Has anyone figured out the show vs. tell aspect of fiction writing?

Answer 1

The show verses tell principle is about taking the abstract, that which engages only your readers intellect, and making it concrete, so that they are drawn into the character's experience.

For example, telling would be, "Jane was very angry."

Showing would be, "jane slammed down her coffee mug, unthinkingly rose and grabbed his picture, put it down again, clenched her fist and banged it against the wall, howled in pain, than walked over to the picture, grabbed it, and tore it up."

Instead of telling the audience that she was angry and alienating them from the experience, I showed the audience what she was doing, feeling, and seeing. Thus the audience stays drawn into the experience of the character and can deduce on their own that she is very angry.

Answer 2

Although this isn't as difficult as you might think to understand, it is one of the basic problems that most beginning writers make, and even writers who have worked at their craft for years, still have a problem with. That's why we have critique groups.

When a writer tells a story, s/he does just that. As: Bess and Henry went to the grocery store and loaded up on bread, milk, eggs and bottled water before the storm hit.

BUT a good writer will show the story. As: The flurries changed to a steady snow fall, sticking to Henry's windshield. The wipers had little effect.
Bess pulled her coat tighter, but stilll shivered. How did I let us run out of the basics? she wondered. I knew a storm was coming and the kids have to eat more than dry cereal and peanut crackers. Knowing she didn't have any, made her crave a drink of spring water.


I hope this helps some. It take work and attention to edits and comments by knowledgeable writers to hone the skill.

Answer 3

The show vs. tell aspect of fiction writing boils down to active vs. passive voice. Rather than using the passive voice, where the subject recieves the action, one should always use active voice, where the subject performs the action.

For instance, you would say, "Johnny broke the window," rather than, "The window was broken by Johnny."

Answer 4

instruct as against tell has actually no longer something to do with information. information are blanketed to reinforce your writing and keep the reader from growing wondered. instruct as against tell shows note determination, also time-honored as diction. instead of: It become warm. ~~~~~ The sunlight burned down on an unsuspecting public, on the element of instruct its victims into lobsters. a lot more suitable, appropriate? It feels more suitable alive... also, use different literary thoughts (i.e. personification, symbols, imagery) to extra inhance your writing. As for the homicide, attempt: instead of: blood become everywhere ~~~~~~ Blood splattered the partitions because the knife slashed in the time of light white flesh. Terror, rigidity, discomfort, anger and angst are continually good thoughts for homicide scenes, too.