A slightly different take, when I used to write, I would find some passages enjoyable to read, others so-so. Upon gaining more knowledge, it turned out that the passages using 'show' always won out.

We're are different and enjoy different things. If that wasn't the case, someone would have written the perfect Novel, and we'd all have to down pens/keyboards.


Darryl

Thanks for all your help everyone, as always.

EmmaD – that seems like mighty fine advice to me! I love the heartless slaughter of the words too, cutting their throats no less! It’s a great help to know how you approach this subject, and have definitely opened my (rather blinkered) eyes. I think I’ve been a little obsessed with the SNT rule and maybe have ruthlessly overlooked some telling techniques that would work okay. Back to the drawing board it is then!!!

Frede – As always you put it beautifully and I think you’re right too. It seems I probably take this showing stuff a bit seriously.

On the whole, I’m with Darryl tho, and have been doing the same thing while writing and editing recently, i.e. getting different published novels and seeing how they handle it and what works best. Showing definitely does, in my opinion, but after taking on what you, Emma, and Fredegonde have said, it is clearly a matter of balancing the two techniques, or at least allowing a bit of artistic licence and not be so rigid about the SNT rule.

Once again, thanks everyone, you’ve been a great help.

Regards

DS

I'm really late into this discussion (only just joined) but I have learnt so much from your post.
On writing courses I have had tutors score through on the SDT basis (almost a naughty acronym) when I've felt instinctively that the narrator needed to out themselves at that moment.