I've always taken "show- don't tell" to be something that can be applied to academic-type writing. It's basically, if you state an opinion it's not enough, you need to show how your opinion is valid using quotes or some other kind of proof. (Possibly ignore me because I really, really miss writing academic papers and doing history research). I'm not really sure how you would apply it to fiction writing, unless someone just states about things that happened and gives no detail (does that even make sense?).
I saw this and didn't comment and didn't comment, because I had nothing more useful than handwaving and "Like that, but not like that" sort of things to say.
However, someone else just linked to Synecdochic's essay on "Show, dont tell," which still reads to me as useful and clear -- with examples! -- 4+ years after I first read it, and is therefore possibly a useful thing for you to know about. (She uses Stargate examples, but the points are not fandom-specific.)
And it is here. (Almost went off without linking, agh my brain.)
Your story sounds very interesting! Wings and terror and desperate sex sounds like excellent accidental additions.
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However, someone else just linked to Synecdochic's essay on "Show, dont tell," which still reads to me as useful and clear -- with examples! -- 4+ years after I first read it, and is therefore possibly a useful thing for you to know about. (She uses Stargate examples, but the points are not fandom-specific.)
And it is here. (Almost went off without linking, agh my brain.)
Your story sounds very interesting! Wings and terror and desperate sex sounds like excellent accidental additions.
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