[2-Minute Essay] On the Interaction Between "Cynicism" and Literature | Day 196 of Continuing Note

Good evening, everyone.
Are you still having fun bouncing ideas off AI today?

Today's essay is about literature.

This may be sudden, but I have long been aware that I am a "cynic."

I am not good at taking things at face value, and I tend to suspect there is a hidden meaning behind the words thrown at me.

However, recently, since I started writing, I have begun to realize that this "cynical perspective" might be effectively used in literature.

Currently, the technique I am most conscious of when writing is "Show, don't tell."

It is a method where, instead of writing "I am sad" when feeling sad, you let the reader "re-experience" that emotion through descriptions like a gesture of looking into the distance or tea that has gone cold without one noticing.

Explaining everything robs the reader of their imagination.

Therefore, I dare not speak of things head-on, but entrust the truth to scenes and the unconscious actions of characters.

Come to think of it, this approach of "not speaking head-on" is the very thought process of a cynic.

Precisely because I am cynical, I do not rely on easy explanations, but try to scoop up the "true texture" hidden beneath from the scene.

This feature I was originally equipped with—my cynical personality—is now very useful as a special sensor for practicing "Show, don't tell."

That said, this method is not straightforward.

If you omit too much explanation, the reader gets lost, and if there is too much narration, the magic of "Show, don't tell" is broken, turning it into just a boring explanatory text.

I place only the exquisite "white space" where readers can discover emotions with their own power, and the scenes that make them feel convinced.

It is a continuous, endless balancing act, like threading a needle.

Just half a year ago, I couldn't even write properly.

Now, I am pursuing the essence of "Show, don't tell," agonizing over the placement of reader psychology and white space.

The temperature difference from my past self is so great that I feel like I might catch a cold.

If you, the readers, find my growth process even slightly interesting and support me, there is nothing more encouraging than that.

Lastly.
Have you ever had an experience where your "cynicism" or "little flaws" turned out to be useful in an unexpected situation?

If you have such an episode, please let me know in the comments section.

Well then, I will see you at the next optimal solution.