Show Don’t Tell: What Is It, and Why It Works

I remember pulling my hair out, trying to write a scene. All I had to do was use the ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ technique. And it sounded so simple. But, somehow the scene wasn’t working. So what am I missing?

What is ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ in Writing

Let’s dive in with this example.

TELLING:

Peter was angry when he saw his broken toy.

• Direct emotion: The sentence explicitly gives away the emotion without backing it up with evidence.

• Lack of engagement: The sentence summarizes the event, leaving less for readers to infer.

• Conclusion delivered: Peter was angry—that was the conclusion. We know his emotion, but we haven’t seen how he reacts.

SHOWING:

Peter dropped to his knees next to his fire truck. His eyes were as red as the toy. He snapped the dangling wheel back in place, but it wouldn’t stick.

“You’re never touching my toys,” he yelled at his sister. He stormed up the creaky stairs and slammed the door behind him.

• Letting the readers work: This passage doesn’t name Peter’s emotion. His actions and words give readers clues.

• Sensory detail: ‘Eyes as red as the toy’ gives us a visual detail, but it could suggest crying or irritation as well as anger.

• Strong verbs: Words like stormed and slammed illustrate the character’s state and feelings.

Why ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ Works

Andrew Stanton’s Perspective on Storytelling

In his TED Talk, The clues to a great story, filmmaker Andrew Stanton describes storytelling as giving the audience pieces they can put together. Think 2+2 rather than handing them 4. The audience gets to make the connection.

While the filmmaker was talking about storytelling in general, the concept is the essence of the ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ writing technique.

Back to Peter:

The dangling wheel, Peter’s words to his sister, and the slammed door are the pieces. Readers can put them together to infer his anger. That’s the 2+2 idea at work.

Balance

Scene after scene of vivid detail can become overwhelming. Telling can give readers a breather.

• When to show: If a scene is important to the heart of the story—such as key emotional moments, turning points, or scenes that reveal critical character development—I’d show it.

• When to tell: Telling can work well for background information and transitions.

• Request feedback: To be honest, it takes quite a bit of practice to master the ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ technique. Sometimes we need help. This is where a critique group or beta readers can help.

Additional Resources

• Understanding Show, Don’t Tell (And Really Getting It) by Janice Hardy

• Show, Don’t Tell: How to write vivid descriptions, handle backstory, and describe your characters’ emotions by Sandra Gerth

• How to Show Emotion on the Page: The Cheat Sheets by Jessica Grace Kelley

• Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Omitting Sensory Details by Moriah Richard

• Critique: 4 Ways to Write Gripping Internal Narrative by K. M. Weiland

Conclusion

‘Show, Don’t Tell’ can leave readers room to imagine. The trick is deciding what to put on the page and what to leave for them to work out.

So next time when you’re crafting an important scene, remember to engage the reader’s imagination. Give them 2+2, instead of… you know what it is.

For more on writing, read my other essays. What techniques do you use to engage readers’ imagination? As always, I love to hear your thoughts and experiences!