Writing FAST - Jeff Bollow 2012

Show don’t tell
Techniques that command attention
Tweak

When I got to this segment, I had to laugh.

In my race to achieve the deadline, I’ve done too much telling, and not enough showing. Think about this book, and which sections were sloooow. Look closely. I’ll bet I’m “telling.”

As writers, our job is to create images in the minds of our readers. And the old writing cliché “show, don’t tell” is the best reminder I can think of.

What does “show, don’t tell” mean?

Quite simply this: If you tell someone something, you’ll bore their socks off. If you show them, they’ll get it.

If I tell you to how to write FAST, I’m forcing you to assume a passive role. You aren’t actively participating. You’re just listening. All you can do is nod or shake your head.

But if I show you how to use it, you’re active. You’re engaging it. You’re seeing pictures in your mind, and feeling yourself go through the process. You’re interacting.

Remember at the start of the book, I said that if you experience the FAST System (rather than just passively reading it), you’ll get it? “Show, don’t tell” is built around the same basic fact. Make your reader experience your writing.

Use all the techniques we’ve mentioned in this chapter. And reshape your Speed Plan to command your reader’s attention.

Ask yourself how you can show what you’ve written instead of just telling it. How can you create an experience?

As you look over your writing, ask yourself with every line:

Is this showing or telling? You’ll see exactly what to fix.