If you’re new to writing, you’ve probably heard a few golden rules. One stands out more than the others. Understanding Show, Don’t Tell is crucial to getting a book published. However, there seems to be a lot of confusion centered on this concept.

In reading over posts in group chats and when talking to first-time authors, I think Show, Don’t Tell is the most misunderstood piece of advice. Some writers become crippled by it. The words don’t flow out because they are afraid of “telling.”

Others seem to tear off in a direction that makes little sense.

They ultimately crash into a literary wall because they think they are following this rule’s advice.

Through this article I want to help you understand Show, Don’t Tell, so that you can apply it effortlessly to your writing.

 

Defining Show, Don’t Tell

 

It is said that the Russian novelist, Anton Chekhov, once gave a great example of this rule. He said:

“Don’t tell me the moon in shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”

It’s great, right? However, that wasn’t the actual quote. Still, I can hear a chorus of “Ah, I get it” out there. It helps to understand Show, Don’t Tell better.

Here is the actual quote (taken from a letter that Anton wrote to his brother):

“In descriptions of Nature one must seize on small details, grouping them so that when the reader closes his eyes, he gets a picture. For instance, you’ll have a moonlit night if you write that on the mill dam, a piece of glass from a broken bottle glittered like a bright little star, and that the black shadow of a dog or wolf rolled past like a ball.”

YES!

Beautiful.

Don’t you feel like you’re there?

Show Don’t Tell simply means that you as the author should allow the reader to experience your word through senses, action, feelings, etc. rather than just tell them through long-winded descriptions and summaries. It’s far more effective for them. If you want them to truly understand what you want them to see, this is the way to do it.

Now, here’s an important point:

Don’t only show; sometimes tell.

Understanding Show Don’t Tell includes knowing when it is OK to tell. In other words, this rule doesn’t mean that you can never describe anything. I think that’s where authors get crippled most.

If you overdo showing, you can bog the reader down into too many details, which will bore them. The point here is not to overdo telling, which yanks the reader out of the moment.

 

Examples of Show, Don’t Tell

 

Recently, a new author posted a snippet from her book within a group chat. She complained the editor had said that her entire book needed rewriting because she was telling rather than showing.

She wasn’t happy. The whole concept confused her.

The snippet she posted involved two characters discussing an event that happened in the past. It was all expressed with dialogue. This happened, then that happened.

It went on for pages and pages.

As a side note, dialogue can help you show the reader what is happening. One way might be in the way it is shared. For instance, there’s a difference between:

“I’d like a glass of soda.”

And

“I-I’d like a g-g-glass of s-s-soda.”

The first is a normal request. One might say this to a bartender or a parent. The second shows that the person is in fear. Something is wrong. This person needs help!

Also, the way a character speaks to another speaks volumes about them. Do they belittle others? Do they nitpick? Perhaps they are super emotional. Or maybe they uplift their friends and family by the way they talk.

However when there are pages and pages of dialogue between a mother and daughter that shares a story that needed to be shown, that is just boring. That story needs to be shared through storytelling.

This doesn’t mean that characters can’t share a small inconsequential anecdote. Sure, that could work. Just don’t avoid a flashback by telling the reader a crucial part of the story through dialogue.

 

How to apply this rule

 

As a new writer, understanding Show, Don’t Tell, really means that you should be able to use it in your writing.

If you get a sense that you are over telling, step back and see if there is a way to share the experience with the reader without explicitly telling them about it. Can you sort of write around it?

If you find yourself writing that Elizabeth is (some emotion), you are probably telling. Instead, find a way for Elizabeth to show that emotion.

For instance, if she is angry, what would she do?

She might kick something (or someone).

Or she could yell some words I don’t wish to share here.

Sometimes she might throw something breakable across the room.

Consider what you’ve done in the past. How did you handle your anger? When I was in college, I remember throwing a full glass of Coke at someone who’d upset me. Yeah, I know, not very mature. However, it was real.

Let’s say George was frustrated. What might he do?

He might crumple up a piece of paper or rip it into shreds if the offending sheet was the problem.

There are times when George might lash out at someone inappropriately.

Physical responses might include tapping his fingers on the table in an attempt to curb the expression. Or he ight lay awake at 2am pondering whatever it is that is bothering him.\

Have you ever heard someone sigh over and over? That person is probably a bit disgruntled.

There are many ways to show the reader what is happening.

 

More on Show, Don’t Tell

 

The characters you create in your book are interesting because you make them so. They have unique character traits that make the reader love or hate them. These aspects of their personality need to be developed through their action, voice, mood, style, and more.

Now that you’re understanding Show, Don’t Tell a bit more, I think you’ll probably see the problem with the following line in a book:

Sandra was a bright fourteen-year-old. Her teachers all called her brilliant and ambitious. They expected great things of her.

What do you think?

See if you can identify how is this author telling the reader about Sandra rather than showing them who she is.

If you were the editor, think about how you would help the author to use the adage Show, Don’t Tell in this passage.

For example, I might ask the author:

 

• What makes Sandra bright?
• Why is she ambitious?
• What makes Sandra different from her classmates?

 

Maybe Sandra is a tournament chess player who has started her own business on Esty selling handcrafted items. Or perhaps she has a booming babysitting empire that she runs with her friends.

How could you show the reader that Sandra is bright and ambitious?

 

I still don’t get it

 

If this is still a mystery, I get it. This three-word rule is a bit complex.

One piece of advice is to read a few books and look to see how the author shows you what is going on. Look to see how these passages make you feel. Why and how is it effective?

Looking to see how others use this rule will help in understanding Show, Don’t Tell.

When exploring how to use this rule, consider how you and others around you have reacted in certain circumstances. Think about some powerful incidents you have experienced in your life.

How did YOU respond?

How did others look and act who were involved?

If understanding Show, Don’t Tell still eludes you, take a break from writing and go sit in your local mall’s food court.

Watch people and see if you can guess their mood. When you do this exercise, don’t listen to their words. Watch their actions. It will open a whole new world to you!

What are these folks doing to give you the impression that they are upset, happy, depressed, or afraid?

Look at how they are showing you what they are feeling.

They certainly aren’t telling you!