You know the good narration method of “show, do not tell” which a lot of authors violate by telling and not showing?
“Show, don’t tell” in its correct form is about pacing economy and the use of scenery and practical effects in theater: it’s better to literally, physically show a visual detail than to try to have actors take the time to mention it so you know that it’s a stormy night or whatever. “Show, don’t tell” as it’s taught to authors is vapid nonsense about obfuscating and dancing around messaging instead of being blunt. It’s this idea that meaning is a special clever good boy treat as a reward for readers educated enough to get the references you’re using as allegory, instead of something integral to the purpose of a work which needs to be clear and make its point in an unambiguous fashion.
In fact, I’d almost say a proper interpretation of the original meaning of “show, don’t tell” to writing is nearly the opposite of its literal original use: you need to think about pacing economy in what gets a full “showing” treatment vs what’s simply “told” about as a passing detail, since strictly speaking everything a novelist is doing is “telling” in prose form and you have to prioritize what gets talked about the most.
“Show, don’t tell” in its correct form is about pacing economy and the use of scenery and practical effects in theater: it’s better to literally, physically show a visual detail than to try to have actors take the time to mention it so you know that it’s a stormy night or whatever. “Show, don’t tell” as it’s taught to authors is vapid nonsense about obfuscating and dancing around messaging instead of being blunt. It’s this idea that meaning is a special clever good boy treat as a reward for readers educated enough to get the references you’re using as allegory, instead of something integral to the purpose of a work which needs to be clear and make its point in an unambiguous fashion.
In fact, I’d almost say a proper interpretation of the original meaning of “show, don’t tell” to writing is nearly the opposite of its literal original use: you need to think about pacing economy in what gets a full “showing” treatment vs what’s simply “told” about as a passing detail, since strictly speaking everything a novelist is doing is “telling” in prose form and you have to prioritize what gets talked about the most.