Writer's Tip #1: Show, Don't Tell

I've decided that I'm going to start doing very short, to-the-point tips on writing, that I hope will help authors out. I'm not going into deep detail (I actually advise that you look this up, as there are many great articles out there. Or, going to workshops is usually very worthwhile), so please keep in mind that I'm just sharing some of the little tricks/tips that I've learned in the hopes that you'll find it useful.

Tip #1: Show, Don't Tell.

You could be very prolific in your descriptions, by saying something like this:

The sun shone brightly, the wind blew and carried the scent of lilac. It was a lovely day, and all John wanted to do was walk through the tall grass, and perhaps take a snooze under a tree.

But while the day that John is having sounds nice, this is me telling you what the day is like, rather than the reader reading John experiencing it. My advice would be to try something like this, instead:

John tilted his face up to the bright sun, its heat comforting on his skin, and warming him through his clothes. With each of his steps, the soft ground gave, and the tall grass brushed against his jeans. He sighed, breathing deeply of the faint lilac scent that was carried on the wind. As though by magic, John felt the weight of his burdens lift from his shoulders, and he abruptly wished that he could remain thusly for the remainder of the day. But, alas, he had other business to attend to...

It's also important to keep in mind that you should avoid "she saw", "he felt", "they knew", rather than just saying what the person/people saw/felt/knew. Sometimes, these can be acceptable (yes, I know that I used one in the example above), but they're redundancies and your writing will be better for not having them.

My examples are by no means perfect (particularly as they haven't been edited), but my point here is just to give you an idea of how you can change your style of writing so that you show readers what your protagonist(s) are experiencing, rather than telling them. 

**Edit/Afterthought: Try closing your eyes and thinking about what your protagonist is feeling in that moment. What are the smells, sounds, and feelings? Are they in a crowded market where people are calling out their wares? Think surroundings. Is it stuffy, humid, dry? Is the air sweet or spicy? Are there animals making noise nearby? Plant yourself firmly in your characters' story, and feel what they feel. You'll be guaranteed that your reader feels it, too.

I hope that this was helpful to you! Good luck and keep writing!