Before I ask the question yes I do understand what it means, my question is can it be overdone. I have written my novel and rewritten and edited, over those tasks I have changed a lot of my "tells" into "shows" but I could go on and on, surly sometimes we need to just tell or the story won't move along. Or am I way off the mark here?
Regards Paul
Ah thank you Helen, my princess in... was going to say shining armour, but a princess wouldn't wear that...or would she??? and then very nearly spelt it amour!!! now that would have been some faux pas. Anyway back to the plot Paul. Thank you that's exactly the what I thought, Bit the same with building the picture you can over egg the pudding with too much description. The problem I feel when you place an excerpt of your work on here, whoever comments in the right frame of mind with a constructive critique, (which by the way is what I have had!) can only judge that sort of thing on the small portion allowed. Once again thank you, you have given me back my sanity, I don't have to make everything too obvious. Oh and forgive the rubbish humour, unfortunately it raises its head in my writing too. oh dear!
Regards Paul.
Yes, sometimes you do need to tell. Have you read On Writing by Stephen King? He says exactly that. It's just figuring out when - I guess it comes with practice :-)