Episode 3. Popular Fiction and Showing vs. Telling

On this episode we look at some of the techniques used by James Rollins in his book The Last Oracle. We will also explore how to how and not tell and do a writing exercise and review the results from the writing exercise.
Here is the prompt that you will use today:
Writing Prompts 3: Write a story using a set of these details, but, do not just tell me that these elements are present in your writing. Show me that they are present.

1. A painting with a secret
2. A masquerade mask
3. A forgotten room

Here are the results from my own writing:

The man’s hand lined with the passage of time were the only clues as to his true age. How long had he waited for this moment? Slowly he took into his own hands the hand that had been offered to him. With great effort he stood up. Pain shooting across his hip as the weight bore fully upon his hips. He was prideful, thus extremely glad for the gold rimmed mask that covered his face as he fully stood and felt the shame of his pain as he winced. He couldn’t believe his eyes as he stood there. This painting was a myth up until a few days ago when he received an invitation in the mail. The man almost threw away the invitation until he saw the photo of the painting that he had been searching for his entire life. If it turned out to be an authentic relic, he could finally unlock the clue to his family’s mystery. A mystery that had destroyed his family’s good reputation.