Comments on: Understanding Showing and Telling http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Wed, 16 May 2012 17:21:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Andrew http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11795 Andrew Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:10:06 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11795 Thanks, this was a great quick summary of the difference between showing and telling in fiction. Also, Writing Fiction for Dummies. I'm broke now and can't afford the book yet, but these words dance in my imagination every night before sleep. I'm really looking forward to sinking my teeth into this book. It's right up there on my "to read" list with Orson Scott Card’s book on writing Science Fiction and Stephen Gillet's "World Building." Thanks, this was a great quick summary of the difference between showing and telling in fiction.

Also,

Writing
Fiction
for
Dummies.

I’m broke now and can’t afford the book yet, but these words dance in my imagination every night before sleep. I’m really looking forward to sinking my teeth into this book. It’s right up there on my “to read” list with Orson Scott Card’s book on writing Science Fiction and Stephen Gillet’s “World Building.”

]]> By: Jay Lauser http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11804 Jay Lauser Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:00:34 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11804 Thanks a lot! That really did help. I haven't seen it explained that way before. Very good. It took a bit for me to see the 'telling' example as 'telling,' but after I thought about it for a while and then looked back at the 'showing' examples, it made a lot of sense. And I am really looking forward to when I can get Writing Fiction for Dummies... Thanks a lot! That really did help. I haven’t seen it explained that way before. Very good.

It took a bit for me to see the ‘telling’ example as ‘telling,’ but after I thought about it for a while and then looked back at the ’showing’ examples, it made a lot of sense.

And I am really looking forward to when I can get Writing Fiction for Dummies…

]]> By: Judith Robl http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11807 Judith Robl Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:36:53 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11807 I have Writing Fiction for Dummies, but it's a lot to digest all in one sitting. It will be on my reference shelf as long as I write because I will refer to it time and time again. Great pithy explanation of the difference between showing and telling. Thanks for being such a great resource for writers. I have Writing Fiction for Dummies, but it’s a lot to digest all in one sitting. It will be on my reference shelf as long as I write because I will refer to it time and time again.

Great pithy explanation of the difference between showing and telling.

Thanks for being such a great resource for writers.

]]> By: Jake http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11808 Jake Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:57:19 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11808 Wow, Randy. I'm itching to know what happens to Jake the Navy Seal next. If that was the first couple paragraphs of a book, you can bet that I'd keep reading. And I'm sure that the fact that my name is also Jake has nothing to do with it! I had no idea I was a Navy Seal! ;-) Wow, Randy. I’m itching to know what happens to Jake the Navy Seal next. If that was the first couple paragraphs of a book, you can bet that I’d keep reading.

And I’m sure that the fact that my name is also Jake has nothing to do with it! I had no idea I was a Navy Seal! ;-)

]]> By: Jon http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11811 Jon Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:47:36 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11811 When you say it, I feel like I totally get it. When I try to do it, it's another matter completely...I think I need to keep working on it. When you say it, I feel like I totally get it. When I try to do it, it’s another matter completely…I think I need to keep working on it.

]]> By: Tammy http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11814 Tammy Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:58:39 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11814 “show” the interesting parts of your story and “tell” the uninteresting parts. I like it. I like it a lot! I was just about to do some work on this area as I know I'm a teller and not a show'er. :) “show” the interesting parts of your story and “tell” the uninteresting parts.

I like it. I like it a lot! I was just about to do some work on this area as I know I’m a teller and not a show’er.

:)

]]> By: Chris http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11818 Chris Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:29:47 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11818 As a reading there is a huge difference between telling and showing. Telling is boring and showing is what makes a fiction book worth picking up and after reading it, sharing it with others. As a reading there is a huge difference between telling and showing. Telling is boring and showing is what makes a fiction book worth picking up and after reading it, sharing it with others.

