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How do you use show don't tell to hook your readers and keep them engaged?

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Show don't tell is a popular technique in creative writing that helps you create vivid scenes and characters for your readers. Instead of telling them what is happening or how someone feels, you show them through actions, dialogue, sensory details, and emotions. In this article, you'll learn how to use show don't tell to hook your readers and keep them engaged.

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1 Why show don't tell?

Showing rather than telling makes your writing more immersive, dynamic, and compelling. It allows your readers to experience the story as if they were there, rather than just observing it from a distance. It also helps you avoid boring or vague descriptions, clichés, and exposition. By showing, you can reveal your characters' personalities, motivations, and conflicts, and build tension and suspense.

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2 How to show don't tell?

Rather than simply telling the reader what is happening, there are many ways to show it in your writing. To get started, use strong verbs and nouns that convey specific actions and images. Dialogue can be used to show characters' voices, emotions, and relationships, rather than just telling the reader what they think or feel. Additionally, sensory details can be used to show the setting, mood, and atmosphere, rather than just telling the reader where or when the story takes place. Finally, emotions can be used to show characters' reactions, feelings, and thoughts, rather than just telling the reader what they are.

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3 When to show don't tell?

While showing is generally preferred over telling, there are some situations where telling might be more effective or necessary. For instance, summarizing or transitioning between scenes or events that are not important to the main plot or conflict, providing background information or context that is essential for the reader to understand the story or the characters, creating contrast or irony between what the characters say and what they do or feel, and balancing the pace and rhythm of your writing to avoid overloading the reader with too many details or emotions.

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Mohammad Khan

Engineer Turned Storyteller | Helping Businesses Write Impact-Focused Newsletters and Transform Industries | Avg 43.8% Open Rate
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I use "show don't tell" for the opening of the story. For a short story, usually the first page needs to grab the reader's attention, or they won't read. For a screenplay, the first 10 pages needs to hook the reader. My go-to technique is to describe a common scenario but flip the expectation. For example: I open screenplay two people running from something. That's the first grip, then I reveal who's chasing them: 4 people on horseback. A few more pages reveal these people are wearing tracking collars and are being controlled by someone else. Then I reveal who: an octopus-like alien who guides the two people back to the ranch that's actually a camp filled with human captives. Opening a story is 1 spot for "show don't tell."

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Anne Thornley-Brown MBA

Team building Expert | LinkedIn Top Voice | Forbes featured | I help executives manage change, foster innovation, & boost their bottom line ???? ???? Actress ?? Writer ?? ???
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I have mixed feelings about show don't tell. It can be effective but at times it lacks precision because it doesn't specifically identify what characters are feeling. I know that the current fad is to not name emotions or use adjectives and adverbs. Emotions, adjectives and adverbs have their place and they exist in language for reason. I guess the key is not to overuse them. One other thing to remember is to keep descriptions brief so that they don't bog down the plot. Now if you're creating a setting with which the reader is not familiar like in historical fiction or fantasy, there do need to be more descriptions and world building is really important.

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4 How to balance show and tell?

Finding the right balance between showing and telling can be difficult, depending on the genre, style, and purpose. Generally, it is best to show more than tell in scenes that are important for the plot, character development, or theme. Conversely, it is better to tell more than show in scenes that are transitional, informational, or descriptive. It is important to avoid extremes of either showing or telling, as too much of either can make the writing tedious, confusing, dull, flat, or unconvincing.

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Kelly J.

A creator of literary and visual experiences.
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This proves that "show don't tell" is an oxymoron and is a cliché, if not becoming the latter. Then, "tell" is literally in the noun "storyteller". Being too technical about creative writing can be counter intuitive, as well as counter productive. Sometimes it's just a matter of telling a story really well. Trust me, if the reader latches on, their imagination will show them what's being told. Even though telling is supposed to show them what to see. If this makes sense.

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5 How to practice show don't tell?

To hone your show don't tell skills, practice them regularly and consciously. For instance, you can rewrite a passage from your favorite book or story, and compare the effects of telling versus showing. Additionally, you can write a scene from your own story, using only showing or only telling, and then rewrite it with a mix of both to observe how it alters the tone, mood, and meaning. Moreover, read a passage from your own writing, and identify the parts where you show or tell. Ask yourself if they are appropriate, effective, or necessary, and if not, how you can improve them.

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???Matthew J. Gaydos???

Cost and Center Sales at Weis Markets, Inc.
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I always utilize adjectives and colorful words in my sentences and paragraphs. Make sure you show the reader- 90% and tell the reader 10% when utilizing the show don't tell area of writing.

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How do you use show don't tell to hook your readers and keep them engaged?

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1 Why show don't tell?

2 How to show don't tell?

3 When to show don't tell?

4 How to balance show and tell?

5 How to practice show don't tell?

Writing

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How do you use show don't tell to hook your readers and keep them engaged?

1

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5

1 Why show don't tell?

2 How to show don't tell?

3 When to show don't tell?

4 How to balance show and tell?

5 How to practice show don't tell?

Writing

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