Present, don't inform: The key to nice writing with examples to indicate and inform
They have the classic writing rule, "Show. Don't tell." Every writing blog has ever talked about it, and for good reason. For some reason it's really difficult to show. However, it is also one of the most important writing techniques that you need to master if you want to make your own writing stand out. In this post you will learn how to do this, and show and tell some examples.
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Storytelling is one of the hardest habits to remove from your style. I still struggle with it on a regular basis. However, writing that shows is much more interesting than writing that tells. Mostly.
This article provides the definition of "show, not tell". see several shows that do not give examples; and learn the one simple trick to stop telling and showing in your writing.
What is show, don't tell?
Pointing, not telling, is popular creative writing advice for writing with more sensory detail so your reader can hear, see, taste, touch, and smell the same things that your characters are experiencing.
This is especially popular advice for new writers, who often overstate their descriptions (and often include unnecessary backstories or adverbs that slow the pace of the story and get the reader out of the moment).
These vivid details make the experience visceral for the reader and allow him to imagine what a character is actually experiencing in the moment. Because of this, the reader is more likely to forget they are reading – a goal that fictional writers (and all writers) want to achieve.
As Anton Chekhov said: "Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the light on broken glass."
(Note: Even if you see the above quote a lot, it is a wrong quote. Here's what Chekhov actually said.)
How can you "show, not tell"? The good news is that if you just learn this one trick, it's pretty easy to show:
Be more specific
The simplest rule to remember when trying to show is to write only certain details. The specificity will fill in the gaps in your narration and bring your scenes to life. Let me give you an example of how it will help you be specific.
Here is a very illustrative example:
They went to New York to see cats. You both enjoyed it very much. When they tried to go home, their flight was delayed because of the snow, so they stayed another night and decided to watch the musical again.
It's a funny story. A great trip to the city could be ruined by the weather, but they make the most of it. It's all pretty vague, isn't it? Who are you? In which theater did you see cats? Why did you enjoy it? How did you feel after your flight was delayed?
In order to show, rather than tell, you have to query your story. You have to be more specific.
Here is the example with some of the questions answered:
Tanya and James flew 747 to New York City. They picked up their bags, took a taxi to their hotel, and checked into their rooms. "I can't wait to see the show," said Tanya. "You will love it."
James shook his head. "I don't get it. It's about cats that sing and dance? Sounds kind of stupid."
Tanya smiled. "Trust me."
Their hotel was only a few blocks from the Foxwoods Theater, so they walked. He had never seen such tall buildings or so many people on the street. When they got into the theater, Tanya noticed that his eyes were a little bigger and his mouth a little looser. The foyer was covered with gold and white marble and hundreds of people wore dresses and beautiful suits. He didn't talk much. Finally they sat down and the lights went out. He took her hand.
….
Let's stop there. Once you get specific, your story can get a lot longer. The number of words is increasing, which is not always the direction in which to go.
But overall, at least in this example, the rendering is a bit better than the more boring, tell-tale paragraph, isn't it?
Instead of "she" we now see Tanya and James. We know a little more about her, that Tanya is a little more cultured while James is more cautious. We get a look at the theater.
The second example makes it better to stick with the reader.
Query your story
However, there is still more room for specificity, which is why you need to keep querying your story.
How was your flight? Why is James so impressed with New York? What is the nature of their relationship?
Here is another example with some of these questions filled in with specificity:
Tanya and James flew to New York on a 747. Tanya had club sod and James had ginger ale. "Can I have the whole can?" he said. When they were at LaGuardia, James turned to her and said, "Just so you know, this was the first time I've flown anywhere."
"What?" said Tanya. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want you to know I didn't leave Oklahoma."
She took his hand and kissed it and held it to her cheek.
"I will still love you even if you are an Okie hillbilly."
They both smiled and he kissed her.
….
This is definitely more specific, but it also gets longer. We haven't even got to the theater yet.
And that means that "show, don't tell" is often good advice, but showing is not always appropriate. Instead, consider this alternative advice:
Show and tell: when to show and when to tell
Sometimes pointing is not appropriate for your writing. Sometimes you have to tell if you want to write a great story.
How do you know when to show, not tell and when to show and tell? Here is a quick guide:
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Not sure when to show it and don't say it in your letter? This post will show you how to use writing tips and examples that you can easily incorporate into your writing.
Show whether:
- It's a central scene, like the climax of your story.
- You bring the reader into a scene and have to briefly describe the details of the setting so that they can imagine them.
- It is a moment of great conflict, drama, or crisis.
- You are presenting an important, dramatic conversation, and the dialogue between the two characters drives the plot forward.
In other words, show that the scene is exciting, dramatic, advances the story, develops character, and is interesting overall.
Tell me if:
- They mostly give information that the reader needs to know but that doesn't advance the plot.
- It is not a crucial moment in your story.
- You link two very dramatic scenes and have to skip a less dramatic period.
In other words, say whether the scene is boring, off-center, not dramatic, and mostly exhibition or informative.
I'm adding an infographic that visually breaks it down below. For a creative writing exercise, scroll down to apply this concept right away.
How to Find the Writing Balance Between Show, Don't Tell
How do you find the writing balance between showing and telling details?
Every story is like an accordion.
They can get infinitely more specific, but the consequence of specificity is length.
While you want to be more specific to show more than you are telling, you need to cut out the details that are not added to your story.
If you want to be a better writer, put on a show and tell a natural part of writing.
Be specific, but don't bore us.
How about you? What do you think is the right balance between showing and telling details? Let me know in the comments.
WORK OUT
Let's use Point Not Tell with the following writing exercise:
Rewrite the following prompt, specifying it.
They went to Los Angeles to see his parents.
Write for fifteen minutes. When you're done, post your exercise in the comments.
And when you post, please provide feedback to a few other writers. I hope this is a community that helps each other improve.
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