]]> By: Melissa http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11819 Melissa Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:32:05 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11819 Hey Randy! I just bought your book this week. $20 at the bookstore - what a steal! (Sorry if you missed out on an Amazon.com commission, but I've been meaning to get this book and when I finally decided to do it, I wasn't patience enough to wait for shipping). :) Hey Randy! I just bought your book this week. $20 at the bookstore - what a steal! (Sorry if you missed out on an Amazon.com commission, but I’ve been meaning to get this book and when I finally decided to do it, I wasn’t patience enough to wait for shipping). :)

]]> By: Melissa http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11820 Melissa Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:32:30 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11820 wasn't patient enough, rather (see what happens when I don't drink caffeine in the morning? lol) wasn’t patient enough, rather (see what happens when I don’t drink caffeine in the morning? lol)

]]> By: Rod http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11822 Rod Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:15:10 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11822 When you describe interior emotions you are telling. If you show me something, I have to be able to see it. One easy way to keep this distinction is to imagine yourself filming a scene. Whatever you can capture on film, you are showing. If you can't capture it on film, you are telling. <strong>Randy sez</strong>: I don't agree with this. Film only captures video and audio. Fiction captures not only sights and sounds, but also smells, tastes, touch, thoughts, and feelings. All of those can be shown. (They can also be told, but the important point is that it's possible to show them.) Showing is not restricted to mere sights and sounds. When you describe interior emotions you are telling. If you show me something, I have to be able to see it. One easy way to keep this distinction is to imagine yourself filming a scene. Whatever you can capture on film, you are showing. If you can’t capture it on film, you are telling.

Randy sez: I don’t agree with this. Film only captures video and audio. Fiction captures not only sights and sounds, but also smells, tastes, touch, thoughts, and feelings. All of those can be shown. (They can also be told, but the important point is that it’s possible to show them.) Showing is not restricted to mere sights and sounds.

]]> By: Jon http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11829 Jon Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:30:13 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11829 Is there a way to create some kind of crazy, ultra futuristic hybrid, like, using the expediency of telling something with all the pizazz of showing it? Is there a way to create some kind of crazy, ultra futuristic hybrid, like, using the expediency of telling something with all the pizazz of showing it?

]]> By: Anders Lundblad http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11837 Anders Lundblad Sat, 28 Aug 2010 07:58:17 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11837 About interior emotions...I think when telling you're explaining in plain English ("he was afraid"), but whereas when you show it's up to the reader to infer the emotion from what's shown ("another rush of adrenaline boiled up.."). About interior emotions…I think when telling you’re explaining in plain English (”he was afraid”), but whereas when you show it’s up to the reader to infer the emotion from what’s shown (”another rush of adrenaline boiled up..”).

]]> By: Karen Cioffi http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11843 Karen Cioffi Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:09:10 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11843 Nice example, Anders. And, I agree, showing can involve all 5 senses. Nice example, Anders. And, I agree, showing can involve all 5 senses.

]]> By: Tom M Franklin http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11894 Tom M Franklin Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:10:18 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11894 "You want to “show” the interesting parts of your story and “tell” the uninteresting parts." This is the best example of when to use each method of writing that I've read. Thanks! -- Tom “You want to “show” the interesting parts of your story and “tell” the uninteresting parts.”

This is the best example of when to use each method of writing that I’ve read. Thanks!

– Tom

]]> By: Marc Vun Kannon http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11898 Marc Vun Kannon Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:16:50 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11898 I would disagree somewhat with your fifth element, description. Unless the description is cast in the form of a character's perceptions, it's still telling. As a perception, it's an action which can be shown. I have a post on this topic on my own blog. http://authorguy.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/does-size-matter/ I would disagree somewhat with your fifth element, description. Unless the description is cast in the form of a character’s perceptions, it’s still telling. As a perception, it’s an action which can be shown. I have a post on this topic on my own blog.

http://authorguy.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/does-size-matter/

