Hi all. Is there ever a time when it's ok to tell instead of show? If the story is in the single person and they are actually narrating the story, is it ok to tell more than you would with a story of multiple characters? I'm asking because the story I'm doing now is about a girl who is actually telling the tale. In it she has to explain or give images of certain episodes that have happened to her and relate things that have been said to her. Thanks
Thank you John and Jeremy. While I was writing my story I couldn't figure out how to get across certain details without telling. I have tried not to do it more than needed but sometimes wonder if there is too much telling. My story is similar to a memoir so I do need to tell more often than not. And as you say the trick is probably getting the balance right. Thanks again.
Hi Elsie,
There is no rules really, just a balance that finally makes up your writing style, and that is a personal thing, but yes, Show & Tell, both have a role to play, though they are only one aspect of the writers toolkit.
If you have a part of the narrative that is not too important, telling can impart information quickly and directly in a distant manner, whereas showing allows the reader to feel along with the character, bringing them closer and therefore making them more important to the story.
An example of this 'distance' can be illustrated by watching a film, where the immediate action scene involves us with the characters, and then the change of scene, akin to telling, is introduced with minimal fuss by a distant shot of say a building, that lets you know where the next scene is taking place.
Ok, not a great example, but search for helping writers become authors for a great writing resource..
my book, being a memoir has its fair share of tellings, I couldn't figure out how to tell my story otherwise.