is a continuation of the article I wrote last week. You can read it here.

A Shmeerp

This week I’ll talk about:

  1. to show conflict, (show vs. tell)
  2. to impart information to the reader succinctly,
  3. to make the reader a part of the action.
  4. Determine the pacing of the story

To show conflict

Whenever a writer has a story that is flat and dull, it can be fixed with conflict. Conflict in dialogue is one way to beef up a tale. Conflict in dialogue can be argumentative or agonizing. It can be anything the creative writer wants it to be.

Inner conflict can be shown through tag lines and through the inner conflict, we learn more about the character.

To impart information to the reader succinctly

“Mother didn’t say anything about our money, and she won’t wish us to give up everything. Let’s each buy what we want, and have a little fun; I’m sure we work hard enough to earn it,” cried Jo, examining the heels of her shoes in a gentlemanly manner.

“I know I do — teaching those tiresome children nearly all day when I’m longing to enjoy myself at home,” began Meg, in the complaining tone again.

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Meredith Bond

Award winning author, Meredith Bond's books straddle that beautiful line between historical romance and fantasy. Merry is also a writing coach and formatter.