]]> By: kinjalkishor http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11951 kinjalkishor Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:15:33 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11951 @ Andrew if you are broke and cannot afford books on writing(Good books do help a lot in minimum time), search the internet fro free resources. Show not tell is well explained almost everywhere. some good places are websites of - Robert J Sawyer Jeff A Carver sfwa Randall Ingermanson Holly Lisle and lots of random advices on some other places also. Search these in google. Also search "how to write novel" "how to write science fiction" "how to write fantasy" in google and read all the links from first 2 pages of search results. You will find ample explanation of show do not tell technique and a lot other important techniques. "Writing Fiction for Dummies" is a good book but it is not the only book you need to read, so do not get so much worried. More important is that you understand the basic concepts clearly and apply them in writing. Randy himself tells this in his webpages, how he played awful chess, then he bought a book to play chess, read it, understood it, applied it and within 3 months started playing a lot better. The morale being, get the concepts, understand and apply them. Any good book will tell you the same basics as "Writing Fiction for Dummies", but I agree this book has got good collection from Randy's point of view. And I fully recommend getting other points of view also as learning expands instead of ending with the first book. @ Andrew if you are broke and cannot afford books on writing(Good books do help a lot in minimum time), search the internet fro free resources. Show not tell is well explained almost everywhere.
some good places are websites of -
Robert J Sawyer
Jeff A Carver
sfwa
Randall Ingermanson
Holly Lisle
and lots of random advices on some other places also.
Search these in google.
Also search
“how to write novel”
“how to write science fiction”
“how to write fantasy”
in google
and read all the links from first 2 pages of search results.
You will find ample explanation of show do not tell technique and a lot other important techniques.

“Writing Fiction for Dummies” is a good book but it is not the only book you need to read, so do not get so much worried. More important is that you understand the basic concepts clearly and apply them in writing. Randy himself tells this in his webpages, how he played awful chess, then he bought a book to play chess, read it, understood it, applied it and within 3 months started playing a lot better. The morale being, get the concepts, understand and apply them. Any good book will tell you the same basics as “Writing Fiction for Dummies”, but I agree this book has got good collection from Randy’s point of view. And I fully recommend getting other points of view also as learning expands instead of ending with the first book.

]]> By: kinjalkishor http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11952 kinjalkishor Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:22:35 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-11952 @ Andrew, go to this link http://www.sfwriter.com/ow04.htm and read, clearly understand and apply what you read there on showing and not telling. I learned a lot from this page of Robert J Sawyer. @ Andrew,
go to this link
http://www.sfwriter.com/ow04.htm
and read, clearly understand and apply what you read there on showing and not telling. I learned a lot from this page of Robert J Sawyer.

]]> By: Sally Ferguson http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-12050 Sally Ferguson Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:44:26 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-12050 Randy, I'm hooked. What about Jake the Navy Seal? Randy,
I’m hooked. What about Jake the Navy Seal?

]]> By: Lisa Keck http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-12255 Lisa Keck Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:36:49 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-12255 I shall be printing up this valuable nugget of info and putting it in my writing nook. I'm new to novel writing and I've got a gal in critique group who always reminds us all to show don't tell. It's a good thing it's not restricted to sight and sound because I have a blind character and am enjoying the challenge of writing from her POV. I shall be printing up this valuable nugget of info and putting it in my writing nook. I’m new to novel writing and I’ve got a gal in critique group who always reminds us all to show don’t tell. It’s a good thing it’s not restricted to sight and sound because I have a blind character and am enjoying the challenge of writing from her POV.

]]> By: Brian http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-14441 Brian Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:54:34 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/26/understanding-showing-and-telling/#comment-14441 Rod talked about the analogy of capturing on film, which I've heard before. Randy replied "Showing is not restricted to mere sights and sounds." I agree that showing is not restricted to mere sights and sounds, but inner emotion is very hard to "show". I'm not sure that Randy's example of "Another rush of adrenaline boiled up in Jake’s stomach" is showing, because it tells us something we can't directly be aware of - but we could be shown his reaction to that adrenaline (trembling, tighened muscles, alert eyes, etc.) Or am I misunderstanding something? I guess sometimes the line between showing and telling is blurry. :) Rod talked about the analogy of capturing on film, which I’ve heard before. Randy replied “Showing is not restricted to mere sights and sounds.” I agree that showing is not restricted to mere sights and sounds, but inner emotion is very hard to “show”. I’m not sure that Randy’s example of “Another rush of adrenaline boiled up in Jake’s stomach” is showing, because it tells us something we can’t directly be aware of - but we could be shown his reaction to that adrenaline (trembling, tighened muscles, alert eyes, etc.) Or am I misunderstanding something? I guess sometimes the line between showing and telling is blurry. :)

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