tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post4642689379693731961..comments2024-01-05T05:25:41.644-05:00Comments on Writing Fiction Right from novelist Gail Gaymer Martin: Question on Showing Verses TellingGail Gaymer Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299564615451895559noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-62706806178814340152008-02-19T11:52:00.000-05:002008-02-19T11:52:00.000-05:00Camille - Thanks for your thoughts on showing and ...Camille - Thanks for your thoughts on showing and telling. I think using the question "Did I draw the conclusion" is a good way of looking at it. I will answer your question as a blog entry because I think it's a good one. <BR/><BR/>Thanks,<BR/>GailGail Gaymer Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12299564615451895559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-66553091747298666592008-02-18T10:50:00.000-05:002008-02-18T10:50:00.000-05:00It is a hard concept to grasp. Noah Lukeman's book...It is a hard concept to grasp. Noah Lukeman's book helped me make my own inner ruler, which I'm still learning to use. <BR/><BR/>To help further define the term "telling" for me, I think of "drawing a conclusion" for the reader. Showing allows them to draw the conclusion themself when you give them the "facts" or factors taking place or in description.<BR/><BR/>Noah uses "the building was heavily barricaded" = telling, versus "the walls were made of stone, 20 feet thick..festooning coils of razor wire.." =showing.<BR/><BR/>So if in doubt, I ask myself, "Did I just draw a conclusion for the reader? Did I just label what I have already shown? Or have not adequetly shown?" If I'm tempted to draw a conclusion, there might be some reason, like I didn't use strong enough verbs or description.<BR/><BR/>My question: What about when a character draws a conclusion, either in inner monologue, or through dialogue? Whether they're right or wrong about what they percieve?<BR/><BR/>Like this line: His smile faded. "No, no." He was a bad liar. <BR/>(through another character's pov)<BR/>He may or may not be lying, but his actions tell the second character that he is. It is her perception of what she's seeing.<BR/>Is that still telling?Camille Eidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11223707343003289521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-20456360025648702192008-02-18T09:40:00.000-05:002008-02-18T09:40:00.000-05:00Excellent post. Thank you for sharing. :)Excellent post. Thank you for sharing. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-47938795459418189372008-02-16T10:56:00.000-05:002008-02-16T10:56:00.000-05:00Hi Pammer - So glad you're enjoying the blog. Wis...Hi Pammer - So glad you're enjoying the blog. Wishing you happy writing.<BR/><BR/>GailGail Gaymer Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12299564615451895559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-71235666314916578762008-02-16T09:54:00.000-05:002008-02-16T09:54:00.000-05:00Great job of explaining a hard concept. Thank you ...Great job of explaining a hard concept. Thank you for this blog.Pammerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01883119904346766083noreply@blogger.com