For some writers and students, 'Show, Don't Tell' can be one of the most frustrating pieces of feedback to receive... It's the phrase most often scrawled in red ink, cutting through pages like a quiet warning that our writing isn't quite grabbing our reader - but what does it really mean?
At its core, showing instead of telling is about immersing your readers in your story by allowing them to experience the emotions, actions, and settings first-hand, rather than simply being told what’s happening. It’s the difference between saying, “She was angry,” and showing her slamming the door so hard that the frame just about rattles off its hinges.
Let’s dive into how you can master this essential skill in your writing.
Why “Show, Don’t Tell” Matters
When you “tell,” you’re giving your readers facts. Too often, it means you're doing the imaginative work for them, and unfortunately, taking away the creative, immersive experience. Meanwhile, when you “show,” you’re engaging their senses and emotions. In this way, telling can feel like a list of things happening whereas showing invites readers into the scene, making them feel like they’re living it. This is a crucial skill to learn when writing stories, because stories that show more than they tell are not only more immersive and creative, but they connect so much better with your reader, create an emotional connection, and make a much longer-lasting impression. Think back to your best. most memorable high-school lessons - were they the ones in which your teacher was talking, talking, drawling on while you kept one eye on the painfully slow-ticking clock, or the ones where you were out of your seat, engaging in a carefully designed hands-on experience that brought ideas to life and pushed you to engage with topics on a more stimulating, challenging level? Showing is where the magic happens - where we find ourselves feeling as though we're in the scenes, feeling real emotions, loving or hating characters!
The Difference Between Showing and Telling
To illustrate, let’s look at some examples:
Telling:Sarah was nervous about the presentation.
Showing:Sarah’s palms were slick with sweat as she adjusted the microphone. Her voice trembled as she cleared her throat, stealing one last glance at her note cards.
In the first example, we’re simply told Sarah is nervous. In the second, her physical reactions—sweaty palms, trembling voice—allow readers to feel her nerves.
Telling: Anna was exhausted after the long hike.
Showing: Anna’s legs wobbled with each step, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. She struggled to catch her breath as she wiped the sweat from her brow with a trembling hand and leaned heavily against a tree. What a day it had been!
In the first example, we’re told Anna is exhausted. In the second, her physical exhaustion is conveyed through her unsteady legs, laboured breathing, and reliance on the tree for support.
Here are three more examples of showing vs. telling:
Telling:John was furious at the accusation.
Showing: John’s fists clenched at his sides, his face reddening as his jaw tightened a vice, his anger simmering beneath the surface and threatening to boil over. He glared at the floor, refusing to meet their eyes, his breath coming in sharp, uneven bursts.
In the first example, we’re told John is furious. In the second, his clenched fists, reddened face, and strained breathing show his anger without needing to state it directly. We get to imagine and experience the intensity of his anger.
How to Show, Not Tell
Use Sensory Details One of the easiest ways to show rather than tell is to engage the five senses. Instead of telling the reader it’s a cold night, describe how the chill nips at a character’s skin, or how their breath forms small clouds in the air. Use sound, touch, smell, taste (probably the most difficult!) and sight to paint a vivid picture. Some tools to help could be a table that outlines each of the senses that you can use to brainstorm phrases for each experience, as well as a vocabulary bank for each of the senses to keep it interesting (and avoid cliches!).
Telling: The coffee was strong. Showing: The bitter aroma of fresh coffee filled the room, curling its way into her senses before she even took a sip. The warmth of the cup radiated through her hands, a subtle comfort against the cool morning air. As she lifted it to her lips, the rich scent mingled with the faint sound of rain tapping against the window, creating a soothing rhythm. The first sip was bold. The sharp taste spread across her tongue while the steam brushed lightly against her face, like a soft, fleeting caress.
Action Speaks Louder Than Words Instead of telling us how a character feels, show us how they react. How do they behave when they’re scared, happy, or angry? Body language is a powerful tool in showing emotions.
Telling: He was furious. Showing: His jaw clenched at her words. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel.
Dialogue with Subtext Dialogue can also be used to show emotion or tension without directly stating it. What a character says (or doesn’t say) can be as revealing as their actions. Consider what different examples of body language, however noticeable, might say. The art of people-watching can certainly be of use here, or watch the (often exaggerated, let's face it) acting in popular dramas!
Telling: She was nervous about the conversation. Showing: “So… how are things?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes flicking everywhere but his face.
Notice how the hesitation and the whispering tell us she’s anxious without needing to explicitly say it.
Use Metaphors and Similes Figurative language is a great way to convey complex emotions or situations. Instead of simply stating something, experiment with using comparisons to create a vivid image in the reader’s mind.
Telling: The night was dark. Showing: The night swallowed every last last bit of light and, thick as velvet, pressed against the windows like a living thing. Jules stepped outside; darkness had swept across the landscape, smothering every shadow, creeping into every corner like an insistent whisper. The air was dense, clinging to her skin like damp cloth, heavy with the weight of silence as the wind prowled through the trees.
When It’s Okay to Tell
While “show, don’t tell” is fantastic advice, there are times when telling is perfectly acceptable—sometimes even necessary. If you need to convey straightforward information quickly (such as a character’s age or a quick plot point), it’s okay to tell.
The key is balance.
Not every moment of your story needs to be shown in vivid detail - frankly, it can grow tiresome. Your reader's time is valuable, and we've all suffered through whole chapters that could have (much preferably) been a couple of succinct paragraphs. Use showing for key emotional beats or moments when you want to pull the reader deeper into the experience. As a rule of thumb, if it doesn't show us something about the character, immerse your reader in pivotal moments, or move the story forward, consider tossing it. You can always save those superfluous phrases in a document for future use.
For example, minor transitions or background information can often be told without losing impact:
Telling: It was Tuesday, and Sarah had a meeting scheduled at noon. This is simple information that doesn’t need to be shown in detail (resist the temptation to unnecessarily bore your reader with tedious detail).
Practicing Show, Don’t Tell
If you want to strengthen this skill, here are a few exercises:
Rewrite Telling Sentences: Take sentences like “He was sad” and rewrite them to show the sadness through actions, physical sensations, or setting. A word bank can help here, for those who love an efficiency hack!
Use Movies for Inspiration: Watch a scene from a movie, and pay attention to how characters express emotions without saying, “I’m sad” or “I’m angry.” How can you translate that into your writing?
Be the Observer: The next time you’re in a public place, observe how people express themselves. What clues can you gather from body language, tone, or small actions?
Final Thoughts
“Show, don’t tell” is about inviting readers to step into the world you’ve created and experience it through your characters. While it may take more effort to show, the result is a richer, more engaging story that resonates emotionally. Practice finding opportunities to show emotions, actions, and settings, and over time, this technique will become second nature to your writing.
In the end, showing doesn’t mean never telling—it’s about knowing when to give your readers an experience rather than simply giving them information, and striking a balance throughout your narrative. And that’s what will keep them turning the pages.
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