“Show don’t tell” is the BANE of my existence as both a writer and reader. 😖
I get told it all the time. I’ve read so many “how-tos”. Tutorials, worksheets, whole books. And so often when I’m reading the “show” example, *I can’t figure out what they’re trying to say*. Meanwhile the ‘innately inferior’ tell version is boring but immediate…
“Show don’t tell” is the BANE of my existence as both a writer and reader. 😖
I get told it all the time. I’ve read so many “how-tos”. Tutorials, worksheets, whole books. And so often when I’m reading the “show” example, *I can’t figure out what they’re trying to say*. Meanwhile the ‘innately inferior’ tell version is boring but immediately understandable. I always wish they’d just shiny up the telling rather than making me dissect endless blathering *around* the point.
That concept of “anchor points” - THANK YOU. Once someone has given me an anchor, told me the key point(s), I can usually follow along with the showing. It becomes fun rather than bewildering.
“Show don’t tell” is the BANE of my existence as both a writer and reader. 😖
I get told it all the time. I’ve read so many “how-tos”. Tutorials, worksheets, whole books. And so often when I’m reading the “show” example, *I can’t figure out what they’re trying to say*. Meanwhile the ‘innately inferior’ tell version is boring but immediately understandable. I always wish they’d just shiny up the telling rather than making me dissect endless blathering *around* the point.
That concept of “anchor points” - THANK YOU. Once someone has given me an anchor, told me the key point(s), I can usually follow along with the showing. It becomes fun rather than bewildering.
I will dig into the other pieces you linked to.