Show Don't Tell: What You Need to Know

So happy I finally got the idea of what use when I want to show and not tell, I can’t wait to start editing my long awaiting novel,. Thank you so much.

Do you think using the third person in a somehow personal plot? Thank you in advance.

Silver tipped artestry young man, thanks!

I show flashes of it.

Thank you

Thank you,I want to know more.

What do you think about the trend Im calling it, to Tell not show?
Do you think it’s true that Showing takes more time than telling for example?
So far, looking at my writing style I seem to show 75/. of the time and only tell when I need context or a down time in the scene where a bk story could be inserted.

you look like alan ritchson

Jerry, I really like your instructional videos. They have helped so much. Last year, I lost my job due to my disability, hip erosion. With my mobility limited, making drastic changes to my lifestyle, I chose to go forwards with a more positive outlook. Instead of laying around in bed feeling sorry for myself, I decided to write a novel. Surprised!
A person doesn't justright a novel there's rules or a certain way to write a novel. Starting with show don't tell and all that goes along with it.
Pam, I noticed you're still limping. How long has it been since the accident? Pam was silent. Please. Can we please not talk about it. Gosh! I love the suspense and mystery! Thank You! Jerry!
*Determined, the three vehicle convoy pressed on through the night making it up the east coast at record breaking speed. Sam's SUV and Shelly's monster truck raced up the coast from Miami Florida to Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Leading the way, Jerry's blazing fiery red mustang's motor rang winding out the gears full throttle. Soon, all pulled in the drive of their anticipated destination with urgency as the sun peaked on the horizon. Quick, inattentive to the hour, Jerry slamed the door to his time travel machine. How long? Eighteen hours and twenty minutes Shelly confirmed. Let's go! Jerry charged. We've got a mystery to solve!
Thank You Jerry, for a beautiful gift, of painting with words. Robert.
👍💥

Please sir! Say "this video is sponsored by Raid Shadow legends"

Thank you 🙏

Thank you Mr. Jenkins. I've always wanted to be a writer. Thank God I stumbled upon your website and YT . I subscribed.

Thank you for not selling us "..as I teach in my book I'M THE BEST IN THE TABLOIDS.." products and cut to de chase. Excellent video.

40% telling, 60% showing...

This bit of advice is particularly vexing to me & I wish people would shut up about it. Use both. One Hundred Years of Solitude was all tell. The Book of Disquiet. Foucault's Pendulum. The Man without Qualities: they were all told. In your example of Jane craning her neck to look at Joe, I have a friend who is 5'7", but his wife is only 4'10"; yes, she cranes her neck to look at his face (if they are standing next to each other, proximity is another factor). Remember, even when an author 'shows' something they are still telling it to the reader. I would suggest Graham Greene's The Power & the Glory. Greene provides a masterclass of when to use each. & how are we to 'show' what the character is thinking while going to the airport or on his flight. Should it just be pages of slight changes in facial muscles which hopefully the reader will somehow glean what the character is thinking about going to his recently deceased father's funeral? Phui.
Concerning passive voice, imagine a detective MC whom is beaten by the villain's thugs; I would put this all in passive voice because the MC is the one receiving the pummeling (unless of course the POV, for some reason or another, is that of one of the thugs delivering the blows).

Thank you for giving examples.
You make so effortless ❤

very informative and useful detailed information I replayed your video a few times its really inspiring and motives me to continued writing my novel with those key points. thanks

Showing is entertaining. Telling offers a high signal/noise ratio. I struggle to convey complex information when showing is soooo boring and low bandwidth relative to telling.

If sincerity was sand you'd be the Sahara. So good of you to take the time to help and enhance with signposts that take the coverings off, otherwise we'd all be far astray towards the end goal with many re routes to take and learn from. But we might give up long beforehand and never know how close we were .

<3

I just want to say, i really appreciate being under your tutelage sir. You have been a blessing to me sir. Your emails encourage me to keep writing

Well, you're my new favorite!

Some additional clarity on this subject would be useful. All 3 examples you cited toward the end used state of being verbs.

So many new writers take both sides to the extreme, and this is exacerbated by the unrealistic expectation of perfection. Many new writers become so intimidated by the idea of “show don't tell” that they hit a mental roadblock and fail to write anything at all, fearing they will fall into ruinous snares and traps the moment they do. It is frustrating how often “show don't tell” gets passed around like a popular buzzword in the current writing community, as though it alone determines whether a person's writing is deemed acceptable. There are myriad other tools that a writer needs in their arsenal as a storyteller, and it is appalling to see a focus on only those techniques that garner views or are trending, much the way, “purple prose” or “wish fulfillment” once was.

I'm tripping all over my written words because of those pesky State of Being verbs. Your video provides the storytelling tips a writer needs. I love the videos you share. Thank you.

Hi Jerry. Hope you're doing well. I found this writing tip so helpful, but something comes to mind. You mention that we should avoid to be verbs. In your examples of show don't tell by these two authors, they use to be verbs such as "were" and I believe "Would have been." What is your take on this?

Great presentation of Show Don't Tell. This I definetely will share with my students!

ATP I‘m just listening to him as a podcast. He has such a soothing voice. 😭 Thank you Jerry!

Thank you❤

Jerry this is awesome. My nerves calmed down while listening to this teaching. Thank you

As a songwriter, this information helps a ton. Thanks, Jerry.

damn you are cool

I love how you come back to whether the text is inviting the reader to participate in interpreting the story. This is really a philosophical keystone. Since "back home, two days later..." Would only invite the reader to participate in airline food, dirty seats and anxious waits at uncertainly identified pick up points, then it deserves to be minimised in a story about a principled lawyer who suspects his corporate clients may be corrupt. In a story about the inhumanity of broken systems, we might want to enjoy the torture of going straight from no gate announcement to last call.

I want to write a tongue in cheek, how to book. Your videos are educational and inspiring. You're so kind to share your years of knowledge with us. Bless you

Jerry dit was baie goed! EK het baie geleer!

Amazing, thank you so much ❤

I feel like I'm on track, but it's a comfort to know that we thhe tutelage of well-seasoned writers. Thank you, kind sir 😊

Hello do you help screen writers ???

I need to know is things how much money in these type of worlds or place or even any writers in nepal.

When all in acceptance or acceptance

I 😂 like this little bit def a before f and fun and fine speaker means need is laugh when all in laugh and out in laugh

Thank YOU so much!! Jerry. You made my day.

Thanks despite being Portuguese

Thank you!

You have changed my life forever not just in writing but in speaking. I must and I mean MUST stop explaining myself. I need to trust listeners to understand and to keep listening if they don’t understand. They might figure it out if I continue and then if they still have questions at the end they can ask them. Not just them though. Me too. I need to be able to watch a video like this beginning to end and not feel like I need to write ALL of it down just to understand and retain it. I need more confidence in myself and others. However, I did not know it or how to do it properly without first seeing you explain it.

I'm so happy to have discovered your channel. I am already learning so much... Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

Master, I truly respect you! Your video is informative, and your calm voice—without any distracting music—makes it even better.

❤❤