Have you ever read a scene in a book that felt so real you could almost taste the salty air or feel the warmth of the sun on your skin? That, my friends, is the magic of “Show, Don’t Tell.” It’s one of those phrases you hear thrown around a lot in the writing world, and for good reason! It’s a technique that can transform your writing from a simple summary into a vivid, immersive experience for your readers.

And if you’re like me and still working on mastering it, you’re in the right place. Let’s explore this powerful technique together.

So, What’s the Big Deal?

At its core, “Show, Don’t Tell” is about creating a scene and allowing your readers to draw their own conclusions, rather than simply handing them the information.

• Telling is when you state a fact directly. For example: “She was angry.”
• Showing is when you describe the scene and the character’s actions, allowing the reader to infer the emotion. For example: “She slammed the door so hard the pictures on the wall rattled. Her jaw was tight, and she balled her hands into fists at her sides.”

See the difference? The first example tells us she’s angry, but the second one lets us feel her anger. It creates a much more powerful and memorable image.

From “Telling” to “Showing”: Examples

The best way to understand this technique is to see it in action. Here are a few more examples:

• Telling: He was nervous.
• Showing: He tapped his fingers relentlessly on the table, his gaze darting towards the door every few seconds. When he picked up his coffee cup, his hand trembled, sloshing the dark liquid over the rim.

• Telling: The house was old and creepy.
• Showing: A thick layer of dust coated every surface of the house, and cobwebs draped from the ceiling like ghostly chandeliers. A cold draft snaked through the broken windowpane, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and decay. The floorboards groaned with every hesitant step.

• Telling: It was a beautiful summer day.
• Showing: The sun warmed the back of her neck as a gentle breeze rustled the leaves in the trees overhead. The air was filled with the sweet scent of freshly cut grass and the cheerful chirping of birds.

How to Practice “Showing” in Your Own Writing

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Engage the Senses: Think about what your character is seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching. Describing these sensory details can instantly pull your reader into the scene.
2. Focus on Actions and Body Language: How does your character move? What are their facial expressions? Actions often speak louder than words.
3. Look for Emotion Words: Scan your writing for words like “happy,” “sad,” “angry,” or “nervous.” When you find one, ask yourself: “How can I show this emotion instead of just telling it?”
4. Don’t Overdo It: While “Show, Don’t Tell” is a fantastic tool, it doesn’t mean you have to describe every single detail. Sometimes, a simple statement is all you need to move the story forward. It’s all about finding the right balance.

“Show, Don’t Tell” is a skill that takes practice, so don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t come naturally at first. It’s still something that I’m working on, too. The more you write and the more you read, the more intuitive it will become. The next time you sit down to write, challenge yourself to turn a “telling” sentence into a “showing” paragraph. You might be surprised at the magic you create.