The Art of Showing vs. Telling in Fiction, and Making Room for the Reader.

Understanding the Basics: What Does "Showing" Mean?

"Showing" refers to illustrating a scene or emotion through imagery, actions, and sensory details. This technique helps readers immerse themselves in the story. Instead of simply stating emotions, showing invites readers to experience them.

For example, instead of saying, "She was sad," a writer might choose to show this feeling: "Her shoulders slumped as she stared at the ground, the corners of her mouth drooping like wilted flowers." This method allows readers to feel the character's sadness rather than just acknowledge it.

The Power of "Telling"

"Telling," in contrast, is a straightforward approach where the writer directly states a character's feelings or the situation. While telling has its place, over-reliance on it can diminish the narrative's impact.

Take the sentence, "He was angry." This sentence conveys emotion but lacks depth and engagement. Telling is useful in strong moments of pacing. For instance, in busy scenes, clarity is key, but it can leave readers wanting more.

Showing: The Heart of Emotional Engagement

In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald writes, "In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars." Rather than telling us, for example, "It was beautiful but transient, and people were scarcely able to control themselves (any more than a moth can control its attraction to the flame), Fitzgerald allows us to experience it directly through imagery.

Insights from Authors

Anton Chekhov advised, "Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass."

Of course, "the glint of light on the broken glass" is also doing more than telling you the moon is shining, though it's certainly doing that too. It's hinting at fragility, and the beauty that's inseparable from it. Chekhov could have said that, "beauty can be inseparable from fragility", but the image of moonlight on broken glass, constituted in the mind of the reader, embodies the insight directly.

The Role of Sensory Details

Instead of saying, "The kitchen smelled good," one might say, "The aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with the rich scent of simmering garlic."

Engaging sensory details is one of the most effective ways to show rather than tell. Utilizing sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch can invite readers to "complete" the scene. That is, if you describe all the smells and textures in graphic detail, the reader will herself arrive at "the kitchen smelled good!" or ""the food was amazing".

The Importance of Character Actions

Another effective method to show emotions and motivations is through character actions. Instead of stating how a character feels, illustrate the emotions through behaviour.

For instance, rather than saying, "He was nervous," a writer could say "He fidgeted with his tie, glancing at the clock every few seconds." Again, the reader infers/ completes the character’s anxiety through his actions.

Its apparent, then, that the importance of showing over telling is not just to do with making the writing more vivid, tangible, imaginatively present. It is, crucially about making room for the reader.

More on this in another post. And if you would like a tutorial or series of tutorials on this, looking at concrete examples., please email me or book directly. (bowles.mark@gmail.com)

•