SHOWING VS TELLING — AN EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE
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Here’s a thread about showing vs telling.
We’re going to go into what it actually means, how you explore the balance that’s right for you, and how we handle it when working on a manuscript.
Enjoy!
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If you’re writing an arch-plot where the external conflict of the content genre is prominent and fast (action, horror, crime) you can lean more on showing. But if you write mini-plot Sci-Fi with a lot of potentially boring context to give, telling can work best.
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So yes, context is crucial when deciphering what works for you. If you can’t quite decide, think mainly about the purpose of the scene you’re analysing, and relate your decision to that.
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Now, from an editing standpoint, we address showing vs telling in that exact way. We assess what type of passage we’re reading (is it a transition? Is it context?), and we contrast that with the overall content and structural genres.
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When you put it that plainly, it’s usually quite easy to come to a conclusion. Showing vs telling doesn’t have to be complex. So long as you ask the right questions and base your decisions on the right things, you’re golden!
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