Writing Tips
How García Márquez “Shows” a Battle against Corruption without “Telling”
“One of These Days” highlights power plays made from a dentist’s chair
Show! Don’t Tell!
Writers are often advised to “show” rather than “tell” what is happening in a story. “Showing” is said to put readers in the center of the action, enabling them to deduce what is going on for themselves. On the other hand, “telling,” or the use of narrative summary, provides a straightforward explanation of the action taking place.
For example:
To tell: Julie angrily hangs up on her fiancé.
To show: Julie slams down the receiver, her fingers tremble as she twists off the engagement ring.
García Márquez’s Short Story is all “Show”
The other day, I read García Márquez’s engaging short story “One of These Days.” Published in 1962, this deceptively sparse tale takes a close look at a shifting balance of power between two men in a small dental office. García Márquez creates an immersive experience by telling this story through action, scenery description, and limited dialogue, putting the reader in charge of interpreting scenes as the story unfolds.
