Show vs. Tell: The Definitive Guide for Writers

👉 Scene Writing Workshop 👈

One of the most fundamental skills a writer must master is the ability to show vs tell. Yet, this concept is often misunderstood or applied inconsistently. Writers either lean too heavily on exposition or get lost in unnecessary descriptions. So, how do you strike the right balance?

In this guide, we’ll break down what “showing” actually means, when to use it, and how to apply it effectively in your writing.

Show vs. Tell: The Definitive Guide for Writers

What Does “Show vs. Tell” Really Mean?

At its core, showing means letting readers experience a story through observable details rather than explaining what’s happening.

“Showing is simply describing the observable.” — Shawn Coyne

Instead of telling readers an emotion:
❌ Sarah was angry.

You show it through her physical reactions:
✅ Sarah’s fingers dug into her palms, her jaw clenched tight while her lips pressed into a thin line.

Showing engages readers and allows them to interpret meaning for themselves, making the story more immersive.


The Key Elements of Showing in Writing

1. Be an Observer

Imagine you’re watching a movie without narration. You can still tell when a couple is fighting or if someone is nervous—just by observing. Apply this same principle to your writing.

📹 Focus on what a video camera could capture:

  • Facial expressions
  • Body language
  • Tone of voice
  • Actions and reactions
  • Sensory details (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch)

📌 Example: 

  • ❌ Instead of He was nervous, write:
  • ✅ His fingers drummed against his leg, his eyes darting between the clock and the door.

Try this exercise:

  • Observe people in a cafĂŠ, park, or public space.
  • Take notes on their body languagemovements, and expressions.
  • Then, describe a character’s emotions using those real-life observations—without naming the emotion itself.

The more you train yourself to see the world like a writer, the better you’ll become at showing rather than telling.


2. Use Figurative Language to Create Concrete Images

Figurative language—similes, metaphors, and personification—is a powerful way to make abstract concepts feel real. It doesn’t just decorate the writing; it creates immersive, sensory experiences for the reader.

Comparison Example:
❌ She was exhausted.
✅ Her body felt like a wrung-out dishrag, heavy and limp against the chair.

Extended Metaphor Example:
❌ Work was overwhelming her.
✅ The emails flooded her inbox. Each deadline crashed over her like a wave. She gasped for air between meetings, barely keeping her head above water.

Personification Example:
❌ The house was creepy.
✅ The old house groaned under the wind’s touch, its wooden beams whispering secrets from the past.

Exercise:

  • Find a simple emotion or concept (anger, sadness, loneliness).
  • Write three different figurative descriptions that bring it to life.
  • Compare how each one evokes a different tone or mood.

3. Show Emotions Through Actions

Emotions are best conveyed through actions, not explanations. Instead of saying John was nervous, let his actions reveal his internal state.

📌 Example:

  • ❌ John was nervous about the job interview.
  • ✅ John’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, typing and deleting the same sentence. He glanced at his reflection in the black computer screen, straightened his tie, then loosened it again.

Each detail provides a clue to John’s nerves. Readers interpret his hesitation without needing it spelled out.

💡 Tip: Tailor body language to different personalities:

  • confident character might pace like a caged tiger before a big speech.
  • timid character might fidget, avoid eye contact, or chew their lip.
  • stoic character might clench their fists or tighten their jaw.

Exercise:

  • Write a short scene where a character is lying—but don’t say they are lying.
  • Use physical cues, dialogue hesitations, and subtle contradictions to reveal their deception.

4. Use the Environment as a Mirror

A character’s surroundings can reflect their mood, emotions, and internal struggles. This technique allows you to show feelings through the setting and atmosphere.

📌 Example: 

  • ❌ Instead of Mark was angry, write:
  • ✅ Mark’s keys clattered against the kitchen counter. He yanked open the fridge, the bottles inside rattling, then slammed it shut without taking anything out.

Another approach is to contrast a character’s emotions with their environment.

📌 Example:
A happy family picnic unfolds around her—children laughing, parents clinking glasses—but Emma can’t shake the weight pressing against her chest. The laughter feels distant, hollow, like an echo from another life.

