tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post8309277990720070403..comments2023-12-26T09:58:45.306-06:00Comments on Writer Musings: When to Show, When to TellTabithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-6406386567356906762010-03-11T13:35:29.780-06:002010-03-11T13:35:29.780-06:00PJ - LOL! :) I think it takes all writers a long...PJ - LOL! :) I think it takes all writers a long time to understand this, because it only comes with practice and experience. Many writers give up before they get to this point.<br /><br />Terresa - you are so right. I learn best while discovering. Even if someone has told me about something, I learn it much better if I go off and research/discover more about it.Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-89171768043753076672010-03-11T13:32:44.724-06:002010-03-11T13:32:44.724-06:00Bish - thanks!! The hard part is trying to figure...Bish - thanks!! The hard part is trying to figure out what that time and place is. :)<br /><br />Mary - I had to do that, because my default is to show all the time, but you're so right that it bogs down the story. I still tend to do it in my first drafts, so I have to clean it up in subsequent drafts. :)Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-89040983830712929562010-03-11T00:48:11.220-06:002010-03-11T00:48:11.220-06:00Great points here. I think discovering definition...Great points here. I think discovering definitions for ourselves, like you say, helps us internalize them.*https://www.blogger.com/profile/06484208765656281917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-24254751103968325392010-03-10T18:13:03.894-06:002010-03-10T18:13:03.894-06:00Okay, Tabitha, I seriously meant you and not Sherr...Okay, Tabitha, I seriously meant you and not Sherrie. Your guys blogs are so close together in my reader :)PJ Hooverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02602205868934777662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-36840658835034495512010-03-10T18:12:05.523-06:002010-03-10T18:12:05.523-06:00It took me the longest time to get this, Sherrie. ...It took me the longest time to get this, Sherrie. But now I love seeing how I can creatively show instead of tell. It really is great advice to make authors work.PJ Hooverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02602205868934777662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-45294603099017228472010-03-10T14:51:26.681-06:002010-03-10T14:51:26.681-06:00I like the distinction you make too. Last year, I ...I like the distinction you make too. Last year, I read a manuscript by someone who was making a real effort to show, not tell. Which would have been fine if she'd stuck to the times she really needed to do this, but she didn't and reading the ms was a long, tough slog. Sometimes leaving the room is just leaving the room, just like a cigar is sometimes just a cigar.<br /><br />Now I'll have to go back and find the times that I'VE done that...Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-50558618996792157812010-03-08T14:56:29.405-06:002010-03-08T14:56:29.405-06:00Very well put Tabitha! There is a time a place for...Very well put Tabitha! There is a time a place for everything.Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-30972345205712446192010-03-08T13:46:45.590-06:002010-03-08T13:46:45.590-06:00Lauren - it's really hard to figure out how to...Lauren - it's really hard to figure out how to balance showing and telling, and I wish someone had explained it to me when I was trying to figure it out. :)<br /><br />Marcia - yes! A lot of people mistake dialog for showing, when it can sometimes be telling. And that's an excellent example!Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-26714146211452578982010-03-08T08:18:25.244-06:002010-03-08T08:18:25.244-06:00Great points, Tabitha. I find that another good re...Great points, Tabitha. I find that another good reason to tell is when one character needs to bring another up to speed on something readers already know.Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-19062779717686255172010-03-08T07:43:49.832-06:002010-03-08T07:43:49.832-06:00Nice way to explain the issue. I like that you wen...Nice way to explain the issue. I like that you went further than "don't do it". The use of telling for summary when the specifics don't matter makes a lot of sense.<br />I'm not sure whether that will help the concept seep into my head or not, but I'm crossing my fingers.Lauren Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12887393856861966255noreply@blogger.com