Write Things: On a New Perspective on an Old Truth

Hello, writers,

It’s good to be back! A nasty virus ran through our family last week, but today, everyone finally seems to be in the clear.

And that’s good, because there’s something I need to get clear on: telling in our writing.

I’ve been teaching it wrong.

Here’s why.

Idea: On Writing

"Show, don’t tell" is the biggest cliché in creative writing—for good reason. Most writers who shift from telling to showing improve their work. It becomes more immersive, layers in subtext, and allows readers to emotionally connect to characters.

Here’s a quick example:

• Telling: My wife, annoyed by my comment, left the room.
• Showing: My wife’s chair scraped against the floor as she shoved herself away from the table. Her cutlery clattered against the plate as she stormed out without a word.

There’s more to see, feel, and infer when we show. Because of this, I’ve always taught writers to use telling sparingly. It’s great for transitions, efficiently revealing backstory, and delivering quick, powerful lines that hook the reader and create tension.

Example: She waltzed into the party and sat down on the sectional next to several other guests. The only murderer invited.

See how that last line builds intrigue and makes you want to read more?

But here’s what I failed to fully appreciate: telling can do more than accent a story—it can drive it.

When we tell our readers interesting facts about our characters, settings, or conflicts, we can hook them and keep them turning the page in ways showing alone cannot. Telling allows for faster pacing, a pedal-to-the-metal momentum that can be highly engaging—provided that what we tell is compelling.

Let’s go back to our earlier example. What if we expanded our telling passage to the same word count as the showing one? How much further could the story progress? And would it still be interesting?

• Showing: My wife’s chair scraped against the floor as she shoved herself away from the table. Her cutlery clattered against the plate as she stormed out without a word.
• Telling: My wife, annoyed by my comment, left the room. Seconds later, she returned, a revolver in hand, and fired twice. The last thing I saw was her walking out the door.

See the difference? If both examples were expanded into 60,000-word stories, they would end up in completely different places.

One immerses us in the moment, giving us time to reflect and infer.
The other propels us forward at breakneck speed, making us anticipate what happens next.

A story told primarily through telling won’t give readers much time to emotionally connect with a character’s experience, learn their lessons, or get lost in a world of sensory detail.

Just as a story told primarily through showing won’t be able to cover as much ground, hit a high-speed pace, or build the same kind of thriller-style anticipation.

Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches allows you to choose the style that best serves the story you want to tell.

I loved gaining this new perspective—I hope it was helpful for you too.

Did you find this interesting? If so, check out my Enhance Your Storytelling self-guided course. The first unit explores Showing and Telling more deeply. It also offers writing prompts, homework assignments, and 7 other units of study. 

Invitation: "Something you cannot get rid of"

Set a timer for four minutes and write continuously on the prompt above. This week, lean into the images, feelings, or ideas that feel important.

Afterward, decide whether to revise, continue, or leave it as is.

Forward this email to someone and ask them to do it too! Then share what you’ve written. Sharing imperfect work is a powerful antidote to the poison that is our inner critic.

If you’d like feedback on your quick-write, try out Trevor Assistant, my personally programmed writing coach. Try it once for free here!

Invitation: To be mindful 

Have you checked in on the stories you’re telling yourself lately? It’s so important for us to be aware of what we’re believing to be true (or not true) about ourselves, our capabilities, and our dreams. 

Remember that what you’re believing to be true is what you’re aiming towards. 

And, unfortunately, that’s happening whether you’re conscious of these stories or not. So let’s take a moment to get aware. 

1. What is your current dream for your writing? Have you lowered your expectations? Re-write this story so that you’re aiming as high as you’d like to hit! The higher we aim, the higher our arrow will travel. 
2. What do you believe about your potential? Are you growing and continuing to get better? Or are you telling yourself that you simply cannot get better at something? Write the story that you want to believe.
3. Do you trust in your calling? If you feel a desire to write, do you currently believe that it is important? Do you trust that this is your subconscious, the Muse, God, the Universe urging you to follow this path? And that you would not feel this desire if you were not supposed to follow it? 

As writers, we’re in control of the stories we tell ourselves–what we believe to be true about ourselves and our future. 

I urge you to write the story of the life that you want to live. 

Wishing you and your stories all of the best, 

Trevor Martens

Founder, I Help You Write Things

P.S. Did you catch the link to try my Trevor Assistant for FREE? And did you know that you currently get access to Trevor Assistant for FREE with my Enhance Your Storytelling course?