Exercise:

  • Pick a neutral setting (a grocery store, a train station, a library).
  • Describe it from the perspective of a grieving character, then from the perspective of a character in love.
  • Notice how different details stand out based on their emotional state.

5. Let Dialogue Reveal Subtext

People rarely say exactly what they feel. Instead, emotions leak through their tone, word choices, pauses, and what they don’t say.

📌 Example: 

  • Instead of Dave was angry with Sarah, show it through dialogue:
  • ✅ Sarah: “I thought you’d be happy for me.”
    Dave: “Yeah. Sure. Whatever you think is best.” (He looks away, stirring his coffee.)
    Sarah: “You always do this.”
    Dave: (Laughs without humor.) “Do what?”

This scene never states outright that Dave is angry. Instead, his clipped sentences, avoidance of eye contact, and sarcasm make his feelings obvious.

😬 Ways to show emotions in dialogue:
✔ Pauses and hesitation: â€œI… I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
✔ Over-explaining or trailing off: â€œIt’s not like I was… I mean, I just thought…”
✔ Changing the subject abruptly: â€œAnyway, did you watch the game last night?”

Exercise:

  • Write a breakup scene where neither character directly says, “I don’t love you anymore.”
  • Convey their emotions entirely through subtext, body language, and implied meaning.

6. Be Specific with Details

The best writing zooms in on the right details. Instead of generalizations, use specific, sensory-rich descriptions that reveal personality, history, and subtext.

📌 Example: 

  • ❌ Instead of The room was messy, write:
  • ✅ Pizza boxes from three different deliveries towered on the coffee table. A MacBook sat open on the counter, surrounded by crushed Red Bull cans and an empty orange pill bottle.

This description tells readers far more than just “the room was messy”—it suggests:
✔ The character is overwhelmed
✔ They rely on fast food and caffeine
✔ They may be struggling with deadlines or mental health

💡 Tip: Details should serve a purpose. Ask yourself:

  • What does this detail reveal about the character?
  • How does it affect the mood of the scene?
  • Is it reinforcing the story’s theme?

Exercise:

  • Describe a character’s bedroom in a way that implies their emotional state.
  • Try using objects, lighting, and sensory details instead of outright explanations.

When to Show vs. Tell

“Show, don’t tell” isn’t a strict rule—it’s a tool. Knowing when to show and when to tell is what makes a skilled writer.

Use Showing When:

✔ Emotions are running high
✔ You want readers to experience the scene deeply
✔ Character relationships are evolving
✔ The moment is pivotal to the plot

Use Telling When:

✔ You need to bridge time gaps (Three weeks passed.)
✔ You’re providing necessary background (The revolution had started in spring.)
✔ The action is routine (She drove to work.)
✔ The moment doesn’t need emotional depth

📌 Example:
Instead of showing six months of work life, you can tell:
✅ Sarah had been working at the firm for six months when the Richardson case landed on her desk.

But when she gets a life-changing case, you show:
✅ The case file thumped against her desk, making her jump. “Your first solo,” Pete said. Sarah’s fingers trembled as she reached for the folder. Richardson vs. Henderson Insurance. The same company that had denied her mother’s claim last year. Her throat went dry as she flipped open the cover.

Conclusion: The Art of Show vs. Tell

Mastering show, don’t tell is one of the most powerful skills a writer can develop. It transforms writing from flat and explanatory to immersive and engaging, pulling readers into the world of the story rather than keeping them at arm’s length.

By observing human behavior, using vivid figurative language, crafting compelling actions, and leveraging the environment, dialogue, and specific details, you can convey emotions, deepen character development, and make your scenes come alive.

However, remember that showing is a tool, not an unbreakable rule. The best writers balance showing and telling, knowing when to draw readers deep into a moment and when to move efficiently through the story.

So, the next time you write a scene, challenge yourself:

  • Can I replace an explanation with observable details?
  • Is there a way to let the reader infer the emotion instead of naming it?
  • Does this moment require deep immersion, or should I summarize and move forward?

Keep practicing, revising, and trusting your readers to connect the dots. The more you refine this skill, the more compelling and cinematic your writing will become. Happy writing! 🚀

🗣️ "Worth evey penny!"


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