How to Show AND Tell in Your Writing (With Examples from Harry Potter)
TLDRIn this insightful video, writer Brandon McNulty challenges the conventional writing advice of 'show, don't tell' by dissecting the opening paragraphs of 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'. He explains that both showing and telling play crucial roles in storytelling, each with its own advantages. McNulty demonstrates how J.K. Rowling's blend of telling to set the scene and show to create vivid imagery effectively hooks readers and introduces the magical world. He emphasizes the importance of balance between these techniques, using the popular series as a prime example of their successful integration. The video encourages writers to question rigid rules and trust their storytelling instincts, reminding them that effective storytelling often lies in the strategic use of both showing and telling.
Takeaways
- 📚 Show and Tell: Brandon McNulty discusses the balance between showing and telling in storytelling, challenging the common advice to 'show, don't tell'.
- 🎬 Show vs. Tell: Showing involves presenting objective details that could be seen or heard in a movie, while telling provides information that may not be directly observable or could be biased.
- 🧐 Audience Engagement: Showing allows the audience to think for themselves and see the story as it happens, whereas telling can speed up the story and omit unnecessary details.
- 📚 Harry Potter Example: The script uses 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' to illustrate that effective storytelling can begin with telling, which sets the stage for the narrative.
- 🔍 Curiosity Creation: The opening paragraphs of 'Harry Potter' create curiosity by mentioning the characters are 'perfectly normal', hinting at the unusual to come.
- 😄 Humor and Imagery: Telling can be used effectively to add humor and paint a clear image of characters, as seen in the description of the Dursleys.
- 🔑 Tone Setting: The use of words like 'strange' and 'mysterious' set the tone for the story and prepare the reader for the magical elements.
- 🔄 Balance is Key: Both showing and telling have their place in storytelling, and a balance of both can keep the reader engaged and curious.
- 🚀 Opening Strategy: The Harry Potter series opens with a mix of showing and telling, which effectively introduces the mundane before the magical.
- 🤔 Reader's Inference: Showing allows readers to make their own inferences about the story, which can lead to a more immersive and personal experience.
- ✍️ Writing Advice: Reminds writers that the 'show, don't tell' rule is not a hard and fast one-size-fits-all and should be adapted to the needs of the story.
Q & A
What is the main issue the author, Brandon McNulty, has with the 'show, don't tell' writing advice?
-The author has an issue with the 'show, don't tell' advice because he believes it is often forced upon students and new writers without considering that both showing and telling can serve valuable purposes in storytelling.
What are the key differences between 'showing' and 'telling' in writing?
-Showing involves providing objective details that the audience could potentially see or hear, such as sensory details, actions, dialogue, or character thoughts. Telling, on the other hand, gives the audience information that may not be relevant or could be biased, like exposition, backstory, or labeling emotions and traits.
Why does the author argue that both showing and telling are necessary in storytelling?
-Both showing and telling are necessary because showing allows the audience to think for themselves and see the story as it unfolds, while telling can speed up the story and omit unnecessary details, preventing the narrative from becoming bogged down.
What is the author's stance on the use of examples in illustrating the concept of 'show, don't tell'?
-The author acknowledges that after his initial video on 'show, don't tell', viewers requested examples. He agrees that examples are helpful and provides examples from 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' to illustrate his points.
How does the opening of 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' serve as an example of effective storytelling despite starting with telling?
-The opening paragraphs of 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' effectively use telling to set the tone for the story, create curiosity, and provide a contrast to the magical elements that are introduced later. This balance of showing and telling keeps the reader engaged and curious about the story.
What is the significance of the first sentence in the opening paragraph of 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'?
-The first sentence, stating that the Dursleys are 'perfectly normal', insinuates that the story will involve elements that are unnatural, thus preparing the reader for the magical and mysterious events to come.
How does the author use color coding in the second paragraph to distinguish between showing and telling?
-The author uses green to highlight showing parts, which provide sensory or action details, and yellow for telling parts, which convey information directly to the reader. This visual distinction helps to clarify the differences between the two techniques.
What is the purpose of the telling details in the second paragraph of the 'Harry Potter' opening?
-The telling details in the second paragraph serve to provide a quick and clear image of the characters and their personalities, adding humor and efficiently moving the story forward without the need for extensive scene setting.
Why does the author believe that the fifth paragraph, starting with the tiny owl fluttering past the window, is not the best opening for 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'?
