When it comes to the “show, don’t tell” rule in writing, there are a few different approaches that a romance novelist can take. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
1. Use sensory details: Rather than simply telling the reader how a character feels or what they look like, try to show these things through the sensory details. For example, instead of saying “She was nervous”, you might describe how her palms were sweating or how her heart was pounding in her chest.
2. Use dialogue: Dialogue can be a great way to show the reader how characters are feeling or what they’re thinking. Instead of having a character think to themselves about how much they love someone, for example, you could have them say it out loud to the person.
3. Use Action: Another way to show rather than tell is to use action to convey a character’s emotion or thought. For example, if a character is angry, you might show them slamming a door or clenching their fists.
4. Use setting: The setting can also be a useful tool for showing rather than telling. For example, if you want to convey that a character is feeling isolated or alone, you might describe a deserted street or a dark room.
Overall, the key is to be descriptive and specific in your writing and to think about how you can use various elements of storytelling (like dialogue, setting, and sensory details) to convey your characters’ emotions and thoughts in a way that feels natural and engaging to the reader.
