Topic: Show, Don't Tell
Chapter Written By: Xanaphia00
Level: Basic
Related genre(s): All

Show, don't tell.

This is some of the most basic advice new writers receive, and there is a good reason for that. Using writing to show details to one's readers, instead of merely telling them those details is one of the greatest feats in literature. Showing, or using strong, vivid descriptions, brings words to life. It turns dry, mediocre prose into a living, breathing narrative.

How is showing different from telling?

Consider the following two sentences:

She was happy.

She smiled.

The reader can infer from both sentences that the character is happy. The action of demonstrating happiness can be felt while being told is just informative. Let's see how we can take it further.

She closed her eyes and a smile spread over her face.

This sentence not only shows happiness but shows a character overcome with joy. Small details like bring stories to life. Bringing realism to a story's characters and settings is the art of descriptive writing, discussed at length in more advanced chapters.

How do I turn telling into showing?

There are many techniques, but my favourite is to break down a larger action into smaller parts. Consider again the above example. "She smiled." is a way to show that a character is happy, but we can get into even greater depth. Break down the smile into even smaller parts.

Lips curled and opened, revealing a row of perfect white teeth. A few short laughs escaped her mouth and her warm eyes didn't leave mine.

Some writers may find this sentence just a tad too much, while others find it just right. There are many different styles of writing. They are typically differentiated by the amount of showing vs. telling. Ultimately, you want to be right in the middle.

How does this sentence above show happiness? The smile, big enough to show teeth, the laugh, and the warm eyes. All of these images come together to create a scene that lets the reader see a character's happiness, rather than just announce it.

It is the difference between reading a script and seeing a play or a movie.

So, do I have to show everything?

Nope! You really don't want to do that. Here is the thing about words: at some point, to some degree, all words tell. If we wanted to communicate purely by showing, we'd use pictures.

The correct balance paints a picture in your head while also communicating essential information.

Is it possible to use a great degree of detail in every aspect of writing a story? It is, but is it advisable? Probably not. A description is great, and it paints a picture for the reader. Too much description can slow your pacing down.

If you are reading an action novel, you don't need a play-by-play about what a character is wearing. You want to read about chasing down the bad guys. If you're reading a romance novel, you probably do care about the description of the Prince's appearance. Knowing when to show and when to tell is half the battle. When in doubt, work the information into the action because showing is stronger than telling.

There isn't a hard and fast rule for how much description is too much or just right, but a good way to think about it is to imagine description like a spotlight. The more you describe something, the more attention you bring to it. Saving your beautiful descriptive language for important things will make those moments stand out in the reader's mind.

When is showing important?

Characterization is one of the places where the effective use of showing versus tell will shine. Don't tell a reader that a character is a good fighter. Describe the firm jawline, the bruised knuckles, and the tough guy dialogue. Show them winning their fights. Show them overcoming difficult odds. Don't tell the reader two characters are good friends, show how they share inside jokes or how they support one another. Describe them hugging or crying or one rescuing the other.

Practice

Rewrite the following sentences to show the meaning, rather than just tell. Try to see if you can stretch it out into two to three descriptive sentences. Show me your answers in an in-line comment.

He was mad.

She was sad.

They were in love.