Transcript:

The number of times writing teachers, critique partners, or coaches tell a writer to “show, don’t tell” without any explanation is way too high. It’s a problem because it gets treated like a magical cure-all for your writing. If you just show and never tell, all your writing problems will disappear, right? While it’s definitely helpful advice—when you understand it—it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. In fact, sometimes telling is exactly what your story needs, which only makes this advice more confusing.

Welcome to episode two of Unpacking Common Writing Advice, where I break down popular writing tips to help you use them effectively. Today, we’re diving into the ever-popular advice: “Show, don’t tell.”

Hi, I’m C. Sloan Lewis. Welcome to my Channel!

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What Does “Show, Don’t Tell” Mean?

Telling a good story is all about showing enough details—of the characters, the places, and the emotions—to immerse your audience in the story. Bad storytellers, on the other hand, just tell you what happened: the event, the action, and that’s it. It leaves readers disconnected and uninterested, especially when it comes to character emotions.

Take this example: you could tell the reader, “Sarah was angry,” but that doesn’t give us much. What kind of anger is it? How does it manifest? Is it quiet seething? Explosive rage? Though we all understand anger, it’s a deeply personal and varied experience. To connect with Sarah’s anger, we need more:

“Sarah’s fists clenched, and her voice shook as she said, ‘How could you?’”

This not only paints a vivid picture but also lets readers conclude that Sarah is angry without being told outright. Readers often feel talked down to when they’re spoon-fed information rather than invited to draw their own conclusions.

Even when readers don’t consciously notice the difference, too much telling can keep them from becoming immersed in the story. Immersion is what keeps readers turning the page, invested in your characters, and avoiding the dreaded DNF pile. Without that connection, your writing risks feeling like a lecture—or worse, a textbook.

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What “Show, Don’t Tell” Doesn’t Mean

Here’s the biggest misconception about “show, don’t tell”: it doesn’t mean never tell. It’s not about turning every single sentence into a hyper-detailed scene. This advice targets specific moments in your writing—places where showing will create a stronger emotional or narrative impact.

Unfortunately, critique partners or beta readers pressed for time often resort to the blanket statement “show, don’t tell” without specifying where it applies. Experienced writers know how to identify those spots, but newer writers might think the entire piece needs to be shown, which leads to overwriting.

We don’t want every scene overloaded with unnecessary detail. Telling is an essential tool for summarizing unimportant moments, delivering quick exposition, or moving the story forward. For example:

“They traveled on a dirt road toward the city.”

If nothing happens during the journey, you don’t need a detailed paragraph about every rock and tree along the way. Telling keeps the pacing strong, prevents readers from getting bogged down, and maintains the momentum of your story.

Even in classic works like The Hobbit, Tolkien often uses telling to summarize situations and move the story forward. It’s not lazy—it’s efficient.

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When to Show vs. Tell

So, how do you know when to show and when to tell? Focus on three key factors: importance, pacing, and clarity.

1. When it comes to Importance: Show moments that are emotionally or narratively significant. These are the scenes readers need to feel deeply immersed in. If a scene isn’t important enough to warrant showing, consider summarizing it—or cutting it altogether.
2. When it comes to Pacing: Telling is a great way to speed things up, while showing slows things down. Use telling for transitions, summaries, or unimportant events. Reserve showing for the big, meaningful moments that deserve the spotlight.
3. When it comes to Clarity: Telling provides straightforward information when the reader needs it—like explaining backstory or exposition. On the flip side, showing brings clarity to emotions, relationships, and character experiences. Ask yourself: What does the reader need to feel here? If emotion is the key, lean into showing.

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How to Improve Your “Showing” Skills

Once you’ve identified where to show rather than tell, how do you do it effectively? The key lies in engaging the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.

For example, if your character feels anxious, you could write:

“A sharp tingling ran up her back and down her limbs. Her mouth was dry, and all she could taste was the dust in the air. Her palms were clammy. She could hear every shuffle of feet around her, but she couldn’t focus on a single sound. Her eyes darted frantically across the room.”

This doesn’t just describe anxiety—it helps the reader feel it. Even readers unfamiliar with anxiety can empathize with the character through these sensory details.

You can also show emotions through actions and reactions. If a character fears someone but doesn’t want to reveal it, you might show them flinching when that person moves too close. Subtle, physical reactions like this reveal emotions without spelling them out.

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Conclusion

“Show, don’t tell” is incredibly useful advice when you understand it. The key is knowing when to apply it. Show when it matters. Tell when it’s efficient. Always consider what serves your story best.

What’s your biggest challenge with “show, don’t tell”? Let me know in the comments! And if you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to like and subscribe for more insights into writing advice and the craft of storytelling.

Next week, we’ll explore the advice “Kill your darlings” and what it really means. But until then, you’ve got some writing to do, and I’ll see you in the next video. Tata!