We've all heard as writers "show and don't tell," while others have heard "show and tell." Which one do you choose? I have found it's best to find a balance. If your details are not moving the story, then of course tell your readers, "Mya went to work." On the other hand, if she gets into an accident on the way or she meets her hero (love interest) because he's her new boss, then show it.
Ex: "Mya gripped the steering wheel. Her radio clashed with traffic noises outside, but she sung along to the tunes anyway. She could use another cup of coffee, but stopping on the way--out of the question. Five will be here soon and I can go home. If only she could keep her eyes from drooping, but her boss's thick eyebrows would raise if she trotted inside the office late. Then the purr of her motor came to an end as she cut the engine, finally parking in her spot. Then she saw... Greg?"
This is a rough version, but get you the point, right? With showing we get a glimpse into Mya's world. 1) She's in a hurry to get home from work, 2) her boss has probably gotten onto her case one time before about punctuality, 3) and Greg is introduced, which pulls us in further since we want to know who he is. We would not have the same details if we just said, "She went to work."
Now the next question is, how do you know? Again, if it moves the story, show it, if not then just tell it. I know it can be a struggle trying to balance it all, but the more you practice, the better you'll get. I'm not an expert, but I will say, showing goes a long way over telling if you want readers to connect with your characters and your story.
Ex: "Mya gripped the steering wheel. Her radio clashed with traffic noises outside, but she sung along to the tunes anyway. She could use another cup of coffee, but stopping on the way--out of the question. Five will be here soon and I can go home. If only she could keep her eyes from drooping, but her boss's thick eyebrows would raise if she trotted inside the office late. Then the purr of her motor came to an end as she cut the engine, finally parking in her spot. Then she saw... Greg?"
This is a rough version, but get you the point, right? With showing we get a glimpse into Mya's world. 1) She's in a hurry to get home from work, 2) her boss has probably gotten onto her case one time before about punctuality, 3) and Greg is introduced, which pulls us in further since we want to know who he is. We would not have the same details if we just said, "She went to work."
Now the next question is, how do you know? Again, if it moves the story, show it, if not then just tell it. I know it can be a struggle trying to balance it all, but the more you practice, the better you'll get. I'm not an expert, but I will say, showing goes a long way over telling if you want readers to connect with your characters and your story.
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