Show don’t tell: The Art of Unseen Storytelling

The phrase “show, don’t tell” encourages writers to convey experiences to the reader rather than simply providing information. It’s not just advice for creative writers—it’s a fundamental principle that defines creative writing itself.

At its core, “show, don’t tell” means that instead of stating facts for the reader to accept, your writing allows them to experience something firsthand. Writers achieve this through vivid imagery, descriptive verbs, and immersive details.

Show versus Tell: What’s the Difference?

✓ Telling conveys information quickly and efficiently, making it ideal for setting the scene or providing background.

✓ Showing, by contrast, reveals story details more gradually but with greater depth. It’s more engaging and works best for moments you want readers to linger in.

Showing

Definition: "Showing" involves using vivid descriptions, sensory details, and character actions to create a rich and immersive experience for the reader. It allows readers to experience the story through their own senses and draw their own conclusions.

Example: Instead of saying 'The room was cold,” you might write: “A shiver ran down her spine as she stepped into the room. The air was thick and damp, smelling of dust and forgotten memories.'

Telling

Definition: "Telling" involves directly stating facts, emotions, or opinions to the reader. It summarises or explains information rather than letting readers experience it for themselves.

Example: “She was very happy.” (Telling) vs. “She laughed, a joyous sound bubbling up from deep within her, her eyes sparkling with delight.” (Showing)

By employing “showing” techniques, writers can craft narratives that are more engaging and impactful, resonating deeply with readers.

Key Distinctions Between Showing and Telling

• How vs What: Showing often explains how something happens, while telling states what happened.

• Detail vs Overview: Showing focuses on intricate details that mimic a character’s experience; telling provides a broad overview or generalisation of events.

• Slow vs Fast: Showing slows down narration due to its detail-oriented nature; telling speeds up the story by summarising events.

• Character vs Narrator: Showing often centres on how characters perceive events, whereas telling leans on the narrator's perspective.

• Perception vs Context: Showing highlights specific perceptions; telling is better suited for providing broader context.

• Personal vs Impersonal: Showing feels personal due to its focus on sensory experiences; telling can feel more universal, like the timeless opening “Once upon a time…” in fairy tales.

• Writer vs Reader: Showing requires more effort from the writer but draws readers into the narrative; telling demands more imagination from readers as they fill in missing details.

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The goal of the “show, don’t tell” principle is to encourage writers to describe actions in ways that allow readers to experience them alongside characters. It’s a valuable reminder to consider how you present information in your writing.

Examples in Literature

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

Tolkien vividly describes Mordor in a way that leaves no doubt about its dangers:

'The gasping pools were choked with ash and crawling muds, sickly white and grey, as if the mountains had vomited the filth of their entrails upon the lands about. High mounds of crushed and powdered rock, great cones of earth fire-blasted and poison-stained stood like an obscene graveyard in endless rows, slowly revealed in the reluctant light'

Appeal to Readers’ Senses

The emotional impact is strongest when delivered through concrete imagery rather than abstract adjectives like 'delighted' or 'ashamed.'

For example: 'She spent four hours under the fluorescent buzz of the OR waiting room, her limbs heavy and her mouth sour from stale coffee.' Versus: 'The OR waiting room was an unpleasant place that made her feel more tired and sad.'

Sadness conveyed through fluorescent lights and stale coffee feels specific—a distinct kind of sadness compared to 'empty mailbox' or 'shuttered storefront' sadness.

Encourage Curiosity—Yours and Your Readers’

As a writer, you should be curious about every aspect of your story—the what, where, and how—and inspire your readers to share that curiosity. How you present information matters most; let your readers uncover details themselves.

The Role of Symbolism

A well-crafted symbol can guide readers towards a particular perspective, clarify themes, or establish mood. Consider story-specific symbols like the conch in Lord of the Flies. Initially seen as just a shell granting speaking rights during discussions, its abandonment signals impending chaos—a metaphor for democracy unravelled.

The Role of Conflict

Rather than stating facts about characters’ relationships or traits, show these dynamics through action:

• Instead of saying siblings have a strained relationship, show them avoiding each other at their father’s funeral.

• Instead of saying your protagonist is ambitious, show them clashing with a new hire who outperforms them.

  
  

Connecting internal conflicts with external actions allows external struggles to carry greater narrative weight.