The other day I posted a bit about learning a little something by reading Robert B. Parker’s STRANGER IN PARADISE. I studyied the writing more and discovered a clear example of showing instead of telling. For me, while working on my own writing, I often have trouble realizing I’m telling when it would be better to show.

The example from Parker's novel:

Molly Crane stuck her head in the doorway to Jesse’s office.

“Man here to see you,” she said. “Says his name’s Wilson Comartie.”

Jesse looked up. His eyes met Molly’s. Neither of them said anything. Then Jesse stood. His gun was in its holster on the file cabinet behind him. He took the gun from the holster and sat back down and put the gun in the top right-hand drawer of his desk and left the drawer open.

“Show him in,” Jesse said.

Thus the author shows that Wilson Comartie is someone Jesse knows and fears. The reader isn’t told this but is shown it.

I would probably have TOLD  the same thing something like this. “Jesse tensed when he learned Wilson Comartie was about to enter his office. He put his gun where he could grab it.”

The theory is that the reader, by being allowed to draw a conclusion by what he is shown, suspends disbelief and becomes more involved in the story. What do you think?