In this article we'll consider:
Bridging time gaps or compressing time
Conveying routine or repetitive actions
Providing background information or exposition
Skimming over minor or unimportant events
Skipping pleasantries & avoiding repetition
Conveying internal reflections or emotional states
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One of the cardinal rules of fiction writing is "show, don't tell", a phrase that encourages writers to dramatize scenes with vivid details, action, and dialogue. However, effective storytelling requires balance, and sometimes telling or summarizing is not only acceptable but also preferable.
Knowing when to summarize in fiction gives you the edge when it comes to pacing, focus, and narrative clarity. So let’s explore 6 key situations when summarizing works better than showing.
1. Bridging time gaps or compressing time
Not every moment of a story requires detailed exploration. When characters move from one place to another, or time passes between major events, summarizing can efficiently bridge those gaps without bogging down the pace.
Example: Instead of showing every mundane detail of a protagonist’s daily commute, a summary like, She rode the slow, packed bus from Hammersmith to Aldwych every morning and again in reverse in the evening, keeps the story moving while conveying necessary information.
Long journeys can be summarized if the details of the journey aren't critical to the plot.
Example: The coach left South Wales early on Friday morning, boarded the ferry in Dover at mid-afternoon, then drove the length of France by night, crossing the border into Spain shortly after breakfast on Saturday morning. Though there was little else to do but sit there, no one had slept and they were exhausted and desperate for a shower by the time they reached their hotel.
Summarizing is also useful for accelerating a narrative over much longer time periods.
Example: The trial began mid-August, but it wasn't until the first week in September that the defendant was asked to take the stand.
Example: Jennie had no idea that when she said those things to Jack, it would be three years before she'd get the chance to apologize. By then, she'd convinced herself he'd never want to lay eyes on her again, but she was wrong. In fact, he was the one who turned up at her door one Tuesday evening in March after she'd just scraped her pathetic dinner-for-one into the bin for the second night running.
2. Conveying routine or repetitive actions
When characters engage in repetitive or uneventful tasks, detailed descriptions can become tedious. Summarizing routine actions helps maintain reader engagement.
Example: Instead of detailing every aspect of a soldier’s daily drills, a line like, Weeks passed in a blur of endless training, captures the essence without unnecessary elaboration.
In this instance, summarization highlights monotony but without burdening the reader with redundant scenes.
3. Providing background information or exposition
Backstory and exposition are vital for context, but can slow the pace of a story if not handled carefully. Summarizing key events or information succinctly integrates it without overwhelming readers.
Example: He had grown up in a small town much like this one, where summers were spent fishing by the river and winters huddled around a single wood stove. This brief summary conveys character background without interrupting the story's forward momentum.
Summaries of backstory should be concise and relevant to the main narrative, avoiding long, information-heavy sections. The key is to always consider what is necessary – what serves the reader's understanding of the characters and plot in that moment, and what is extra information that doesn't really add anything?
4. Skimming over minor or unimportant events
Not all events in a story are equally significant. Summarizing minor incidents keeps the focus on pivotal moments.
Example: Not everything ran smoothly in the weeks leading up to the trial. The mother of the defendant's solicitor passed away suddenly and a replacement solicitor had to be found. One of the witnesses retracted his statement; another changed her mind about appearing in court. The defendant himself had food poisoning and was laid up for a week, though the doctor wondered if it was just nerves. When the date arrived, however, everyone, miraculously, was ready.
By summarizing less critical moments, you maintain momentum, and direct attention towards key turning points.
5. Skipping pleasantries & avoiding repetition
Dialogue works best when it's kept tight. That is, when it adds something to the narrative, and doesn't slow the pace.
Example: Pleasantries in dialogue can ground the pace to a halt (Hello, how are you? I'm well, thank you; how are you?, etc) unless they serve a particular purpose, e.g. reveal character traits, such as trust-worthiness, reliability or sincerity (or their opposites). Instead, we can summarize the beginnings of dialogue with something like: Leo introduced us, but after the pleasantries, the conversation took a strange turn. "We knew each other before, you know."
Likewise, use summarization when a character discusses an event that's already been revealed to the reader through action.
Example: Paul explained to Celia everything that had happened up until that point.
The only exception might be, again, if the character's depiction of events differs from the action, and therefore signals something about that character or the direction of the plot.
6. Conveying internal reflections or emotional states
Internal reflections and emotions often warrant summarization when they don’t drive critical action or require elaborate exploration.
Example: Instead of fully dramatizing a character’s disappointment, a summary like, He was bitterly disappointed but forced himself to move on, can suffice.
However, for peak emotional moments crucial to character development, showing is generally more impactful.
Finally...
In fiction, balance between showing and telling may take some time to get right, but it can have a significant impact on your narrative.
Despite the old adage drummed into us, of "show, don't tell", summarizing is a powerful tool when used deliberately to manage pacing, skip unimportant details, tighten dialogue, or provide necessary context. Mastering this balance helps create engaging, well-paced narratives that hold a reader's attention without sacrificing depth or clarity.
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Tina Williams of Fiction Yogi is a copyeditor and proofreader who works with writers at all stages, giving them the tools to improve their manuscript and level up their writing so they can meet their publishing goals.
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