“Show, don’t tell.”
You’ve heard it before – maybe from a writing teacher, a beta reader, or a well-meaning comment on a draft. It’s a phrase that gets repeated so often, it can start to feel like white noise. But what does it actually mean?
And more importantly: what does it look like in practice?
Let’s unpack this timeless piece of writing advice, explore when it matters most, and learn how to use it – not as a rule, but as a powerful tool to deepen your work and better connect with your reader.
What It Really Means to “Show”
Imagine you’re writing a moment where someone is feeling nervous.
“She was nervous.”
Okay. It gets the point across. But it’s flat. There’s no texture, no tension – just information.
Now, what if instead you wrote:
“Her fingers drummed the table in an uneven rhythm. She glanced at the clock – twice in a minute – then reached for her coffee, only to set it back down untouched. The mug had gone cold.”
Suddenly, we feel the nerves. We’re not just told what’s happening; we’re experiencing it. We get a sense of pacing, energy, and emotion without ever being told the emotion.
That’s the heart of showing: inviting the reader to observe, interpret, and feel, rather than just absorb information.
Why “Show, Don’t Tell” Matters
Whether you’re writing a personal essay, a profile, a scene in a novel, or even a blog post, showing can deepen the emotional and intellectual impact of your work. Why?
-
It creates connection. Readers engage more when they’re part of the process – when they’re allowed to witness and interpret, not just receive.
-
It adds credibility. Showing often feels more authentic and persuasive than summarizing or stating outright.
-
It sharpens detail. You begin noticing the small things – the gestures, sounds, hesitations – that bring your writing to life.
But Telling Has a Role Too
Here’s where the advice often gets misunderstood: Telling isn’t bad. In fact, it’s essential. Every piece of writing is a blend of showing and telling. The key is knowing when to use each.
Telling is especially useful:
-
To move through time or transitions
“Over the next few weeks, nothing changed.” -
To summarize information clearly
Perfect for background, context, or internal thought that would feel clunky or too long if dramatized. -
To control pacing
Telling can help tighten your writing and keep things moving, especially in longer works.
The real goal is balance. If you show everything, your writing can become bloated. If you tell everything, it can feel distant or dry. Trust your instincts – and revise with purpose.
Use the Five Senses to Ground Your Writing
If you’re struggling to show, one of the simplest techniques is to return to the senses.
Let’s say you write:
“The room was uncomfortable.”
Instead, try anchoring that feeling in sensory detail:
“The air was thick and still. A single fly buzzed against the windowpane, and the plastic chair stuck to the back of her legs.”
Readers don’t need to be told it’s uncomfortable – they know it, because they feel it.
When in doubt, ask yourself:
-
What does it look like?
-
What does it sound like?
-
What does it feel like – physically, emotionally?
-
What would a stranger notice?
-
What would the narrator focus on?
These questions pull you out of summary and into the moment.
Try This Quick Exercise
Choose a sentence from your writing that “tells” the reader something – especially something emotional or descriptive.
Then, rewrite it in a way that allows the reader to see, hear, or feel it unfold. Use movement, detail, or voice to bring it to life. Bonus: incorporate at least one of the five senses.
You might be surprised how much more depth – and momentum – you create.
Striking the Balance
Some parts of your writing need to move quickly. Others need to breathe.
The trick is knowing which is which.
Use telling to guide the reader. Use showing to involve them.
Tell to inform. Show to connect.
Great writing doesn’t lecture – it immerses. It gives readers a role in the experience. And when you strike that balance well, your words stop being just words – they become a world.
Final Thought
During your next revision, identify moments where you’ve summarized important feelings or events. How could you transform those moments into vivid scenes or moments that let readers experience them more directly?
Which parts of your writing – whether a specific scene, emotion, or description – do you find most challenging to “show” rather than “tell”? How do you handle those moments? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more insights, and share your stories in the comments!
