| Holy Worlds Christian Forum https://archive.holyworlds.org/ |
|
| Showing and Telling https://archive.holyworlds.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=5849 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | Emilyn [ March 22nd, 2012, 12:38 am ] |
| Post subject: | Showing and Telling |
I wasn't sure if I should have posted this within the description thread, but Showing and Telling is a big subject by itself, so... Many if not all good fiction writers tell you to "Show, don't Tell", but aren't they 'telling' you instead of showing you the reason behind it? The very statement "Show, not tell" has a complicated meaning behind it. If you are writing short stories in the style of a fairy tale(like Grimms Fairy tales for example) you would have to tell instead of show, for if you showed instead of narrating, it would become a bigger book. There are some good things about telling instead of showing. One is that when telling, you don't bore readers with too many loads of description (in showing)of what took place during an uneventful journey to somewhere important to the plot. Although 'showing' characteristics through the character's actions is better than just 'telling' the reader that someone was selfish. And if you showed instead of told in your book, it would make it easier for movie makers to make your book into a movie where you see and hear what is being said, but you can not feel what the characters are feeling or smelling. Although when writing you should use all four senses(sight, touch, sound, smell). Hm... I guess that means, "Show the important(and a little description in every scene), and briefly tell the unimportant fact if the fact is necessary." What do you think? How do you use showing and telling? |
|
| Author: | Jay Lakewood [ March 22nd, 2012, 6:59 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Showing and Telling |
I recommend you look at this thread, which also about this topic.  With 'Showing, Not Telling, I like to 'show' the emotions with thoughts. Battles, journeys and long, complicated events, I show some of it, and 'tell' the rest. But I also enjoy description, and could spend an entire page just describing the scenery.  (I have done that actually  )
|
|
| Author: | The Glitter Spreader [ April 1st, 2012, 7:53 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Showing and Telling |
Umbrellas should be made to create rainbows. |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC - 6 hours [ DST ] |
| Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|