What Is Show vs Tell in Writing?

If you are an aspiring writer, you would have likely heard the phrase “Show, don’t tell.” in writing. And you would have wondered why it is such a big deal that people keep referring to it?

In simple words, showing helps readers to experience a scene by actions, dialogues, information and details while telling the information directly. Both of them are useful, but in fiction, telling can make your writing dull and emotionless. The idea is not to avoid telling entirely, the goal is to know when to show and when to tell in order to make your story feel clear, compelling and alive. This one technique can entirely alter your writing, making it more interesting. Many beginners overuse telling or try to show everything and hence your writing becomes confusing or heavy-handed.

What does it mean by that?

“Show vs tell” is one of the most basic storytelling techniques. Telling is giving the reader a direct explanation of something.

Example: Maya was nervous. This is clear and fast. The reader has immediately got the idea.

Showing means that you let the reader pick up clues and realise the feeling on their own.

Example: Maya rubbed her sweaty palms together on her jeans and looked at the door three times before knocking.

Now the reader gets to experience her nervousness rather than merely be told about it. That is the main difference. Telling gives information. Showing makes for an experience.

In storytelling, it is best to show when it comes to important emotions, big moments and character reactions. It helps the readers imagine the scene and relate to it. Still, telling is not so bad at all. It is useful when you want to get things moving fast, summarising something or not wishing to drag a scene.

So if you are asking yourself what is ‘show vs tell’, here’s the easiest way to understand it. Tell states the feeling or fact. Show reveals it through behavior, senses and dialogue. A good writer uses both. Different types of writing utilise this differently. Fiction is more about showing, non-fiction and blogging quite a bit of telling for clarity.

How to Use Show vs Tell in Writing Step By Step

If you want to use ‘show vs tell’ as a beginner effectively, follow this simple process.

Find the “telling” words

Look for sentences containing direct statements of emotion. Words like these are often the signifying signs of telling,

Sad
Angry
Scared
Happy
Tired
Nervous
Beautiful

For example: ‘Meena was scared.’ This sentence is not incorrect, but it can be dull if the moment is an important one.

Ask, What might the reader have actually seen?

To make it easier, ask yourself this, if this was a movie, what would people notice?

The character slam the door?
Avoid eye contact?
Smile too quickly?
Tap their foot?
Whisper instead of speak?

These visible clues will help you show the feeling.

Add body language and action

The best way to show is to act it out.

Instead of writing, Meena was scared.

Try, Meena stopped over the sound behind her. Her breath caught in her throat and her keys slipped out of her hand.

You don’t need a lot, one or two good details can do the job.

Use dialogue and tone

People tend to express their feelings through the way they speak.

Instead of writing, Raj was upset.

Try, “I said I’m fine,” Raj snapped, pushing the plate away.

Dialogue can serve to reveal mood very quickly and naturally.

Use sensory details

Think what the character hears, what they see, what does he smell or how do they feel or taste. This is especially beneficial in emotional or tense scenes.

Instead of writing, the room was creepy.

Try, the wallpaper was peeled up in long curls and the air smelled like wet dust.

Sensory details help to take the reader into the scene.

Showing is not just about actions, you can show using your thoughts and how you react on the inside. Instead of saying “He was scared” you can show it through his thoughts, “I shouldn’t have come here.”

Keep it specific

General statements provide information whereas specific details help to make a clear picture.

Instead of writing, She lived in a poor neighborhood.

Try, The sidewalk had cracks in and some apartment windows had been patched with cardboard.

Specific details help to make the scene real.

Decide when telling is actually better

Telling works better when you need to move through time quickly, give background information. Not every line needs telling. Sometimes the best writing is in knowing when to stop showing.

For example: There were three weeks without even one letter from him.

This works well as it saves time.

One important thing to remember, not every moment needs showing. If you tell everything and describe details, your story has to feel slow. Save for showing in emotional moments, conflict and key scenes.

A simple rule, show important moments, tell the less important to stories.

A Quick Conversion Trick

A simple trick is to take a sentence with an emotion (like “She was nervous”), ask, what would this look like in real life? Then replace the emotion with one action or one reaction or one detail.

Examples/Mini Tips

Example 1: Showing emotion

Tell: Maya was disappointed.

Show: Maya opened the envelope and read the first line slowly folding the letter in the crease. “Oh,” she whispered, her eyes fixed, looking at the table.

Why it works: The action is quiet and shows but does not tell the feeling.

When demonstrating emotion, don’t name the emotion straight away. Let the action do the work first.

Example 2: Displaying personality

Tell: Raj was messy.

Show: Raj kicked a path through the clothes on his floor, picked up a shirt off the chair, sniffed it, pulled it on.

Why it works: The details make the character feel natural and memorable.

Use common habits to reveal personality, small actions seem to speak more.

Example 3: Showing setting

Tell: It was an old forgotten town.

Show: Paint peeled off the shop signs, restaurant window cracked and weeds growing through empty parking lot.

Why it works: The reader gets a picture in his mind rather than an overall label.

Pick two or three good details rather than describing everything.

Example 4: Levels of showing

Tell: She was angry.

Better: She raised her voice, crossed her arms.

Stronger: She slammed the door so hard the frame shook.

This shows how you can increase the depth of the impact in steps.

To make your writing more immersive, choosing the right POV makes your writing feel real and knowing how to write realistic dialogue makes your character real and if you have doubts in writing your first book, learn How to Start Writing a Book

Common Mistakes Made By Beginners

Many beginners try to show all and that is one of the biggest mistakes. If you show all the detail, you can make your story slow and heavy. Important scenes should be shown. Smaller transitions are often more effective with telling.
Saying an emotion will not be clearly noticeable in all actions. For instance, the statement “a character smiled” does not always mean the character is happy. People smile when they are nervous, faking smiling, shy, even angry. Pick some details which match the exact emotion.
Some beginners believe that showing involves lots of description. It doesn’t work that way, one good detail is better than five unclear ones.
One serious mistake is using both show and tell. For example, Raju hit his fist on the table. He was angry. The second sentence is not necessary as the action already indicates that it is.
Some writers have misunderstood “show, don’t tell” and believe that all telling is bad. That’s not like that. Good writing uses both. The key is to balance them.
Too much showing can also be overwhelming to the reader. If every single sentence is filled with detail, nothing will stand out. Good writing allows for breathing space.

Quick Checklist

Is this an important moment? Show
Is This Background or Transition? Tell
Can I substitute an action word for an emotion word? Show
Am I adding too many details? Simplify

FAQ

1What is show vs tell writing?

Show vs tell is the difference between telling and showing something to the reader by details. For example ‘She was cold’ is telling. ‘She pushed her hands into her sleeves and breathed into her fists’ is showing.

2How do beginning writers use show vs tell?

Start by listing emotion words, and then replace them with action, dialogue, or sensory details. Don’t try to write everything new, just focus on small improvements.

3Is telling always bad in fiction?

No, telling is good for pacing, transitions and background information. The important thing is knowing when to use it.

4What is the Best Way to Practice Show vs Tell?

Take simple sentences and rewrite them by adding actions/details. Practice on a regular basis by working on small examples.

Final Thoughts

Understanding ‘show vs tell’ can make a big difference in your stories. Showing helps readers experience the moment and telling helps your writing be clear and moving.

You don’t have to commit to just one, that’s how to make writing strong, to use both in the right places. As you are practising, try to think about making small improvements. Rewrite one flat sentence at a time.

Over time you will begin to see when a scene requires more life and when the simple line is best. At its best, showing doesn’t simply tell a story, it makes the reader feel like they are in a story.

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