Show, Don't Tell: Redefining Zurkerx

Show, don't tell:

That's what I thought I was doing when I rewrote Zurkerx. It is a big component to world building. In fact, it is perhaps the most important concept in writing a book. It is also one I failed to utilize fully too.

The concept is simple: show the reader, don't tell them. For instance, don't tell them about a clear and starry night. Instead, show them. The former statement was the way I was writing, and it can not only drag the story, it can also effect things like character development, settings, and even dialogue.

Which sounds better? This:

On this chilly night, the stars and full moon shine brilliantly. A night under such exquisite conditions would awe anyone, unless one lived in the Teal Mountains. Within these mountains grows a special type of moss called Teal Patch. During the day, this pale bluish-gray moss looks dull, but at night when the starlight and moonlight hits these peaks, they reflect a teal aura, illuminating the surrounding area, making these mountains an iconic landmark in Zentari.

Or this:

The frosty autumn leaves dance as the night progresses. Each leaf and its host gleams due to a moss called Teals Patch reflecting off the night sky. Its illuminating fluorescence and floating glistening gems create a world one would never believe exists. This is the Teal Mountains, an iconic landmark of valleys and mountains located in the northwestern part of Zurkerx.

Granted, the latter is a work-in-progress, but I already feel like I'm a part of the world. I feel I'm watching from afar. Like, I'm here!

By showing the reader the world you built, you draw them in. You make them forget they're actually reading. It's a skill that's not easy to learn or adjust to but it can be done.

And that's why I must further delay the re-release of Zurkerx. It is the right thing to do. Countless times I have been told there is potential: I just need to show it rather than tell it. For those that have been telling me to "build the world", I finally understand what you mean.