The importance of “show me, don’t tell me” was drilled home to me this past weekend while I was trying to figure out how to use my new digital camera. In an effort to leverage others’ experiences and save time, I immediately jumped into YouTube to search for video reviews. However, after exploring video after video I kept coming up empty-handed and felt my frustration levels increasing. Time and time again I sensed that the reviewer had genuine knowledge to share with me, but the message just wasn’t getting across. 

Why was that you ask? Simply … a lack of visuals.

Yes. I took for granted that someone going to all of the effort to create a video would already realize the importance of show-and-tell; however, I was wrong. For instance, while watching a video review on the quality of a particular lens, the reviewer didn’t once show me a picture taken by the lens or a video that the lens had captured. I simply had to endure watching the reviewer holding the camera, never moving from one spot, while telling me that I should buy it or skip it. So what? I’d like to make that conclusion for myself, thank you very much. Just show me!

So as a technical writer, the idea was drilled home to me this weekend (through my own negative experiences) that visuals and design are more than just extras to consider as last minute throw-ins for a document. They are instead essential elements that serve to elevate technical writing by clarifying purpose, balancing text, and holding the end-user’s attention. 

Technical writing should be the perfect blend of skill and style, science and spirit.

A match made in heaven, if you ask me.