Notes on Writing Science Fiction

Chapter 15/Showing and telling

This is the favourite bit of writing advice we like to poke fun at.  The best version of which was in the first chapter of I'm a cyborg's pet. Let me tell you about myself - it's a personal pronoun used to describe me. Naturally, we had to add something to follow it or the joke falls flat. We then give highly irrelevant information.

So what does Ellen say? 

1. Always show not tell. 

2. Don't show something which would require the creation of a separate chapter just to say. Notice we just tell Robot apocalypse because showing it would be a book in its own right.

3. Don't' show when the story would bore your audience.   Think face melting lasers. 

4. What is bare minimum you need to say?  cut cut cut backspace is better than writing. 

5. Only provide information when needed. If you have large facts then break up. Provide hints at everything you need to at least before half way in book. 

6. Tell in an action is OK. Make it part of the scene.