Another IM gaming night, so no writing work done. I did get to go over another writer's work during my lunch break, more critiquing homework. I noticed something interesting as I did. There was 'telling' and I hardly noticed it.
Now, I know I've blogged about this before: that sometimes you have to 'tell' in order to know what to 'show'. And I also know that some people are going to shrug and say 'there are no rules to writing'*. That doesn't really help new writers like myself.
Here's the thing: we get very caught up on dogmatic statements of what you should and shouldn't do as a writer. This is particularly true in critiquing. We say: 'Show, don't Tell' but I have to tell you (ha) that sometimes it seems perfectly ok to 'tell'. Sometimes, 'showing' will take up too much time and you want to move the reader along to the next part of the plot. I think then you need to tell. Need to.
I wonder if I'll ever get to the place where I'm comfortable enough in the craft of writing that I can just write what feels right to me...and find out that it is right as well.
I'm going to go back to that writer's piece and re-read it. And I'm going to think, very seriously, if 'showing' would make it a better novel or if it's fine to 'tell' it like it is.
* Thought I like the M.Somerset Maugham quote that says "There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are."
Now, I know I've blogged about this before: that sometimes you have to 'tell' in order to know what to 'show'. And I also know that some people are going to shrug and say 'there are no rules to writing'*. That doesn't really help new writers like myself.
Here's the thing: we get very caught up on dogmatic statements of what you should and shouldn't do as a writer. This is particularly true in critiquing. We say: 'Show, don't Tell' but I have to tell you (ha) that sometimes it seems perfectly ok to 'tell'. Sometimes, 'showing' will take up too much time and you want to move the reader along to the next part of the plot. I think then you need to tell. Need to.
I wonder if I'll ever get to the place where I'm comfortable enough in the craft of writing that I can just write what feels right to me...and find out that it is right as well.
I'm going to go back to that writer's piece and re-read it. And I'm going to think, very seriously, if 'showing' would make it a better novel or if it's fine to 'tell' it like it is.
* Thought I like the M.Somerset Maugham quote that says "There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are."
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