Show don't tell

[Brainstormy]

1. I think there's some good stuff here

I've long been annoyed by the fact that the "show don't tell" advice is taken to ridiculous extremes. It's absolutely impossible to write good fiction without doing both. But I do tend to agree with Jill that too much current fiction is a string of "scenes," which, however well-rendered, make for flat, dull, unengaging reading.

As for the mind vs. heart business, that's almost silly, too. If one wanted ONLY intellectual stimulation, he or she would not likely choose fiction. But empathy and emotional connection can't be created without engaging the mind. And the change that takes place in the reader after the experience of a great book, is an intellectual one.

Bottom line: We're never going to be able to reduce good fiction to formulas.