Show Don’t Tell

“Show, don’t tell.”  If you were to search ‘writing advice’ on the internet—this would come pretty close to the  top. It took me ages to properly understand it. But I think I get it now and it’s a method we writers simply have to be deliberate about.

For example, instead of saying, “They were the very best of friends.” You show it through their interactions, through their kind comments to one another, their commitment to their word, maybe one defends the other from a bully or perhaps even sacrifices something out of love. The actions show that they are best friends without the author saying it, and to take it even further— maybe it’s never vocalised by either friend; the friendship just is and the reader knows.

I’m trying to get better at writing like this and I realised something recently about “show don’t tell” in the midst of my current writing storm. Some days, I have to show my mind, not tell it. I’ve had a deadline looming for the past few weeks and no joke the broken record in my mind keeps telling me, “You can’t, you can’t, you can’t. It’s impossible, you can’t.” And as much as I can talk back at the voice of discouragement in my mind with, “I can! I can! I can!”—there is nothing louder than action.

I spoke at a conference recently and one line that I shared from my creative journey that will probably stick with me for some time was, “Your deeds show the vitality of your faith.” I said that in relation to the deeds around one’s purpose or calling in life. And I cling to them today.

You see, right now I am writing my heart out—not just because I have an obligation to a client, but because I have to show, not tell my mind. I have to show my mind that he’s a liar. I have to show, not tell him THAT I CAN.