Exercise #130 : "Addicted to TV"The old saw in creative writing workshops is "show, don't tell." So, without mentioning the words "TV" or "addiction" -- in other words, without "telling," show with specific detail that your character is addicted to TV.
GO!
Ryan's eyes glazed over as another commercial appeared on the screen. Come on, he thought. Not more commercials.
1 ad, 2 ads, 3 ads... They were all the same. All they did was distract him from his shows, telling him that he should buy this or that because he would never find them this cheap ever again.
One of the ads featured Billy Mays yelling at him to buy this or that laundry detergent. It's so powerful that it cleans your soul! At least, that's what they made it sound like.
"Ryan?" called his mother from upstairs. "Time for dinner."
"Ok," he said. He didn't even bother telling her that he wouldn't be coming up. She would bring his food down in a half an hour anyway.
The last advertisement aired, and his show flickered up on the screen. Finally.
Thirty minutes later, he had not moved from his couch, and there was a steaming plate of food sitting on the coffee table in front of him. He hadn't even seen her come in.
END
This one was short, but fun. :)
How would you guys show the addiction versus telling it?
Peace.
Stef.
Comments
Love that cartoon! I think it's closer to the truth than we want to believe.