Monday, December 14, 2009

Showing versus Telling

GO DOLPHINS! Uhhuh WOOHOO

Don't forget to enter Ann Victor's Christmas contest. And if I was you, I'd follow her. She is an amazing woman and writer. I've learned so much from this lovely lady. :-)

We've all heard that we have to show rather than tell. But what does it all mean? Well, here is my explanation of showing versus telling. Showing is bringing the reader into the scene through action and dialogue. Kind of like watching a movie versus watching a news report on the movie. It's much more exciting to actually be at the movie theater. Description is a wonderful opportunity to show. It shows where and when. Use those senses. That's why God gave 'em to us. :-)

Ivy shivered in the frigid morning air. The horses neighed as she walked past them. The water in the trough had frozen over night. And they looked at her with ravenous eyes. The horses raced after her as she trudged to the barn. Well you get my point I hope. :)

Here is an example of using action to show. Jack raced down the hallway, huffing and puffing. Well, not the best example, but you are trying to show the reader what is happening. You are letting the reader know what the character is doing at that moment.

You can show a characters thoughts too. Instead of this, Jack knew he should apologize. Use this, I think I'd better tell her I'm sorry, Jack thought. If I don't, we'll have a huge fight and she'll never be in the mood. You get what I'm sayin.:)

With dialogue let the readers HEAR what the characters are saying. This adds life to our stories. Here are three different ways to say the same thing.

"Hello. How are you this fine morning?"

"Hey man. How are ya?"

"Yo! How goes it?"

All awful examples, but I hope you get what I am saying.

How do the characters feel? Jack was so sad he couldn't go. OR! Jack pouted. "I cleaned my room. Why couldn't I go?"

Showing is much better than telling, but there are times when we HAVE to tell. Like for simple changes. Like this: There wasn't anything left to say, so I left. The reader doesn't really want to know how I left. So I tell that I left.

Always show the gory details though. Your reader will love you for it. :)

31 comments:

  1. Great examples Robyn! You've *showed* what you were saying very well. :)

    I've a fourth example of dialogue for you:

    "Howzit, my china?" or "Howzit, my bru?"

    That is one of the many ways we greet each other here in the rainbow nation! :)

    Thanks again for the reminder about my Christmas Contest!

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  2. Hey now, my Titans won again as well!

    Great post.

    Her mouth compressed into a fine line and her foot began to tap on the floor. Uh-oh, I guess someone's not happy! Ha!

    I was all about telling, even when I didn't realize I was telling, until someone told (is that irony at work) me that rather than saying "She was angry", use descriptions to show the reader, thus "mouth compressed into a fine line".

    I think the main problem is it's so much easier to tell, so we fall into that habit. I know as I've been going through the revision stage, I've been changing the tells to show.

    Now here's one for you - Robyn's eyes narrowed just a bit when she read that Scott was advertising on her blog again! Hey, people, come check out my blog! Ha. Kidding. Not sure there'll be a post today, though there are a few thoughts - his brow furrowed slightly - cavorting around in the back of my mind.

    S

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  3. Ann, Give that Theodora a BIG KISS from her bud Robyn. *grin* *Robyn waves to Beric*

    I love the South African greetings. Wonderful! :)

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  4. Scott, guess who the Dolphins play on Sunday. Uhhuh. You got it. Care to wager? EH?

    I use to tell the whole book. And I still fall into that nasty little trap if I don't watch it. It is much easier to tell. But rather boring isn't it?

    And Robyn's eyes narrowed more than a little bit. And she thought, "I'm goin' in!" :-)

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  5. Hi Robyn,
    Good points! I like to look at it from a reader's standpoint too - I'd rather be immersed in the scene than read a dry and boring report about it. Blessings!

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  6. Karen, I'm with you. Immerse me and I'm yours throughout the book. :)

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  7. Thank you, thank you. This is something I need to be constantly reminded of. sigh.

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  8. Showing is so important. Great examples. Another time I think telling is more effective than showing is during a scene transition or when there is a long period of inaction. Summarizing several days, weeks, months, or even years is an appropriate use of telling over showing.

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  9. Susan, that is another great illustration of when it is better to tell. Thanks. :)

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  10. Great way to differentiate--the news vs. the movie theater. Love that analogy! And yes, gory details are good and so are the romantic ones! Don't you think? :-)

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  11. Jody, Ah yes, the romantic details are the best. Uhhuh. :)

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  12. Thanks for the clear explanation. I like the news and movie theater analogy. I think I'll keep that in mind today during my revision.

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  13. Paul, thanks and I'm glad it was clear. I thought after I had written it, that it was probably gobbly-gook. :)

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  14. I'm still working on trying to distinguish what's telling and showing, but getting better. Thanks for the post.

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  15. Robyn, you hit with that movie analogy. Very nice.

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  16. Patti, it's so hard sometimes isn't it? Showing gets all mixed in with telling. UGH :)

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  17. Robyn, I like that you put up that last example as well. I agree with you, it's almost always better to show, but telling is a very important part of many stories, especially psychological ones. And, some writers tell very well--I admire people who can do that. I once took a writing class where the teacher presented a section of a Virginia Woolf book with all the telling parts removed. It was pretty mysterious without all of the telling.

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  18. Davin, telling is definitely needed sometimes. And I tell really well. I am working on the showing part. I would have loved to been in that class. :)

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  19. Great examples, Robyn! Showing IS so much more exciting! Why, it's as if you're really there!! Thanks for the post!

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  20. Maria, I would rather read a book with a lot of 'show' than one with a lot of 'tell'. :)

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  21. Great post, Robyn! Have you read any Libba Bray? When I read A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY I felt like it was a lesson in show don't tell. Loved it.

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  22. Great post Robyn! I love the example you included of showing. There is power in words. Our character want to be the ones to tell the story, and I'm learning to let them have their way.

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  23. PJ, I have not read that book. But I plan on ordering it tomorrow. Sounds wonderful. I am waiting on yours to come for Ivy for Christmas. :)

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  24. Tamika, There is power in words. I'm trying to learn that too. :)

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  25. Show vs. Tell. It took me a long time to get that down and I'm still workin' on it. Thanks for the post, Robyn. :)

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  26. Great post - it reminds me of the setting and texture posts done by Angela at The Bookshelf Muse. I find these entries very helpful! Thanks! ;-)

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  27. Shannon, I read those posts. Actually, I have learned a great deal from Angela. :)

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  28. Don't think I can add much more than others have already said. A satisfied smile spread across my face when I noticed that you were now following my blog and I came running through the blogosphere to say hello and add my name to your roster of blog followers.
    Lee
    http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/

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