I have always wondered which one of the above is best to write? I have been told that in my stories I don't describe well enough, I've been told that I tell and not show. I wondered if perhaps I'd be better off writing screenplays instead of stories. I don't know which path to take. Does anyone else feel the same?
I've had the "show don't tell' advice before. It's tricky to get that just right.
I haven't tackled a novel, I've written short stories and screenplays mainly as a hobby. They are both different as Jeff pointed out but you still need to make sure there's a bit of substance in there to keep the reader reading, no matter if it's a screenplay or a story.
Thank you for your response Jeff, much appreciated. Hopefully one of these days I will get it right, just got to keep trying. I have just finished reading Stephen Kings 'On writing' book and there are some great useful tips in there.
I will continue to write stories and see how that goes, practice makes perfect as they say. I am also doing a script writing course in the hope that I will find out what my strengths are and find the correct path to choose.
I started out (about 20 years ago!) writing screenplays after a comment to an actress about the rubbish on Telly, and how I could do better. She challenged me to do just that, so I tried...
They are totally different facets of writing, and equally hard to actually get anywhere with. You can't epublish a film script, unfortunately. But: I'd say screenwriting is easier - the director will use your words to build his own picture. EXT: TYPICAL LEAFY SUBURB: EVE is all you put in a script, where as in a novel, you've got to describe the street, the buildings, the trees, the time of day and so on. Screenwriting makes you very succinct, because you can't wax lyrical for a page or two, whereas novel writing has the latitude to build the scene, make it evocative. A director sends the location manager out to find somewhere that fits as good as they can get from your words.
But you ask which is 'best' to write... do I get the impression you don't want to spend 20 years getting it right?? Work on your description over and over? Show, rather than telling until it becomes second nature?
Which would give you most pleasure? Do that one.