Show, Don’t Tell is an aspect of creative writing that transmits information through elaborate descriptions, imaginative pictures, and detailed dramatic activities. While authors rarely use the `showing’ technique, it is more engaging and brings the story to life. This method of writing brings the writer, the reader, and the character into a single event.
Read on to learn more about the importance of “Show, Don’t Tell” in writing.
Readers Experience the Story
Unlike telling where the storyline is merely narrated and readers tossed back and forth, showing ensures readers experience the story. It helps to get the reader fully immersed in the story. In this aspect of writing, readers do not only get information about the story but get involved in the story. Through vivid imageries and in-depth descriptions, they literally picture themselves in the scene of events which gives them a clearer and better view about the story. As such, they could give a perfect description of the story.
Shapes the Readers’ Mindset
The showing technique goes a long way in impacting the reader’s mind by helping to shape his/her mind about the character. In telling, the reader may view the character from his/her perspective since the story is only presented through narration. However, showing helps readers to have a more realistic view of a character. The descriptions and actions of the characters are well-detailed; hence, their thoughts and roles are not misinterpreted.
Enhances Clarity
The use of sensory details, concrete communication, and dramatization to convey stories enhances clarity. Readers have a better view and knowledge of the story. They see every detail in the story and are fully aware of the actions and inactions of the characters. The showing technique helps the reader to connect more with happenings and understand the storyline better.
Prevents Unnecessary Word Usage
Some authors are usually eager to publish novels with a large word count. Consequently, they may produce works filled with unnecessary words. Nevertheless, show, don’t tell gives authors the chance to write stories that contains a huge number of meaningful words. Following the descriptive nature of showing, it allows for the usage of various creative words, pictorial explanations, dialogues, etc. Thus, the story is filled with a bulk of words where every word in it counts.
Enhances Critical Thinking
Show, don’t tell encourages the use of figurative expressions in novels. Readers are expected to think critically so as to understand the figurative languages, thereby getting the details of the story. Unlike telling which involves a straightforward narration, showing engages the reader’s mind. Through critical thinking, it promotes an active and engaging reading experience.
Emotional Involvement
This writing style provides sceneries, discussions, actions, and imaginative representations that take readers down memory lane. They picture themselves in the scene of events while having a personal experience of the story. Hence, they tend to get emotionally involved as they feel the joy or pain of a character. Most readers might become sentimental as they could even prefer one character over another.
Enhances Depth
Unlike telling which offers a streamlined narration, showing gives an in-depth explanation which enhances the reader’s understanding of the purpose of the story. Show, don’t tell does not create room for lazy work. It gives vivid, detailed, descriptive, and comprehensive information about the characters or events of a story. Various action words, figurative language, and imagery are put in place to enhance the depth of the story.
Conclusion
Show, don’t tell is a very vital tool in creative writing. Readers are not just told the story but are shown the happenings in and around the story. Hence, many readers are often glued to stories that show rather than tell. So, when next you pick up your pen to write, ensure you write a compelling story that resonates with your readers by showing them.
Article written by Emilia Cyril