Writing Tips &Tricks

Show N' Tell

My best advice for writing emotional scenes, or reactons in general, is to show, not tell.

Don't tell me: she was crying heavily. Show me through her actions:

Tears streamed down her face, dripping off her chin and into her lap. She sniffed, rubbing her nose with a napkin. She let out a shaky breath that was soon stolen away by another heart wrenching sob.

Hit your readers where they live! One is factual and removed while the other gives you a visualization of this person in this state of mourning. It can inspire empathy in your readers.

Show me:

His eyes blazed with a fury that would never be sated and they knew they had gone too far.

Show me:

She laughed earnestly, not wvwn trying to stop. She laughed until she had no breath. When she breathed there was a pause before she remembered what had been so funny and it doubled her over in joyful laughter.

Show, don't tell is a very important concept and it applies to a lot of things in writing. I think the picture sums it up best, but here is what I have to say on the matter.

Your reader wants to be taken on a trip. So, take them on the trip. Don't tell them like you are narrating it, show them like they were there.

Don't tell them that the monster was a terrifying sight.

Show them:

The monster could have been human, if it weren't for the fact that it had teeth like a shark's. Rows upon rows of sharp, dripping, teeth lined the being's mouth. The creature smiled, its eyes shining with almost human intelligence. There were still remenant of its last meal stuck in its teeth. I could have sworn I saw part of a yellow raincoat lodged in its cheek.

I honestly don't follow this advice enough, myself. If you're looking for a good example of this, it isn't in my story. I'm still working on it, too. Even 'popular' (am I popular?) writers don't always have all the good habits. We're only human!

Be sure to look at the picture and ask me any questions you have!

Somekne asked about what they could tell and I think that that is a good question.

I think that the writer in the picture makes a good point. Don't make the reader do your work for you. However, that means that you can't do their job for them. Let some things be left to the imagination.

Tell them that there is a city hall, but let them decide what it looks like. Tell them that is a large, white, building, but they decide the shape, size, and style. I'm sure most of you have a picture of it in your mind already, anyway, right?

What I am trying to tell you is that you should tell them what is, and let them show themselves the rest. The 'rest' being the description. Does that make sense? Get them involved with the process.

Here are some places to use telling instead of showing:

Action scenes if going play-by-play.

Adding backstory.

Emotional scenes where you are also adding information.

Thought process.

When introducing necessary but unimportant details such as weather (when it doesn't play a key role on the scene), outfit (if it isn't for a special event), spacial relationships (for mundane things), and several more.

Transitional scenes.

Also for places where a lot of details are given to the reader at once.

Here is an amazing site that really goes into depth about show vs tell strategies and tips:

https://pin.it/f3qd3qecm3y4iu

I know that you can't just tap the link, but I do reccomend taking the time to type it into a search bar if this is something you struggle with.