Write Well Series 03: Show Don’t Tell

Welcome back! 

This is the Write Well Series where you get equipped with the skills you need to minister through writing.

• Are you keen to make your writing punchier?
• Do you find that the mundane gets in the way sometimes? 
• Would you like to eliminate prolonged descriptions?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ‘Show don’t tell’ is for you.

SANCTIFICATION BEFORE SERVICE
We want to bear good fruit that pleases our Lord. Even as we hone our writing skills to serve, we must desire for our lives to be a pleasing offering to the Lord. We can never rededicate our lives too many times to the Lord. Sanctification comes before service. 

SHOW DON’T TELL
This tip will help you cut dialogue or monologue that makes your writing drag. We are sometimes guilty of making our characters engage in unnatural monologue -in a bid to get viewers to understand the context. Or we get characters to state information that we could creatively depict. I read that readers and viewers like to figure things out for themselves – and it’s true. Don’t you love those moments when the penny drops; when you make a connection between people and events in the story? Less can be more! 

Is your character angry? They don’t always have to tell us. They could show us by frowning, clenching their fists, or punching the table! Show don’t tell. 

Obviously, there will be times when telling is needed, and that’s ok. 

Last time we looked at conflict. Can you think of ways to depict conflict between two characters or in a situation? How might you use camera shots, lighting, or music to show without telling? There, the possibilities are endless (almost!)

CALL TO ACTION
§ Google search ‘Show don’t tell’ in story writing, read articles, or watch YouTube videos about it.
§ Start to cut mundane dialogue and unnecessary monologue from your stories.
§ Get creative with your camera, lights, and sound for ‘showing.’ 
§ Sanctification before service: deliberately dedicate yourself to please the Lord.  

Start or continue using ‘show don’t tell’ and see how punchy your writing becomes. Your audience will enjoy joining the dots themselves! 

Be sure to join us next time for another tool in the Write Well Series. Let’s be equipped to serve.

Give me five!