The Write Slice: Write or Wrong

Writing is a bit like a courtship. We've either been on those first dates or heard about them where there was way too much information shared. I can't even remember what the commercial was for, but I saw one recently where the couple is on their first date, and the guy has made a creepy look-alike doll of his date. Halfway through the night, he starts making out with the puppet. Hilarious, but creepy. And it totally makes my point. A good first date is one in which the participants have an enjoyable evening and learn just enough about each other to be interested in learning more, but are not entirely creeped out. And thus it progresses on to the second date. And so on and so on until marriage. Even after marriage we are still learning about our partners. The key is that at each step along the way, a little more info is shared. So why do we treat our books and stories any differently? Why do we as writers think we need to let our reader know everything as soon as possible? I...