I wouldn't go into a long description of a detail unless it has relevance for understanding a character or their circumstances. Detailed descriptions help to create a richer image but my advice would be don't just choose any old random details to try to paint a richer image. Make sure to keep them relevant.
Something I think of when describing a scene is this: If I gave this to an artist, would they be able to perfectly draw out the scene that is in your mind?
In my opinion, that can lead to OVER description. Many writers seem to think their job is to be painters--but with words. But storytelling is a movement between scenes and places, so you can't linger as long on one place as a a painter can. One art is kinetic, the other static. In a novel, we have other places to go and people to see. In a painting, we are camping out there for the night.
6 tips to help you show instead of tell in your writing: 1. Use the most effective details 2. Create a rich setting 3. Use dialogue to reveal character 4. use showing to be subtle with theme 5. Use figurative language carefully (Don't overkill showing) 6. Don't label emotions, describe it When to tell - With things that are not worth to put too much description on, like someone's height. Thank you for the tips Reedsy!
My protagonist his internal narration is quite cynical and elaborate but thenthe bits where he's angry he uses foul words lol cos then he's like: f it with trying to seem smart
Showing is telling, just indirect, leaving more for the reader to do and giving a richer, more subjective account. "The legs of the creature seemed like demonic claws" is telling us what the legs seemed like, but it implies that the spider is meant to be frightening.
@@xtonibx5770 When it comes to an author and underwriter is someone who gives too little description for his world or characters. Readers find his work needing more.
If the narrator is the main character, or one of the characters, would there be more "tell" than "show" in your book? The character is telling the story.
I was down after I was told my book on Wattpad was telling more than showing but after watching several videos this video not only well explained but it motivated me. Thank you Reedsy.
Would it be a useful guide to say if it's: Objective (physical objects, for instance) -- tell, unless you want to be intentionally oblique Subjective (emotions, thoughts, characterization) -- show Feedback?
I'm not sure you can split them up in this way. I'm only a learner myself, though, so I can only give you my thoughts xP Show, when it's important for the theme/ character/ story. Tell, when it holds little impact for the theme/ character/ story and only serves to bring the reader on to the next scene or next subject. As Shaelin said at the beginning with the 'Don't tell me the moon is shining, show me the light on broken glass': You set a mood and a beginning theme by having the light refract in broken glass. Broken glass alone starts the imagination up with all sorts of associations, making the image dynamic - and possibly a bit sinister - instead of a still photo of a round ball of light plastered on a night sky. Moonlight and broken glass are both physical phenomena, but depending on how you portray them, they can quickly become subjective and emotional. Maybe think of Show as the picture you want to paint with your words and of Tell as the cotton canvas that keeps the story together? You need the canvas, even if it's kinda bland and boring, or you won't be able to present all your amazing and rich colours? I'm not sure - does it make sense?
@@KathTalia I have a very visual imagination, so my understanding is that telling is what a camera sees and showing is the context of what's being seen. The moon shining in the sky or hanging hazy in the sky is more detailed than saying it was night, but might still be considered a form of telling. The moon cast it's pale light upon her glinting skin shows the moon and night's relevance on a character, but we can go even further. "The moonlight is beaming down upon her, bringing her skin to a near glow. She's radiant, almost immaterial, as she stare back at him with just as bright a smile across her face." This, in my mind at least, gives details of specific things that form a clear and coherent picture based on details and shifts the focus from the moon to the girl and the effect it has on her and then into the perception of the boy. I could even see someone saying that it's still entirely telling, but much like a picture, a detailed image can have an effect of the reader just as much as a painting. I think that writing for effect and to affect the reader is always the goal. The deeper the perspective, the more emotional and subjective the impression is. From the perspective of a character, how they feel about it is the focus. From narration it becomes more about the setting and details that are more objective and may be perceived somewhat differently by different readers. FYI, this is coming from someone who has been writing a story in third person omniscient present tense, but I chose to focus on a single character per scene. The focus character acts as a filter for narrative interpretation and can lead to personal impressions or misinterpretations. What's in the scene is objective, but how the character processes it is subjective. I would appreciate any feedback if possible on my understanding of this subject.
Here's something I'm trying to integrate: How does one mesh the idea of using dialogue to reveal character with the concept of not using dialogue when narrative will do just fine? I know there's a matter of interest and relevance, but it seems like a tricky balancing act.
This is great content! I'm actually using this information to help me express while I DM for a DnD campaign. I've found it a challenge to instill color into the huge expanse of a world, that DnD covers. I feel like there's a specific, deep seated color that coats all of the life in the world but it's been difficult for me to access that in my descriptions. So thanks for this stuff!
