Show Not Tell
Bob Gelinas here - As also an internationally published novelist for over 15 years, as well as a publisher and editor-in-chief of a small trade publishing company, ArcheBooks Publishing (www.archebooks.com), I know little bit about writing and storytelling and communicating effectively. And one of the fundmental lessons I teach young writers about creating commercially viable work is the art of how to “Show Not Tell.”
What that means in literature is that stories are much more vivid and entertaining if dialogue and action are used more to tell the story than just 3rd person narrative. “So what?” You ask, “What does that have to do with reviewing As Seen On TV products?”
Answer: Simple - The Power of Showing versus just Telling. Many product review sites will “tell” you what they think, what other consumers think, what the vendors themselves want you to think, and also what disgrunteled users may want you to think, whether any of it might be true or not, partially true, whatever. It’s like the old joke of the guy who gets caught in bed with another woman by his wife, and after his vehement denials of anything inappropriate going on challenges her with: “So who are you going to believe? Me or your lying eyes?”
Your eyes and ears don’t lie.
If you’re bothering to look up and read a review on a product, it’s probably because you have some interest in it, perhaps are even considering buying it, but don’t want get ripped off and waste your money. So what’s better? - reading what a lot of strangers have said, with no way to know if what you’re reading can be trusted; or seeing for yourself.
Haven’t you thought about a lot of products: “If I could only really see this thing for myself, not performing its thing in a perfect commercial, but honestly and close up, then I could get a better idea if I really wanted one or not.” That’s the point. That’s what ASOTVI is all about - not just to “tell” you what we observed about a product’s functionality, but to let the objective eye of a video camera “show” you what it does, regardless of what we or anyone else has to say. And then you can make your own decision.
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