Show, Don't Tell

Show, Don't Tell
Live Lesson 5.4.11

By Laurel Ramos

Open Ended

Consider a situation where someone told you something, but you wish they had shown you instead. How would the experience have been different if they had used descriptive details and actions to convey their message?

So, what does "show, don't tell" really mean?

Uses descriptions, actions, and sensory details to help the reader experience the story as if they were there.

Showing makes your writing more descriptive and allows readers to interpret the descriptions of places, actions, and scenes.

"Showing"

When you simply state what happened. It's like giving someone a summary of events.

Telling can be flat and boring, limiting the reader's experience. It can also make your writing seem amateurish.

"Telling"

Here's an example...

​Seth was sad.

This sentence states or tells the reader how Seth was feeling. There is nothing grammatically wrong with this sentence, but it is BORING!








How can we add more description to the sentence, "Seth was sad"?

Show, Don't Tell

The Russian novelist Anton Chekhov said, "Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass". This quote perfectly captures the essence of "show, don't tell". Instead of simply stating a fact (the moon is shining), Chekhov encourages writers to use details that create a picture in the reader's mind (the glint of light on broken glass).

​Great advice, but how do I show instead of tell?

1. Use strong verbs, specific nouns, and clear adjectives in your descriptions.

2. Include sensory details, describing how something looks, smells, sounds, tastes, and feels.

3. Use dialogue to reveal character and advance the plot. For example, instead of saying "Mom was angry," write "'Don't you walk out of here!' Mom yelled".

Jasmine's car ran out of gas.

Practice Show, Don't Tell

Katie was nervous.

Practice Show, Don't Tell

Your Turn!

Narrative Story

Open your narrative story and look for areas where you can revise your writing by adding more descriptive details. PITCHFORK some actions, nouns, or exclamations.