A Reader's Guide to the Sausage Making Process: Showing, Not Telling
Have you ever gotten lost in a book, feeling the wind whipping through your hair as the protagonist races across a field, or your heart pounding alongside theirs as they face a terrifying foe? This immersive experience is the magic of writing, where the reader becomes an active participant in the story. But what pulls you out of that exhilarating journey? Often, it's the subtle presence of filter words.
Filter Words: The Curtains Between You and the Story
Imagine you're watching a movie, but there's a sheer curtain hanging between you and the screen. You can see shapes and movements, but the details and emotions blur. Filter words act like that curtain in the reading experience. They tell the reader what's happening instead of letting them experience it firsthand.
What are Filter Words?
Filter words are verbs that tell us what a character is experiencing—seeing, feeling, thinking—rather than letting us experience it with them. Here are some common culprits:
Senses: See, saw, hear, heard, feel, felt, taste, tasted, smell, smelled
Mental verbs: Think, thought, wonder, wondered, know, knew, realize, realized, decide, decided
Emotional verbs: Feel, felt, seem, seemed
While these words have their place, their overuse creates distance.
Why Less is More: The Power of Showing
Great writing lets the reader infer a character's emotions and thoughts through their actions, dialogue, and the world around them. Instead of telling us the character is scared, authors can describe how the character's breathing quickens, their hand tightens on a weapon, or their eyes dart frantically. This "show, don't tell" approach creates a more visceral and engaging experience.
Let's See it in Action
Here's an example of how filter words weaken a story:
Too Many Filter Words:
She saw the dark figure emerge from the trees and felt a chill run down her spine. Wondering if it was friend or foe, she decided to stay hidden.
The Rewrite: Showing, Not Telling:
A rustle in the foliage caught her eye. A dark shape, humanoid but shrouded in shadow, stepped into the clearing. Goosebumps erupted on her skin, and a shiver danced down her spine. Heart hammering against her ribs, she crouched lower behind the fallen log, straining to hear any telltale sounds.
In the first example, the filter words create a passive experience. In the second, we feel the tension through the character's physical reactions and internal actions. This is the benefit of limiting your filter words.
But Don't Throw Out the Filter Words Entirely
As you can see in the prior example, the act of telling is often quicker and more succinct. Only famous Russian authors have the manuscript space to show everything (just kidding, they "told" too). Sometimes, authors must use filter words. Good writing finds the balance.
But authors should use interesting filter words. The right filter words, used strategically, can add depth and nuance. Let's say a character is looking at a beautiful sunset.
"She saw a breathtaking sunset." - Meh.
Here, a strong filter word might be appropriate:
"She marveled at the sunset." - This verb conveys a sense of awe (and its use results in the omission of a weak adjective.) Not terrible.
It's All About The (Reader's) Journey
Minimizing filter words in novels creates a more immersive and engaging story for you, dear readers. After all, authors want you to feel the wind in your hair, not just be told about it. They want you to see the dragon in your mind's eye, not just be told someone else saw it.
So, Do Filter Words Bother You?
Now that you know what filter words are and how they can affect your reading experience, consider this: do they take you out of the story? Do you find yourself mentally editing as you read, removing those translucent curtains? If filter words hadn't bothered you until now, YOU'RE WELCOME. :) Let me know what you think. I'd love to hear from you.
Ultimately, the best writing serves the reader. If filter words are pulling you out of the narrative, then yes, they're a hindrance. But the beauty of language is its flexibility. Skilled writers understand the power of "showing, not telling," and use filter words sparingly to create a richer, more engaging reading experience.
Happy Reading (and Experiencing)!
Comments