After the first example (spiders), I was thinking, "Gee, that's a lot of words, though. Isn't there virtue in brevity? Keeping the narrative moving?" And as you were describing how to show someone is an outdoors woman by describing the things in her garage in detail, I thought of how much work this is to make sure the reader really gets it, and doesn't get glazed eyes from all these descriptions without getting the point. And there on the right, in my recommended list, is "'Show Don't Tell' is a SCAM'" and "How to Show AND Tell", both by Brandon McNulty. This all illustrates that writing is an art, and there are so many ways to do things. I love your channel and will of course finish and enjoy your video, but it will be fun to see what the others say. Once a writer has heard all sides, he may decide that it's best in a given context to simply have a character say, "Sarah's terrified of spiders" and she replies "I don't know if 'terrified' is a sufficient word!" and be done with it, while in another context the description of her reaction to seeing one would be best.
this was a very helpful video tysm for the first time i finaly understand what show not tell actually means. i always hear people say it but i never understood what it meant but now i do.
A sardonic smirk appeared on this writers face, as he possibly appeared to react to the irony that everyone else left "telling" comments, in a reply section about "show not tell". Which turned into a frown as he realized how difficult it is to communicate opinions by showing. He removes his fingers from the keyboard, his eyes scan what he had written for a moment, and then at last he clicks the comment button.
@@Lailas198 It's a challenge, but the key is to keep either the protagonist or antagonist mum, with either defining the other, perhaps with narrative input.
This was so great!! Thank you for covering both sides of the coin at the end there. E: I have a tendency to make weird hard and fast rules about things that are “better” in some way, so having show & tell emphasized was really reassuring.
I really love your videos. I've started writing a short story to get my hand in while I'm planning a book i want to write. The first part I was really pleased and proud of. But the second part of the story fell flat and I think it's because I was so eager to get to the climax I did way too much telling in comparison to the first part of the story where I was introducing the world, premise and main character. It just felt a bit flat and rushed. I took a break, saw your video and I'm going to do a bit of reworking. Thanks!!😆
Agree with most, however, generic adjectives like tall, large, etc. mean different things for different people. For example, I'm 6'8", tall means something completly different to someone 5' tall. A large house means something different to someone who lives in a one bedroom shack as opposed to a person who lives in a 6 bedroom mansion.
All writing is telling. We need our senses to 'show' something, not symbols in a medium (words). It explains why all the great novels do a lot of telling in the sense that you mean. Expressing ideas and states of affairs. Need I give examples? My favorite line from Emma by Jane Austen is "Harriet had no penetration". Where is the show? Or the famous first line of Pride and Prejudice “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
I used to think storytelling was literally storytelling myself. But I have been to many writing groups that would say, "All showing, no telling." If you try to explain to them about the authors of the past using tell in their stories, they would say it doesn't matter. That was in the past, we focus on the authors today. The popular authors of today use only show in their writing, no adverbs, etc. All the advice on the internet for a writer can be confusing, discouraging, and make the writer quit. But I refuse to quit and I only take advice that is sound and others with a grain of salt. I have written 22 stories so far. I enjoy it.
@@thomasr.g.2037 Nothing more destructive of true creativity than these so-called workshops. But it doesn't change the fact that whoever is telling the story is the narrator, regardless of the POV. Look it up.
Even though it was across the room, her skin scuttled as if its legs were scrambling all over her. she breathed so quickly she felt like she wasn't breathing at all
But overdoing this can be horrible and reader might just not continue further... Do you have something on when not to do this? If not please make 1 for me 😀😂
As someone who is writing a middle grade novel, I really struggles to apply show not tell. . It's difficult not to become too wordy and I wonder if the young reader's deduce your meaning in the same way adults do. I totally understand the concept but it's difficult to apply in this context.
As a mother of several avid readers, you don't need to worry about being too wordy if the words are just descriptive enough to give a clear picture of what's going on and keep them engaged. My middle schoolers love the Harry Potter series, even though it has lots and lots of "words", because every word is used well!! They also love these series: Ranger's Apprentice, Alex Rider, Brotherband, 39 Clues, Lemony Snicket... The only series I would love for them to read but I'm being patient about is JRR Tolkien, because guess what, he's just a bit too wordy for middle schoolers. Let them enjoy it in high school when they might have a little more appreciation for his very descriptive scenery. So unless you're on his level of wordiness, you can't go wrong! :)
If you are a screenwriter or learning that art-form you have to show not tell anyway. If you are writing picture books for children it is probably a mixture of both.
You made it so simple when you said the phrase described then telling. If you defined the show don't tell as described and don't tell. Would have got the understanding sooner
tell then show...Telling gives the reader what the author wants to say, and showing gives the reader the concrete meaning what the author wants to convey.
