Resist the urge to explain: four ‘explanations’

‘Resist the urge to explain’ is a mantra drummed into us writers. Okay, another rule – but what does it mean and why should we do our best to follow it?

‘I had no idea what was going on in that book’ is not a sentence any author wants to hear about their novel. We mustn’t confuse readers or have them not ‘get it’, whatever ‘it’ is – the dramatic ending, the motivation behind the villain’s villainous deeds or the hero’s dying words. So we make sure this never happens by explaining everything. But ...