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Storywriting showing not telling5/28/2023 ![]() ![]() You are presenting an important, dramatic conversation and the dialogue between the two characters advances the plot.It is a moment of great conflict, drama, or crisis.You are bringing the reader into a scene and need to briefly describe the details of the setting so they can picture it.It is a pivotal scene, like the climactic moment in your story.How do you know when to show, not tell and when to show and tell? Here's a brief guide: Sometimes, if you want to write a great story, you have to tell. Sometimes, showing isn't appropriate for your writing. Instead, keep in mind this alternative advice: Show and Tell: When to Show and When to Tell We haven't even gotten to the theater yet.Īnd what that means is that while “show, don't tell” is often good advice, showing isn't always appropriate. That's definitely more specific, but it's also getting longer. “I'll still love you, even if you are an Okie hillbilly.” She took his hand and kissed it and held it to her cheek. “I didn't want you to know I hadn't left Oklahoma.” When they in LaGuardia, James turned to her and said, “Just so you know, that was the first time I've ever flown anywhere.” Tanya drank club sod and James had ginger ale. Tanya and James flew to New York in a 747. ![]() Here's another example with some of those questions filled in with specificity: What was their flight like? Why is James so awed by New York? What's the nature of their relationship? There's still more room for specificity, though, which is why you always have to interrogate your story. The reader gains an emotional attachment to the story in a way the previous example did not. The second example does a better job at sticking in the reader's mind. We know a little more about them, that Tanya is a little more cultured, while James is more wary of it. Instead of “they,” we now see Tanya and James. The word count goes up, which isn't always the direction you want it to take.īut overall, at least in this example, the showing is a little better than the blander, tell-y paragraph. Once you get specific your story can get a lot longer. Finally, they took their seats, and the lights went down. The foyer was covered in gold and white marble, with hundreds of people milling around in gowns and beautiful suits. ![]() When they got to the theater, Tanya noticed his eyes were a little wider, his mouth a little slacker. He had never seen buildings so tall or so many people walking on the street. Their hotel was just a few blocks from the Foxwoods Theater so they walked. It's about cats who sing and dance? Sounds sorta dumb.” ![]() “I can't wait to see the show,” Tanya said. They got their bags, took a taxi to their hotel, and checked into their rooms. Tanya and James flew to New York city in a 747. Here's that example with some of those questions answered: Better yet, you'll use strong verbs to show what a character does, feels, and experiences. To show rather than tell, you have to interrogate your story. It's all pretty vague, though, isn't it? Who are they? What theater did they see Cats at? Why did they enjoy it? A great trip to the city could be ruined by the weather, but they make the most of it. When they tried to go home, their flight was delayed because of the snow so they stayed another night and decided to see the musical again. Let me give you an example of how being specific will help you show. Specificity will fill in the gaps from your telling and bring life to your scenes. The simplest rule to remember if you're trying to show is just to write specific details. How do you “show, don't tell”? The good news is that it's pretty easy to show if you just learn this one trick: Be More Specific (Note: even though you'll see the above quote frequently, it's a bit of a miss-quote. Because of this, it's more likely that the reader forgets that they're reading-a goal fiction writers (and all writers) want to achieve.Īs Anton Chekhov said, “Don’t tell me the moon is shining show me the glint of light on broken glass.” The descriptive language makes the experience visceral for the reader, which allows them to imagine what a character experiences in real time for that character. This is especially a popular piece of advice given to new writers, who often tell too much in their description (and often include unnecessary backstory or adverbs, which slow the story's pace and take the reader out of the moment). “Show, don't tell” is a popular piece of creative writing advice to write with more sensory details, allowing your reader to hear, see, taste, touch, and smell the same things your fictional characters experience. ![]()
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