Every writer knows the advice: Show, don’t tell.
It’s a mantra often passed around like a well-worn hand-me-down. But what does it mean, and why is it beneficial in crafting an engaging, immersive story? It boils down to one simple principle: making the reader feel, see, and experience the world through the characters and their actions rather than merely being told what’s happening.
When a writer tells, the story stays on the surface—like watching a movie through a fogged-up window. But when you show, you pull the reader into the moment. You invite them to feel the heat of a summer’s day, see the subtle tension between two characters, and hear a chair’s nervous shift. The difference is the depth and immediacy of the experience. It’s about creating intimacy and engagement.
The Difference Between Telling and Showing
Let’s start by understanding the difference with an example.
Telling:
“She was sad.”
This sentence is straightforward, but it lacks richness. The reader is told how the character feels, but they don’t experience the emotion for themselves. The feeling is distant, detached.
Showing:
“Her shoulders sagged, and her eyes, once bright, seemed to have lost their spark. She stared at the floor as if the world pressed against her chest.”
Now, the reader can see her body language and feel the heaviness in her presence. The emotion isn’t explicitly stated but is evident in her actions and appearance. This draws the reader in. They don’t just understand her sadness; they sense it. They feel it.
The art of showing is grounded in specifics—concrete details that hint at what’s happening beneath the surface. It’s more about what a character does than what they feel. In doing so, the reader can infer the emotion, allowing them to become more involved in the character’s journey.
Why Show? Why Not Just Tell?
It’s tempting to tell, especially when we want to get a point across quickly. Telling can be direct and efficient. But stories are about connection, requiring a deeper layer of experience. Consider how you might respond to hearing about a tragic event versus witnessing it. The latter leaves a more lasting impact.
Telling distances the reader from the emotional core. Showing invites them to live inside the story, to breathe in the air, to feel the tension rise. A story told through showing is like being in the room rather than being told about the room.
The Power of Concrete Details
The key to showing is in the details. It’s not just about describing things—it’s about choosing the correct idea that carries weight and conveys the essence of what’s happening.
Let’s consider another example.
Telling:
“He was nervous.”
Showing:
“He rubbed his hands together, his fingers twitching as if they had a mind. Sweat beaded at his temple, and his foot tapped an anxious rhythm on the floor.”
The latter paints a picture. The reader can see the nervousness in his actions and feel his unease. The focus is not on the abstract emotion but on what that emotion looks like in the body.
Telling:
“It was a beautiful day.”
Showing:
“The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the grass. A soft breeze stirred the leaves, and the air smelled faintly of flowers and earth.”
The second example doesn’t just tell us the weather—it makes us feel it. We can almost imagine stepping outside into that scene, feeling the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the breeze. Beauty becomes something we can see, smell, and almost touch.
How to Show: Use Actions, Dialogue, and Setting
There are many ways to show rather than tell. A few key techniques are through actions, dialogue, and setting.
- Actions:
Actions often speak louder than words. Characters reveal themselves through what they do, not what they say. For instance, when a character fidgets with a necklace, it can convey nervousness or self-soothing. A clenched jaw might show frustration, while a slow, deliberate step forward can indicate resolve. These moments allow the reader to feel the character’s emotional state rather than just hearing about it. - Dialogue:
Dialogue can be a powerful tool for showing. How a character speaks—what they say, how they say it—can convey so much. Consider this exchange:
Telling:
“He was angry with her.”
Showing (through dialogue):
“You never listen,” he snapped, his voice rising with every word. ‘I’ve told you a hundred times.’”
The words, tone, and even rhythm of the speech tell us more about the anger than just stating the emotion would. The dialogue itself becomes a reflection of inner turmoil.
- Setting:
The setting can also reflect the emotional atmosphere. A storm brewing outside might echo a character’s growing frustration, while the stillness of an empty room can heighten a sense of loneliness or loss. The setting should not just be a backdrop but a tool to enhance the mood and themes of the story.
When Telling Works
While showing is a vital technique, telling still has its place. Sometimes, it’s more effective to tell, especially when the information is secondary, or pacing requires brevity.
For example, you may need to move the plot forward in a thriller. Telling allows you to cover much ground without overwhelming the reader with unnecessary detail.
Telling:
“She packed her things and left the house.”
This is straightforward and efficient. The reader doesn’t need to know every item she packed; they just need to understand that she’s leaving. This keeps the story moving.
The key is balance. Show when the emotion or detail is central to the scene. Telling can speed up the narrative without losing momentum when less critical.
Conclusion
The principle of show, don’t tell isn’t about eliminating all telling—sometimes, telling is what the story needs. But at its heart, showing invites readers to engage deeply with the world of the story. It asks them to understand the characters’ emotions and feel them, too. It’s the difference between hearing about a sunset and watching the sun dip below the horizon, the sky blushing in its final light moments. Ultimately, it’s about crafting an experience that resonates long after turning the last page.
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