-The author argues that opening with the owl paragraph wouldn't hint at the genre of the story or the magical elements that are central to it. It could potentially mislead or disorient the reader, as it lacks the initial hints of strangeness and mystery that the actual opening provides.
What is the author's advice for writers regarding the 'show, don't tell' rule?
-The author advises writers to recognize that both showing and telling have their place in storytelling. He encourages them to consider the context and purpose of each technique and to use a balanced approach to engage and maintain the reader's interest.
How does the author engage with his audience at the end of the script?
-The author engages with his audience by asking them to share their thoughts on the show-to-tell ratio they use in their writing. He also encourages interaction by inviting comments and promoting his book 'Bad Parts', as well as his other videos.
Outlines
📚 Show and Tell in Writing: An Overview
The first paragraph introduces the topic of 'showing' versus 'telling' in storytelling. The speaker, Brandon McNulty, expresses his skepticism towards the 'show, don't tell' rule, which is often emphasized by writing instructors. He explains the difference between showing (using sensory details, actions, dialogue, and character thoughts) and telling (providing information that may be biased or not directly observable). McNulty emphasizes that both techniques have their place in storytelling, with showing allowing the audience to engage more deeply and telling helping to move the story along more quickly. He also mentions that after a previous video on the subject, viewers requested examples, which he will provide using 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' as a reference.
🔍 Analyzing 'Harry Potter' - Balancing Show and Tell
The second paragraph delves into an analysis of the opening passages of 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,' demonstrating how J.K. Rowling effectively uses both showing and telling. McNulty points out that the book begins with paragraphs that are mostly telling, which might seem counterintuitive given the common advice to show rather than tell. However, he argues that these paragraphs serve to make the reader curious and set the stage for the magical and mysterious elements of the story. The paragraph-by-paragraph breakdown shows how the balance between showing and telling is achieved, with the opening setting a mundane tone that contrasts with the later introduction of magical elements, such as the flying owl and the cat reading a map. McNulty concludes that the effectiveness of the opening lies in its balance of both techniques, which work together to maintain reader interest and curiosity.
🤔 Show to Tell Ratio: A Question for Writers
The third paragraph serves as a conclusion and a call to action for the viewers. McNulty poses a question about the viewer's personal 'show to tell' ratio, inviting them to share their thoughts in the comments section. He thanks the viewers for watching, encourages them to support the channel by purchasing a copy of 'Bad Parts,' and to engage with the content by liking, subscribing, and sharing the video. The paragraph ends with a reminder for viewers to continue exploring the balance between showing and telling in their writing.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Show and Tell
💡Writing Advice
💡Sensory Details
💡Exposition and Backstory
💡Labeling Emotion
💡Character Traits
💡Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
💡Curiosity
💡Balance
💡Contrast
💡Magic and Unnatural Elements
Highlights
The video challenges the conventional writing advice of 'show, don't tell', suggesting it is not universally applicable.
Author Brandon McNulty discusses the importance of balancing showing and telling in storytelling.
Showing involves providing sensory details, actions, dialogue, and character thoughts that an audience could perceive.
Telling can include exposition, backstory, and labeling emotions or traits, which may be biased or irrelevant.
Both showing and telling have advantages and disadvantages in storytelling.
Showing allows the audience to think for themselves and perceive the story as it unfolds.
Telling can speed up the story and omit unnecessary details.
The video uses 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' as an example to demonstrate the effective use of telling.
The book opens with paragraphs that are almost entirely telling, which sets the tone and prepares the reader for the story.
The first paragraph of 'Harry Potter' makes the reader curious by hinting at the strange and mysterious elements to come.
The second paragraph mixes showing and telling, effectively painting a clear image of the Dursley family.
The fourth paragraph begins with telling, reminding the reader that they are being told a story.
The fifth and sixth paragraphs are examples of pure showing, providing visual details that the reader can easily imagine.
The seventh paragraph introduces the first unnatural and magical detail, preparing the reader for the story's genre.
The video argues that the opening of 'Harry Potter' works well due to the balance of showing and telling.
Telling serves a purpose in storytelling, especially when used effectively within the story's context.
The video encourages viewers to consider their own show-to-tell ratio and how it impacts their writing.
Brandon McNulty invites viewers to support his channel and engage with the content through likes, subscriptions, and comments.
Transcripts
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