Don't Be Boring: Show Me, Don't Tell It To Me
Write Better Now Round Up
First off everyone uses this Chekov quote when they talk about this aspect of writing and I’d like us all to stop.
Don’t tell me the moon is shining. Show me the glint of light on broken glass
– Anton Chekhov
That said, showing vs telling in writing is a really important thing to master.
I write a lot about this, but one of the more succinct times I did (I tend to go on an on) is from 2020 when we did a podcast about it.
So in writing one of the biggest tips that you start hearing starts in around third grade and it’s “SHOW DON’T TELL.”
And it’s sound writing advice, but it’s pretty sound life advice, too.
How many of us have heard the words, “I love you,” but never seen the actions that give proof to the words. You can tell someone you love them incessantly for hours, but if you don’t show them it too, it’s pretty likely that the words aren’t going to rock that person’s world.
TELLING IS LIKE THIS:
Shaun was a hotty.
SHOWING IS LIKE THIS:
Carrying four grocery bags and a kitten, biceps bulging, Shaun walked through the parking lot, approaching a couple of older men. The smaller man gawped at Shaun, staring at his chest, the kitten, the bags, the biceps.
“Wow,” the man said, pivoting as Shaun strode by. “Just wow.”
The man licked his lips. His partner hit him in the back of the head lightly and said, “I am right here.”
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Both examples illustrate that Shaun is a hotty, but one states it as fact (telling) and one elucidates with examples (description, reaction, action).
Here’s One More Quick Example
TELLING
The lawyer liked to use big words to impress people.
SHOWING
Carpenter stuck his thumbs into the waist of his pants, lowered his voice and said, “Pontification is one of the more mirthful and blithe aspects of the juridical system.”
IN REAL LIFE IT MATTERS TOO.
In life, you want to show too, not just tell all the time.
You can say, “I love you.”
You can also grab someone’s hand and say, “I love you.”
You can also scoff and turn away and step on an ant and say, “I love you.”
Your actions matter.
Here’s that old episode if you want to check it out.
SOME LINKS ABOUT SHOWING VS TELLING
https://self-publishingschool.com/show-dont-tell-writing/
https://www.herdedwords.com/show-tell/
https://carriejonesbooks.blog/tag/showdonttell/
WRITING EXERCISE
This exercise is from Indigo Extra, which is a cool site you should check out if you have time.
The below image is a direct excerpt from its blog.
PLACE TO SUBMIT
Alienhead Press: Literally Dead – Tales of Holiday Hauntings
“We’re inviting writers of dark fiction to submit short stories of classic paranormal, poltergeists, ghosts, spirits, haunted places and objects, and the eerily unexplained that take place on or around the winter holidays. #ownvoices, BIPOC, gender-diverse, LGBTQIA, and authors of other marginally represented groups highly encouraged to apply.”
They are not into children’s or slasher stories, vampires, werewolves, zombies, extreme, or creature horror.
Deadline: 20 January 2023
Length: 2,000-4,000 words
Pay: $0.06/word
Details here.
Good luck writers! This week I’m trying to finish up the first draft of my own WIP which takes place in Iceland. This makes me happy. I’m also working on a couple of nonfiction books.
Oh! And I’m teaching Write! Submit! Support! at the Writing Barn again. It starts in March.
Date(s):
Sunday, March 19, 2023 – Sunday, August 20, 2023
Times:
2:00-5:00 PM CT
Cost:
$1854
Class Size:
12
Number of Sessions:
Six sessions (meeting monthly) with deadlines and feedback
If that seems a bit steep (it’s a great program), you can also check out my own classes and coaching/editing services.