In writing, there's what I call narrative and action.
In narrative, the writer stops the action and describes or explains something.
In action, the writer shows the characters doing or saying something.
Invariably, readers want to see characters do or say something. When characters do or say something, they involve the reader. When the action stops, readers lose interest in the story. Then you, the writer, have a problem.
I love to explain. In the first draft (and subsequent drafts) of my novel, I stop the action all the time and explain something. The something I stop to explain may relate to the action, but sometimes it may not. For pages at a time, the action flags. I get bored reading all the narrative, and I'm the writer. Imagine how bored the reader would get–if my writing ever made it to a reader.
So what do I want to try?
When I'm rewriting, I want to eliminate virtually all of the narrative. I want to continuously show the characters doing or saying something. And, if I really need the reader to know something–only so he doesn't get lost–I want whatever the characters do or say to reveal it.
The experiment will be to see if I lose my beta reader in the process. He's very perceptive. He's a smart guy. He'll be able to fill in the blanks I don't provide. And, if he can't fill them in, then he'll let me know something's missing. That will be my cue to add a bit of narrative.
But only a bit.
See, that's my problem. When I start explaining, there's no end to it.
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